The Lincoln–Douglas Debates of 1858 were a series of seven
debates between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate for
the Senate in Illinois, and Senator Stephen Douglas, the
Democratic Party candidate. At the time, U.S. senators were
elected by state legislatures; thus Lincoln and Douglas were
trying for their respective parties to win control of the
Illinois legislature. The debates previewed the issues that
Lincoln would face in the aftermath of his victory in the 1860
presidential election. The main issue discussed in all seven
debates was slavery. In agreeing to the debates, Lincoln and
Douglas decided to hold one debate in each of the nine
congressional districts in Illinois. Because both had already
spoken in two—Springfield and Chicago—within a day of each
other, they decided that their "joint appearances" would be held
only in the remaining seven districts. The debates were held in
seven towns in the state of Illinois: Ottawa on August 21,
Freeport on August 27, Jonesboro on September 15, Charlest