The Complete Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858 [Paperback]

Abraham Lincoln (Author), Stephen A. Douglas (Author), Paul M. Angle (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 1991 | ISBN-10: 0226020843 | ISBN-13: 978-0226020846

The Lincoln-Douglas debates remain our culture's model of what public political debate ought to be. This new edition of the complete transcripts of the debates and eyewitness interpretations of them (previously published under the title Created Equal?) includes a new Foreword by David Zarefsky.

Zarefsky analyzes the rhetoric of the speeches, showing how Lincoln and Douglas chose their arguments and initiated a debate that shook the nation. Their eloquent, statesmanlike discussion of the morality of slavery illustrates the masterful use of rhetorical strategies and tactics in the public forum: a form of discourse that has nearly disappeared from the political scene today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Paul M. Angle, a noted Lincoln scholar, was director of the Chicago Historical Society from 1945 to 1965.

Product Details

• Paperback: 470 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (May 28, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226020843
• ISBN-13: 978-0226020846
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars real history, November 12, 2003

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R. BULL "a reader" (Kansas City, MO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Complete Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858 (Paperback)

It is always instructive to go to original sources. These debates set Lincoln solidly on the way to the presidency. It was the first time that national newspaper coverage of a "local contest" had a role in defining national difficulties. Lincoln comes across as a passive opponent of slavery, nothing of an abolishonist. Douglas unabasedly draws distictions between the "superior" White race and all other "inferior" races, which GOT CHEERS from the crowd. This is the actual history not some sanitized version of events.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Eye Opener, October 22, 2003

By 

tzefirah "tzefirah" (Media, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858 (Paperback)

Lincoln and Douglas really stood before people and said the things documented in this book. Lincoln changed his interpretation of black-white relations to suit his target audience. With no national press available to put his feet to the fire, any candidate could change his opinions at any time to seek votes.

Douglas, although he was the same man throughout the campaign, had distasteful views to our modern perspective. Only white Christian men had anything worthwhile to offer society. Everyone else was an unpleasant burden for them to suffer with (noblesse oblige).

When I started to read the speeches, I expected Lincoln to be the obvious winner in the debates. He's a winner to me, but by a much smaller margin than anticipated. Anyone who wants to know history from the mouths of the actual players should read this book.