The Lincoln Douglas Debates of 1858

In 1858, Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln were fighting for the Illinois Senate seat. Their debates were held at the seven congressional districts across Illinois. They disagreed on two major issues at the time: popular sovereignty and slavery. Douglas supported both and won the Senate seat, but in the long run Lincoln benefited. These debates brought Lincoln to national prominence and in 1860 he became president against his opponent, Stephen Douglas.