Lincoln-Douglas Debates (21 août 1858 – 15 oct. 1858)

Description:

Caption: Lincoln (left) and Douglas (right) debating

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were a series of 7 debates between Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln over a seat in the Senate from Illinois. Douglas, a democrat, was more moderate, and advocated for popular sovereignty to dictate slavery in the US. However, although not fully wanting to abolish slavery, Lincoln still advocated for the stopping of slavery, and preventing its spread, calling it a moral wrong. Key moments from these debates include the Freeport Doctrine being proposed by Douglas, saying that territories could exclude slavery even though Congress supported it, and Lincoln’s famous line: “A house divided against itself cannot stand”. Douglas would eventually win the seat, however the debate propelled Lincoln to national fame and would help him secure the presidency in the 1860 election. These debates caused much controversy and would lead to the Civil War, primarily because of the promises each representative stated. The Freeport Doctrine by Douglas made the South lose trust in him, and on the other hand, many viewed Lincoln as a radical for his views against slavery.

Ajouté au bande de temps:

Date:

Les images: