Key issues on the Lincoln and Douglas debate with regards to slavery
Lincoln touched on the issue that America could not continue to be permanently divided where some states are free while other states hold slaves. Lincoln did not also expect the dissolution of the Union but rather he advocated for the unity of America in terms of the issue of slavery. Douglas touched on the issue of a divided house doctrine which he thought was revolutionary in America because the Union had survived for a long time using slavery. The key issue from Douglas’ arguments was that the states had the right of protecting or abolishing slavery in accordance to how the people viewed the slavery. Douglas also touched on the issue that the Negro slaves must enjoy all rights, privileges, and immunity in harmony with the society that keeps the slaves.
Events in the 1850's that helped in keeping slavery issues alive
Racism during theb1850’s was a major contribution that kept the issue of slavery alive in America. It was a major belief that the blacks were naturally inferior to the whites, although some free black people possessed the financial ability of owning slaves. Secondly, the abolitionists in America who alleged that men should not keep men as slaves were just radical political groups rather than being civil rights activists. As a result, the slaves during this period were openly discriminated against while the free black people were viewed as potential immigrants. As a result, these events contributed in keeping the issue of slavery alive in America during the 1850s.
Could America have avoided civil war if these events had not occurred?
The America Civil War is considered as an avoidable occurrence that transformed the path of the American history. The origin of the America Civil War was as a result of the issues surrounding slavery with regards to the ethical and political matters that arose among the south slave states against the north states that had abolished slavery. The war could have been prevented if the Southern states recognized that the institution of slavery was on its death bed and it was compelled to abolish slavery. As a result, the South states could abolish slavery and this could stop the abolitionist movements of the northern states that resulted in the civil war.
References
Holzer, H. (2004). The Lincoln-Douglas Debates: The First Complete, Unexpurgated Text. Bronx: Fordham University Press.
