T
he Lincoln-Douglas debates took place in Illinois from August to October, 1858. Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were competing for a seat in the U.S. Senate. The debates centered on Douglas’s belief in popular sovereignty and Lincoln’s belief in the equality of mankind. While Lincoln did not win the Senate seat, the debates shot him into the national spotlight and assisted in his presidential election in 1860, a consequence of which was North Carolina’s succession from the Union and the beginning of the Civil War.
Timeline
Other: Third Debate, Jonesboro, Illinois
Union County is south of the Mason-Dixon Line. The debate’s subject split families into Confederate & Union factions.
Other: First Debate, Washington Square, Ottawa, Illinois
21 Aug 1858
Other: Second Debate, Freeport, Illinois
Freeport, Illinois
Other: Second Debate, Freeport, Illinois
27 Aug 1858
Other: Third Debate, Jonesboro, Illinois
Jonesboro, Illinois
Other: Fourth Debate, Charleston, Illinois
Charleston, Illinois
Other: First Debate, Washington Square, Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa, Illinois
Other: Second Debate, Freeport, Illinois
Over 15,000 people attended the original debate in Freeport. The Freeport Doctrine came out of this debate
Other: Third Debate, Jonesboro, Illinois
15 Sept 1858
Other: Fourth Debate, Charleston, Illinois
18 Sept 1858
Other: Fifth Debate, Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg, Illinois
Other: Seventh Debate, Alton, Illinois
Alton, Illinois
Other: Fifth Debate, Galesburg, Illinois
7 Oct 1858
Other: Seventh Debate, Alton, Illinois
13 Oct 1858
Other: Sixth Debate, Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Other: Fourth Debate, Charleston, Illinois
This area was very familiar to Lincoln whose father had lived and died here. Lincoln lived and worked here.
Other: Sixth Debate, Quincy, Illinois
13 Oct 1858
Debates: Washington Square, Ottawa, Illinois
August 21, 1858
Debates: Galesburg, Illinois
October 7, 1858
Debates: Alton, Illinois
15 Oct 1858
Debates: Quincy, Illinois
October 13, 1858
Debates: Charleston, Illinois
September 18, 1958
Debates: Jonesboro, Illinois
September 15, 1858
Debates: Freeport, Illinois
August 27, 1858
Event
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Location
Illinois, United States
Main Arguments: Stephen Douglas
Defended Popular Sovereignty: the idea that the people could decide if slavery would be legal in their territory.
Main Arguments: Abraham Lincoln
All men, white and black, are created equal; The nation cannot exist if divided
Other Facts
Abraham Lincoln
Republican Party
Stephen Douglas
Democratic Party (Incumbent)
