Michala Reudter

Voices of Freedom assignment 2

History 1700 (T/R 7-9:50pm)

Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858

The Lincoln- Douglas debates was the most famous campaign in American
History. Both men have a very different idea of freedom, and these seven debates
discussed the politics of slavery and their views of freedom. To Lincoln, freedom meant
the opposition to slavery. So said, but I got a very different feel from the debates about
what Lincoln means about slaves being free but, not completely equal in all aspects.
Douglas argued that freedom is the ability to have the local self-government and
individual self-determination. Both men argue different aspects of freedom, both neither
wrong nor right. Illinois, after the election return, sharply divided. The whole nation
divided, the South voted strongly Democratic. Where the Northern parts voted
Republican.
Lincoln and Douglas differ on their beliefs of what rights black Americans are
entitles to. From the debates I gathered that Douglas doesnt believe any rights should
be given to black Americans. I am opposed to negro citizenship in any and every form. I
believe this government was made on the white basis. I believe it was made for white
men, for the benefit of white men... Lincoln on the other hand believes that every man

either white or black should have the same inalienable natural rights laid out in the
Declaration of Independence. He agreed with Douglas that, as far as race, white men
have the superior position, but doesnt mean they shouldnt have any rights. ...But I
hold that not with standing all this, there is no reason in the world why the negro is not
entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right
to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. ..be is my equal and the equal of Judge
Douglas, and the equal of every living man.
Lincoln believes the nation cannot exist forever as a nation that is half slave and
half free, because he believed, when this government was first established it was the
policy of its founders to prohibit the spread of slavery into new territories of the United
States, where it had not existed. He believed that slavery would not be the primary
force of labor forever, and the states would come to see the immorality of it. Douglas
believes that the division of free and slave states can continue because it has existed for
about 70 years and the founding fathers made it work. One of the reserved rights of
the states, was the right to regulate the relations between master and servant, on the
slavery question.
Douglas debates that the right of each state to manage its own affairs against
the right of every person to be free, is to the slave holders in each state. I hold that the
people to the slaveholding states are civilized men as was as ourselves, that they bear

conscience as was as we, and that they are accountable to God and their posterity and
not to us. He believes that each man should choose for themselves the morality and
religious right of the slavery question, within their own limits. He argues the ..the
signers of the Declaration of Independence had no reference to the negro whatever
when they declared all men to be equal. Lincoln argues that Douglas, ..is not in favor
of making and difference between slavery and liberty..and every consequently every
sentiment he utters discards the idea that there is any wrong in slavery.. When you
dont see what is wrong with your actions, you can t change them.
Lincoln sees the need of change in the country. He argues that when people
dont see the wrong in their actions, That is the real issue. If you are silent, the issue
will continue in the country. Lincoln understands that the country is greatly divided on
the subject. The civil war erupted because of slavery. It is the eternal struggle between
these two principals-right and wrong- throughout the world.