The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858

The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of formal political debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in a campaign for one of Illinois' two United States Senate seats. Although Lincoln lost the election, these debates launched him into national prominence which eventually led to his election as President of the United States.

We are deeply indebted to the work of the Abraham Lincoln Association in collecting Lincoln's writings and publishing them as The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. It was from this monumental work that these selections were taken. The copyright to The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln is owned by the Abraham Lincoln Association, and any further copying or use of these debate transcripts must be with their permission.

| First Debate |
Ottawa, Illinois
August 21, 1858

| Second Debate |
Freeport, Illinois
August 27, 1858

| Third Debate |
Jonesboro, Illinois
September 15, 1858

| Fourth Debate |
Charleston, Illinois
September 18, 1858

| Fifth Debate |
Galesburg, Illinois
October 7, 1858

| Sixth Debate |
Quincy, Illinois
October 13, 1858

| Seventh Debate |
Alton, Illinois
October 15, 1858

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