How did the contrasting political attitudes of Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln determine the outcome of the 1860 Presidential...

In terms of the contrasting political attitudes of Stephen
A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, the outcome of the Presidential election most definitely
rested on the topic of slavery's future in America.

The men
ran the first time, using Presidential debates as a tool to inform the people of their
views. Douglas was a Democrat, and his wish was to repeal the ban on slavery, and allow
each territory (especially with regard to westward expansion) to make its own decision
as to the laws they wanted to pass and the limitations upon them that they wanted
removed. (This was known as "popular sovereignty.") All things said, Douglas was a man
who fervently believed in the process of
"democracy."

During his acceptance speech for the
Republican nomination for the candidacy of President, Lincoln delivered these now-famous
words:

“A
house divided against itself cannot stand,” he declared. “I believe this government
cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be
dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be
divided.”

The two men faced
each other in seven debates to be held throughout the country. Though there was
discussion of trade and the economy, the focus of the debates dealt primarily with the
issue of slavery.

Lincoln lost the election of
1858.

Arguments over slavery continued. It was time for
another Presidential election. Douglas went on a nationwide speaking tour; Lincoln
stayed home.

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The dispute over the Dred Scott case had helped
the Republicans easily dominate the Northern states' congressional delegations, allowing
that party, although a newcomer on the political scene, easily to spread its popular
influence.

And...

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In 1860 every observer calculated the Republicans
had an almost unbeatable advantage in the Electoral College, since they dominated almost
every northern
state.

Ultimately, Abraham
 Lincoln won the election in 1860. It would be this election that would galvanize the
country toward civil war. The difficulty in the 1860 election was, as before, dissension
over slavery. Lincoln was able to win the election without the support of any Southern
states.