The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were both running to be the new Illinois Senator.During their campaign, Lincoln proposed a series of debates between the candidates, therefore exposing Lincoln to larger audiences that Douglas attracted and he did not. The main topic of their debates was the issue of expanding  slavery. Lincoln thought that slavery should be contained. On the opposing side Douglas wanted the Government to stay out of the issues and let popular sovereignty decide. Douglas usually won the debates. But Lincoln seized the opportunity in the

debates to make clear the principles of the Republican Party. He had also gained a national reputation of being a man clear, insightful thinking who could argue with force ans eloquence. Because Douglas won, the debates contributed to the Civil War because Douglas thought popular sovereignty should decide the slavery issues in the state.