Inside the Vault: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
During the 1858 US Senate race, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas held seven debates from August through October. Despite losing the election to Douglas, Lincoln rose from local Illinois politician to national prominence. In 1859, he was invited to give campaign speeches in five different northern states. Why did the Lincoln-Douglas debates capture national attention? Were debates in the mid-nineteenth century different from today’s?
Join us on August 1, 2024, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. ET (4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. PT) when our curators discuss the Lincoln-Douglas debates with Dr. Allen C. Guelzo, the Thomas W. Smith Distinguished Research Scholar at Princeton University.
Submit your questions for Dr. Guelzo here.
Featured Documents
- Daguerreotype of Nicolay with staff of Pittsfield, Ill. "Free Press" [Framed], ca. 1854–1856
- Cabinet Card of Abraham Lincoln, ca. 1858
- An Old Historical group. Lincoln and His Secretaries
- Abraham Lincoln to Samuel Galloway, December 19, 1859
- Political Debates between the Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, 1860
Related Resources
- Online Exhibition: Lincoln, Douglas, and Their Historic Debates
- Essay: “Lincoln” by Allen C. Guelzo (Princeton University)
- Spotlight on a Primary Source: The “House Divided” Speech, ca. 1857–1858
- Essay: “Allies for Emancipation? Black Abolitionists and Abraham Lincoln,” by Manisha Sinha (University of Connecticut), History Now 18 (Winter 2008)
I cannot attend the live program. Will it be recorded?
Yes! The program is recorded and sent in an email the following day to everyone who registers.
Future Programs
More coming soon.
About Inside the Vault
Inside the Vault: Highlights from the Gilder Lehrman Collection is an online program that highlights unique primary sources from the Gilder Lehrman Collection. From iconic historical treasures, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Emancipation Proclamation, to personal letters that reveal the contributions of ordinary American citizens, each session will investigate primary sources and discuss their background, impact, and potential use in the classroom.