Lincoln Douglas Debates Of 1858 example essay topic

... he Kansas problem with inspiration and determination. Lincoln felt that no group should be able to take away a individual's God-given right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", blacks were "our equals" (Holzer 236). Lincoln was so dedicated to this topic, and would not give up. He wanted to prove to the town of Galesburg that slavery was "a moral and political wrong". Lincoln would use the law whenever he had the chance.

"The Republican press hailed the Galesburg encounter as an incontrovertible Lincoln victory" (Holzer 236). He was gradually gaining respect from the people. Lincoln's words at this debate would not be forgotten. The next encounter took place in Quincy, Illinois, on Wednesday, October 13, 1858. This was the nastiest of the campaigns. It focused on personal issues of both speakers, and the differences in speaking techniques, physical appearances, and personalities.

Lincoln made sure that he was not assumed to be an abolitionist. He would sometimes bend his knees and body and shoot up to show emphasis on a certain point. Although there was a lot of seriousness, there was also some laughter and humor. At the conclusion of the debate, there was a "splendid torchlight procession" by the Republicans. (Cuomo 101). The seventh and final debate, was held in Alton, Illinois, on October 15, 1858.

Strangely, this debate was the second smallest of the series. This was the first time in the series, that the two debaters arrived together. Neither candidate brought any new points to the table. Instead, both Lincoln and Douglas summed up their arguments.

They still discussed the emphasis on slavery in the territories and the union of the United States. Lincoln wanted to get through to the people that blacks should have the same legal rights that are written in the Declaration of Independence. "Lincoln's performance in the final debate, he maintained, "sounded the knell of slavery" for the entire nation -- although surely he exaggerated his candidate's impact on that small audience on October 15, 1858" (Holzer 323-324). The debates touched "some of the most vital principles of our political system" (Johansen 666).

Each debate had onlookers from the vicinity, but many out-of-country crowds attended also. The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 were published in newspapers across the country. "The printed debates proved highly advantageous to Lincoln, and since little actual campaigning was done by presidential nominees in 1860, Lincoln was able to refer the electorate to his position in 1858 as printed in the Fol let, Foster publication. The issues were the same as were his proposed solutions" (Heckman 144). Lincoln published the debates because he wanted everyone to know who he really was and what he stood for. The debates received national recognition, which benefited Lincoln politically.

Alex Ayres stated, "Both men gain political stature as a result of these debates, which attract national attention. Although Lincoln loses the senatorial contest, both men become contenders for the presidency in 1860, and both are ultimately nominated by their parties" (212). During the debates, Lincoln centered on the extension of slavery into free territory. He could have talked about other subjects of major importance, but he and the Illinois voters, felt that the major concern of the country was the condition of the institution of slavery (Donald 225).

Lincoln referred to the Dred Scott Decision, and stated that slavery is "a moral, social, and political evil". He also had a high, penetrating voice that reached large audiences. The debates helped Lincoln more than they helped Douglas. Lincoln began traveling far, speaking daily at meetings. The state of Illinois was divided into districts where elections were held. Stephen A. Douglas was reelected and defeated Lincoln.

Despite his defeat, Lincoln became the leading Republican in Illinois and was being talked about as a candidate for president. He was disappointed, but told his followers that he would never give up, even after, "one hundred defeats" (Donald 229). Lincoln indeed, was made nationally famous due to the debates (Heckman 8). In early 1860, people were starting a Lincoln-for-president movement. Lincoln wanted to prove to his followers that he would keep striving for what he felt was right. To improve his popularity, he made more than 175 speeches.

One, was an address at Cooper Union in New York City on February 27th. The speech concerned the Founding Fathers and slavery. Again, Lincoln spoke about slavery. He ended with the famous plea, "Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it" (Elliot 51).

That speech helped Lincoln to secure the presidential nomination. Another address by Lincoln in New England made a strong impression on Eastern Republicans. By the end of the speaking tour of New England, Lincoln became a leading candidate for president (Del banco 165). Prior to the debates, Lincoln was a stranger in the national political scheme. However, preceding the debates, his political career excelled dramatically. By the time the Republican National Convention was held on May 16, 1860, Lincoln was well-known by the delegates.

They awarded him with the presidential nomination. Lincoln's followers nicknamed him "the Rail splitter". His views on slavery became a little more moderate, but intense. His humble background aroused voters. All his popular votes came from the North.

Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860, easily". It was the wit and wisdom of Abraham Lincoln that first won him the hearts of the people. Prior to his election as president in 1860 he never held a higher post than that of a one-term Illinois congressman. But people trusted Lincoln instinctively because he seemed wiser than other men, and they liked him because he was funnier than other men" (Ayres IX). Becoming president was Lincoln's most astonishing accomplishment. Lincoln said farewell to his Springfield companions, and took the oath of office on March 4, 1861, and became the sixteenth President of the United States.

During his first term, Lincoln had many great achievements. Some highlights included, building the national army, strengthening the home front, and keeping a check with foreign relations. He issued a policy to free the slaves in the Confederate territories, the Emancipation Proclamation, and having a unusual life in the White House. His first term ended, but he was reelected in 1864. During his second term, Lincoln, became a master politician, made tough decisions to save the union in the Civil War, and when the war ceased, he reunited the nation. "Lincoln was the president who argued that government has a responsibility "to do for the people what... they can not... do at all, or do so well, for themselves" (Cuomo XXIV).

His biggest accomplishments while as president, were issuing the Emancipation Proclamation and saving the union from total secession. In summation, Abraham Lincoln had a firm stand on slavery. However, he was not an abolitionist. Lincoln did not want to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia, nor the slave trade among slave states (Fehrenbacher, Lincoln, 1859-1865 191). Lincoln's political position took a drastic turnaround after the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

Former Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo said", I enjoy joking with people today that I've always admired Lincoln because he's reassuring to politicians like me. He was himself a big, homely-looking politician from a poor family who started off by losing a few elections, yet in the end succeeded brilliantly" (XXIV). Once the Lincoln-Douglas debates concluded, Abraham Lincoln was known all over the state of Illinois, and then known throughout the nation. He was one of the greatest orators and debaters in American history.

"With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed. Consequently he who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions" (Phillips 38). The above quotation was part of Lincoln's remarks in the first Lincoln-Douglas debate at Ottawa on August 21, 1858. Also, Lincoln was one of the best extemporaneous debaters of all time (Phillips 145). Lincoln listened to what the people wanted, which gained him popularity and respect.

During the debates, he was always confident, mostly because he stood up for what he believed was right. Even if Lincoln's ideas were of the minority, he would not back down. These verbal skills benefited him throughout his political career. Besides national interest, Lincoln received worldwide appeal.

This tall, honest politician was now known across the globe. The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 marked a turning point in Abraham Lincoln's political career, and lead to his popularity among the United States. Finally, without the debates, a great leader, Lincoln, would never have been produced. "Abraham Lincoln was a great writer and a great orator as well as a great leader" (Ayres IX). Abraham Lincoln started his political career as a nobody, but in the end was greatly admired..