Question

Based on the text of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, what was the position of the Republican Party in 1858? Was the Republican Party an abolitionist party? Why or why not?

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Answer 1

The Lincon - Douglas debates also know as The Great Debates of 1858 were a series of debates between Abraham Lincoln,the Republican candidate and incumbent senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic party candidate. The position on slavery set out by Lincoln in the debates with Douglas formed the basis of the Republican party's platform in the 1860 election. The Grand old Party ( the Republican party ) had been founded in 1854 with the aim of opposing the extension of slavery in the western territories. This was not the same thing as proposing the outright abolition of slavery. Lincoln soon realized that such a policy would sow even greater division between the North and South, undermining the stability of the union in the process.

During the debates Douglas yet accused Lincoln of being an abolitionist, referring to his famous "House Divided" speech. However, Lincoln was driving at the necessity of maintaining the nation's stability as a political entity. That was always the first priority for him. He said himself ,he would countenance the existence of slavery in every state if it meant holding the nation together. Still Douglas persisted the charge and tried to link the abolitionist cause with racial equality,something almost no white American at that time accepted . Though some of the Republicans were indeed outright abolitionists, the Grand Old Party mainstream endorsed Lincoln's more cautious approach.