The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: 6. Vocabulary: Analyze Word Choices

Analyzethe quotes from the Lincoln-Douglas

debates. Choose one phrase that would

have been especially appealing to voters at

the time and explain why.

Many of the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas revolved around the subject of slavery.

Abraham Lincoln was very diplomatic about the subject regardless of his personal beliefs.

For instance, he was quoted to severally taken a stand against anything that would result in a fracas between the free and slave states.

In taking this stand, he was saying America should be viewed as free land for all. What he didn't say by that statement is that slaves should be emancipated.

This position was acceptable to the feudal lords whose wealth rested on the shoulders of slaves and to the slaves, it was a welcome development if there was going to be a president that was at least concerned that they should have the freedom to exist and be treated as humans.

Corroborating the above position, Lincoln was also of the mindset that slaves were humans and that according to the position of the declaration of independence were entitled to the fundamental right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".

In taking the above position, Lincoln also was not campaigning for slaves to be offered citizenship but that they should be treated as free. Again this position was appealing to the White Supremacists and the blacks. It was middle-ground enough at that time.

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