 
The Lincoln Douglas debates in the fall of 1858 were termed by an East
Coast news reporter as a “Prairie Fire “ spreading across the country.
While Lincoln lost the 1858 senate election to Douglas by a vote of the
Illinois legislature, the seeds were planted from these debates for the
1860 presidential election between these two same men. Since then, in
virtually all debate classes, presidential debates, and every
substantial debate of merit the Lincoln - Douglas debates are referenced
as the “ gold standard “ of debating - both for the historical
significance of the debates at that time to the United States, but also
for the oratorical skills displayed by both legislators.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Epilogue
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