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Abraham Lincoln's Thirty-Year Struggle with Stephen Douglas for the Heart and Soul of America

Langston Hughes

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Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were two of the most important figures in American history. Their rivalry shaped the course of the nation, from the debates over slavery to the Civil War. This book tells the story of their thirty-year struggle for the heart and soul of America.

The Long Pursuit: Abraham Lincoln's Thirty-Year Struggle with Stephen Douglas for the Heart and Soul of America

by Suzy Quzy

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	965 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	274 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

Early Years

Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky in 1809. He grew up in poverty and had little formal education. Despite these challenges, he was a voracious reader and became a self-taught lawyer. Stephen Douglas was born in Vermont in 1813. He was the son of a well-to-do merchant and had a more privileged upbringing than Lincoln. Douglas graduated from college and studied law before moving to Illinois.

The Rivalry Begins

Lincoln and Douglas first met in 1834, when they were both serving in the Illinois legislature. They quickly became political rivals, with Lincoln representing the Whig Party and Douglas representing the Democratic Party. The rivalry intensified in 1846, when Douglas introduced the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed the people of Kansas and Nebraska to decide whether or not to allow slavery in their states. Lincoln opposed the act, arguing that it would lead to the spread of slavery into new territories.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

In 1858, Lincoln and Douglas faced off in a series of seven debates for the Illinois Senate seat. The debates were some of the most famous in American history, and they helped to raise Lincoln's national profile. Lincoln argued that slavery was morally wrong and that it should be abolished. Douglas argued that slavery was a necessary evil and that it should be allowed to continue in the South.

The Election of 1860

In 1860, Lincoln and Douglas faced off again for the presidency. Lincoln won the election, and Douglas's defeat marked the end of his political career.

The Civil War

Lincoln's election led to the secession of several Southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War. Douglas supported Lincoln's efforts to preserve the Union, and he died in 1861 from typhoid fever.

Legacy

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were two of the most important figures in American history. Their rivalry shaped the course of the nation, and their legacy continues to be debated today.

Abraham Lincoln's Thirty-Year Struggle with Stephen Douglas for the Heart and Soul of America is a fascinating and important book. It tells the story of two of the most important figures in American history and their rivalry that shaped the course of the nation.

The Long Pursuit: Abraham Lincoln's Thirty-Year Struggle with Stephen Douglas for the Heart and Soul of America

by Suzy Quzy

4.4 out of 5