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'''Stephen Arnold Douglas''' nicknamed the '''"Little Giant"''' (April 23, 1813 – June 3, 1861) was an  American politician from the western state of [[Illinois]], and was the [[Democratic Party]] nominee for President in 1860. He lost to [[Republican Party]] candidate [[Abraham Lincoln]].  As a brilliant party leader, and an adroit, ready, skillful tactician in debate and passage of legislation, he shaped the [[Third Party System]] by taking leadership of the Democratic party away from pro-Southern men like President [[James Buchanan]], and committing it to the basic principle of democracy, "Let the People Rule!"  

'''Stephen Arnold Douglas''' nicknamed the '''"Little Giant"''' (April 23, 1813 – June 3, 1861) was an  American politician from the western state of [[Illinois]], and was the [[Democratic Party]] nominee for President in 1860. He lost to [[Republican Party]] candidate [[Abraham Lincoln]].  As a brilliant party leader, and an adroit, ready, skillful tactician in debate and passage of legislation, he shaped the [[Third Party System]] by taking leadership of the Democratic party away from pro-Southern men like President [[James Buchanan]], and committing it to the basic principle of democracy, "Let the People Rule!"  

As chairman of the Committee on Territories, Douglas dominated the Senate in the 1850s and shaped most of the debates over slavery.  He was largely responsible for the [[Compromise of 1850]] that apparently settled slavery issues. However in 1854 he reopened the slavery question by the highly controversial [[Kansas Nebraska Act]] that allowed the people of the new territories to decide for themselves whether or not to have slavery (which had been prohibited by earlier compromises).  The protest movement against this became the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].  

As chairman of the Committee on Territories, Douglas dominated the Senate in the 1850s and shaped most of the debates over slavery.  He was largely responsible for the [[Compromise of 1850]] that apparently settled slavery issues. However, in 1854 he reopened the slavery question by the highly controversial [[Kansas Nebraska Act]] that allowed the people of the new territories to decide for themselves whether or not to have slavery (which had been prohibited by earlier compromises).  The protest movement against this became the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].  

Douglas supported the ''[[Dred Scott]]'' Supreme Court decision of 1857, and denied that it was part of a Southern plot to introduce slavery in the Northern states; but also argued  it could not be effective when the people of a Territory declined to pass laws supporting it.<ref>McPherson, pp. 177-8</ref>  When President Buchanan and his Southern allies attempted to pass a Federal slave code, to support slavery even against the wishes of the people of Kansas, he battled and defeated this movement as undemocratic. This caused the split in the Democratic Party in 1860, as Douglas won the nomination but a breakaway southern faction nominated their own candidate.  Douglas deeply believed in democracy, arguing the will of the people should always be decisive.<ref>Dean (1994)</ref>  When war came in April 1861, he rallied his supporters to the Union with all his energies, but he died a few weeks later.  

Douglas supported the ''[[Dred Scott]]'' Supreme Court decision of 1857, and denied that it was part of a Southern plot to introduce slavery in the Northern states; but also argued  it could not be effective when the people of a Territory declined to pass laws supporting it.<ref>McPherson, pp. 177-8</ref>  When President Buchanan and his Southern allies attempted to pass a Federal slave code, to support slavery even against the wishes of the people of Kansas, he battled and defeated this movement as undemocratic. This caused the split in the Democratic Party in 1860, as Douglas won the nomination but a breakaway southern faction nominated their own candidate.  Douglas deeply believed in democracy, arguing the will of the people should always be decisive.<ref>Dean (1994)</ref>  When war came in April 1861, he rallied his supporters to the Union with all his energies, but he died a few weeks later.