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Comparing The Lincoln And Douglas Debates Of 1860

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The Lincoln and Douglas Debates in 1858 were a series of important joint discussions that would determine the future of slavery in America. The Lincoln/Douglas Debates were also known as the Great Debates of 1858. Before the debates, Douglas had unusually defied President James Buchanan and the southern democratic leaders about admitting Kansas as a slave state under the Lecompton constitution. Those from the North that were against slavery, later known as Republicans, found interest in having Douglas reelected as a U.S. Senate. Lincoln and his allies had known Douglas for a long time and did not trust him. In attempt to prevent Douglas's reelection, Lincoln was voted to be the Republican's candidate in the election for one of Illinois's two U.S. Senate seats. …show more content…

1858. Using the Bible as his source of reference, Lincoln stated "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free." Lincoln believed that either slavery would extend throughout the entire country or it would become extinct, but it would not co-exist without having the country eventually collapsing. To add to his statement, Lincoln argued that slavery was a moral wrong and was opposing what the Founding Fathers' intended for the country. Slavery violated the Declaration of Independence, which stated that all men were created equal. Lincoln also went on to accuse Douglas for upholding a wrong by defending slavery. Douglas countered and disagreed with Lincoln's statement of the Founding Fathers' intentions, pointing out that many of the Founding Fathers were slaveowners themselves. Douglas insisted that power should reside at a local level and should reflect the people's wishes. He believed that the territories should be the ones to decide if they want to be a slave state or a free

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