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But the opposition didn't cease, and Lovejoy's printing press was thrown into the river three times.  The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society gave him a new printing press, and local slave owners decided to destroy it.  A mob came over from St. Louis and Lovejoy was killed trying to protect his press.  This violence shocked the North.

But the opposition didn't cease, and Lovejoy's printing press was thrown into the river three times.  The Ohio Anti-Slavery Society gave him a new printing press, and local slave owners decided to destroy it.  A mob came over from St. Louis and Lovejoy was killed trying to protect his press.  This violence shocked the North.

Lincoln and Douglas were opposites in every possible way.  Lincoln was very tall, while Douglas was very short.  Lincoln had lots of dark hair, Douglas had thinning gray hair.  Lincoln was initially a Whig, Douglas was a Democrat.  Lincoln was a wealthy attorney for the powerful Railroads.  Douglas was a government attorney for the State.  Both were extremely ambitious, constantly running for public office.  Both were smarter than most in politics, and both were good public speakers (unlike, for example, Jefferson, who avoided public speaking).  Truth be told, Douglas was really the better speaker:  more compelling in style, and funnier.

From this history arose the political rivalry of Lincoln and Douglas, one of the greatest rivalries in all of American history.  Lincoln and Douglas were opposites in every possible way.  Lincoln was very tall, while Douglas was very short.  Lincoln had lots of dark hair, Douglas had thinning gray hair.  Lincoln was initially a Whig, Douglas was a Democrat.  Lincoln was a wealthy attorney for the powerful Railroads.  Douglas was a government attorney for the State.  Both were extremely ambitious, constantly running for public office.  Both were smarter than most in politics, and both were superb public speakers (unlike, for example, Jefferson, who avoided public speaking).  Truth be told, Douglas was an even better public speaker than Lincoln; Douglas was more compelling in style, and funnier.

Douglas quickly became leader of the Illinois Democratic Party, and he was originally inspired by President Andrew Jackson.  Douglas was elected at the young age of 22 to be the state’s top attorney. By age 28 he became an Illinois Supreme Court Justice; by age 29 he was elected to the House of Representatives in Congress.  At age 34 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and won every reelection until he died in office.  In the U.S. Senate, he became very powerful and earned the nickname “Little Giant.” His speeches would attract huge crowds in the galleries of the Senate.  Politically, he was almost unbeatable.   

Originally inspired by President Andrew Jackson, Douglas quickly became leader of the Illinois Democratic Party.  Douglas was elected at the young age of 22 to be the state's top attorney. By age 28 he became an Illinois Supreme Court Justice; by age 29 he was elected to the House of Representatives in Congress.  At age 34 he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and won every reelection until he died in office.  In the U.S. Senate, he became very powerful and earned the nickname "Little Giant." His speeches would attract huge crowds in the galleries of the Senate.  Politically, he was virtually unbeatable.   

As a Jacksonian Democrat, Douglas favored “manifest destiny” and acquiring as much property westward as possible.  The Mexican War was a way to obtain more property, so he favored it in the mid-1840s.

As a Jacksonian Democrat, Douglas favored Manifest Destiny and acquiring as much property westward as possible.  The Mexican War was a way to obtain more property, so he favored it in the mid-1840s.

At the same time, Abraham Lincoln was rising as a Whig in Illinois.  In contrast to Douglas, Lincoln lost virtually every election he entered.  But he kept trying, again and again.  Unlike Douglas, Lincoln opposed the Mexican War because the Whigs saw it as a way for the South to gain more slave territory.  Lincoln disputed the claim that Mexicans had shed American blood on American soil, and introduced the “Spot Resolutions” in Congress disputing where the bloodshed occurred.

At the same time, Abraham Lincoln was rising as a Whig in Illinois.  While Douglas won virtually every election he was in, Lincoln ''lost'' virtually every election he entered.  But he kept trying, again and again.  Unlike Douglas, Lincoln opposed the Mexican War because the Whigs saw it as a way for the South to gain more slave territory.  Lincoln disputed the claim that Mexicans had shed American blood on American soil, and introduced the "Spot Resolutions" in Congress disputing where the bloodshed occurred.

Economic views:  Lincoln sought economic unity (remember, he represented railroads); Douglas did not care as much, but also wanted to keep the country together.

On economic issues, Lincoln sought national unity (remember, he represented railroads).  Douglas did not care much for economic issues, but also wanted to keep the nation together.

Which person, Lincoln or Douglas, is going to be more sympathetic to slavery?  Is either going to be entirely pro-slave or abolitionist?

Consider for yourself which person, Lincoln or Douglas, is likely to be more sympathetic to slavery?  Is either going to be entirely pro-slave or abolitionist? No, both were in the middle on the slavery issue, neither entirely for or against slavery.

Both Lincoln and Douglas looked for ways to avoid the coming Civil War.  Many Americans, beginning with Jefferson, started to worry about how slavery was ripping the country apart.  Jefferson used to wake up in a cold sweat with a nightmare of where the United States was headed.

Both Lincoln and Douglas looked for ways to avoid the coming Civil War.  Many Americans, beginning with Jefferson, started to worry about how slavery was ripping the country apart.  Jefferson used to wake up in a cold sweat after having nightmares about the tragic future that the United States faced over the issue.

In 1858, Lincoln and Douglas ran against one another for Senate.  Their debates that year became known as the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, and they dealt primarily with slavery.  In the end, Douglas won the race by a vote in the legislature, but Lincoln gained valuable publicity which helped him succeed later.  The presidential debates that we hold to this day were inspired by the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

In 1858, Lincoln and Douglas ran against each another for Senate.  Their debates that year became known as the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, and they dealt primarily with slavery.  In the end, Douglas won the race by a vote in the legislature (at that time legislatures, not the public, picked the U.S. Senators).  But Lincoln gained valuable publicity which helped him succeed later.  The presidential debates that are held today were inspired by the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

==The Debate over Slavery==

==The Debate over Slavery==