About This Lesson
In the years leading up to the Civil War, the issue of slavery divided the Democratic Party and newly formed Republican Party. One of the most prominent Democrats was the U.S. Senator from Illinois Stephen Douglas. When he ran for re-election in 1858 against Republican Abraham Lincoln, the two men held a series of debates. Focused on the issue of slavery, the debates attracted intense national press coverage and ultimately affected the outcome of the presidential race in 1860. For more Common Core U.S. History resources, visit http://crf-usa.org/resources/u-s-history-resources.
