Paul Ruggiero

History 1700
11/18/15
And the Winner Was
In 1858 Abraham Lincoln, and his competitor, Stephen A. Douglas had a
series of debates that were going to predict the future for one of them. They were
debating on whom should get the senate seat for Illinois, There was seven debates
all held in different cities in Illinois. Eventually at the end of these debates, Douglas
prevailed as the victor and he took the senate spot for Illinois. Looking back on
these debates, there was a clear winner, and to most of the public, it was indeed
Lincoln. From these debates Lincoln found huge spike in his own popularity, he also
won the bigger and better goals as becoming as what we all know Lincoln as, 16 th
President of the United States, and was the main contributor to ending slavery. Even
though Douglas took the senate, he didnt do it fairly. Lincoln had to overcome
several obstacles but he is a household name, and it was because of the events that
unfolded during these debates and years after.
Douglas was a part of a party that was referred as Whigs and the Whigs at
this time were very much represented in the senate. Although it was a close race
without the help from people in higher places, Douglas would have never won the
senate seat. He was endorsed by one of the most popular people in the senate at
the time, John J. Crittenden. Crittenden who was also a member of the Whigs, and
with that there was no way Douglas could lose. Abraham Lincoln won the popular
vote with a percentage of 50.6%, or by 3,402 votes. If Lincoln won the popularity
vote, the only way he could lose would be from the inside. This was what was called

one of the first; October surprises in the sense that everyone thought Lincoln was
the winner. With the public on Lincolns side, he was in line to be the next thing.
After the debates and the senate seat Lincoln was running for were taking by
Douglas, Lincoln saw an enormous reputation that was built for him during these
Debates. With this under his belt Lincoln decided to take advantage of it, he had a
book published The Lincoln Douglas Debates, which indeed was a top seller
during its time. Although Lincoln lost, the Republicans received more popular votes
than the Democrats, signaling an important shift in the political character of the
state. Moreover, Lincoln had gained a reputation throughout the North. He was
invited to campaign for Republican candidates in other states and was now
mentioned as a candidate for the presidency. Lincoln may have lost the senate, but
he won the popularity vote in the eyes of the public. That would also play a massive
part as he became the next president of the United States. With popularity gaining,
Lincoln only played the hand that was giving to him, and he played every move he
had to make correctly. He had the eyes of America and never let go.
As the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, is regarded as
one of the most influential presidents of all time. He is credited with preserving
the Union, abolished slavery, strengthened the federal government, and
modernized the economy. People knew Lincoln was going to play an important role
during hard times, with what he believed was right, Lincoln did not use appeals to
racism to garner votes. And he refused to exclude blacks from the human family. No
less than whites, they were entitled to the inalienable rights of the Declaration of
Independence, which applied to [all men, in all lands, everywhere.] Not merely to
Europeans and their descendants (391). Lincoln on his was to presidency, he went
through many competitors, one of which was, Stephen A. Douglas. Thanks to the

debates these two gentlemen had years earlier, it gave Lincoln the extra push with
the publicity. Douglas eventually took a fall from grace after he was elected for the
senate. He was seen as the reason the democrats split, and once he realized what
he did he gathered up all of his supporters for the union, he died weeks later in
1861.
After all of this played out, Lincoln was clearly the winner, even though he did
not win what his goal was at the time, Illinois senate. Lincoln realized how popular
he became from these debates, and used it all to his advantage. Douglas may have
one the senate, but he did not capture the hearts of America as Lincoln did.
Everyone loves the underdog and when Lincoln loss everyone backed him. Lincoln
losing these debates made him a legend and is celebrated now because of it.
Works Cited

http://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/debates.htm
http://www.history.com/topics/lincoln-douglas-debates
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%E2%80%93Douglas_debates
Give me Liberty! Eric Foner, Page 391