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The Complete Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
written by Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas
Studio : University Of Chicago Press
by University Of Chicago Press
Publisher : University Of Chicago Press
Released : 1991-05-28
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780226020846
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 2 reviews)
List Price : $28.00
Our Price : $22.88
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Product Description |
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The Lincoln-Douglas debates remain our culture's model of what public political debate ought to be. This new edition of the complete transcripts of the debates and eyewitness interpretations of them (previously published under the title Created Equal?) includes a new Foreword by David Zarefsky.
Zarefsky analyzes the rhetoric of the speeches, showing how Lincoln and Douglas chose their arguments and initiated a debate that shook the nation. Their eloquent, statesmanlike discussion of the morality of slavery illustrates the masterful use of rhetorical strategies and tactics in the public forum: a form of discourse that has nearly disappeared from the political scene today.
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real history |
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It is always instructive to go to original sources. These debates set Lincoln solidly on the way to the presidency. It was the first time that national newspaper coverage of a "local contest" had a role in defining national difficulties. Lincoln comes across as a passive opponent of slavery, nothing of an abolishonist. Douglas unabasedly draws distictions between the "superior" White race and all other "inferior" races, which GOT CHEERS from the crowd. This is the actual history not some sanitized version of events. |
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A Real Eye Opener |
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Lincoln and Douglas really stood before people and said the things documented in this book. Lincoln changed his interpretation of black-white relations to suit his target audience. With no national press available to put his feet to the fire, any candidate could change his opinions at any time to seek votes. Douglas, although he was the same man throughout the campaign, had distasteful views to our modern perspective. Only white Christian men had anything worthwhile to offer society. Everyone else was an unpleasant burden for them to suffer with (noblesse oblige). When I started to read the speeches, I expected Lincoln to be the obvious winner in the debates. He's a winner to me, but by a much smaller margin than anticipated. Anyone who wants to know history from the mouths of the actual players should read this book. |
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