1 ene 1858 año - Lincoln–Douglas debates

Descripción:

AKA: The Great Debates of 1858

A series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican Party candidate for the United States Senate from Illinois, and incumbent Senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Party candidate. At the time, senators were elected by state legislatures, so Lincoln and Douglas were trying to win control of the Illinois General Assembly for their respective parties. The debates were widely reported on nationally, using the newly-invented telegraph. Illinois was a free state, and the main issue discussed in all seven debates was slavery in the United States, particularly its future expansion into new territories.

Lincoln edited the texts of all the debates and had them published in a book. The widespread coverage of the debates and the popularity of the book helped lead to Lincoln's nomination for president by the 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago.

The format for each debate was that one candidate spoke for 60 minutes, then the other candidate spoke for 90 minutes, and then the first candidate was allowed a 30-minute rejoinder. The candidates alternated speaking first. As the incumbent, Douglas spoke first in four of the debates.