Lincoln vs Douglas: Presidential Debates and Slavery

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas ran against each other for presidency and the US. Senate. Lincoln had lost against Douglas for the Senate seat, and then won for presidency. Lincoln and Douglas had challenged each other with many debates during the election for the Senate seat. There were seven debates that took place. All debates had different topics. A couple of the debates consisted of many key issues such as policy, character, and slavery (Benoit).

Both speakers, Lincoln and Douglas, touch on the key issues regarding policy and character. There were different types of policies like goals, and future plans, and there were different character forms like qualities and ideals (Benoit). One thing both candidates mentioned was the “the legality of slavery.” Douglas briefly mentions, “I hold that humanity and Christianity both require that the negro shall have and enjoy every right, every privilege, and every immunity consistent with the safety of the society in which he lives” (Benoit). Another topic that arose was the “morality of slavery.” They came down to the conclusion that if slavery were to be legal, then it would be immoral (Adkison). Douglas argued that every voter in every state would be able to decide on their own whether they

These events had helped keep the slavery issue alive. At first, there was the Compromise of 1850. This compromise made Texas give up its land. In return, Texas got 10 million dollars so it would be able to pay off its debts. The following quote states what had happened, “Slave trade would be abolished… although slavery would still be permitted” (“Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act”). Next, the Fugitive Slave Act was passed. It required everyone to help with fugitive slaves. According to the article “The Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act,” the Fugitive Slave Act made the subject of slavery come out more out into the