Two Senators, Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, were elected to fight against each other in a series of seven debates, taking place around the state of Illinois. Douglas, born in 1813, was a lawyer and a statesman. He was short, aggressive, and massive. Douglas often, during the debates, would "roar out his sentences like a confident lion." (Harry-Williams, 76) Hence, he was nicknamed, the "Little Giant." Meanwhile, Lincoln was the exact opposite. He was awkward, towering Douglas with a height of 6'4", and spoke in a high, piping voice. His reputation was known because of his complete honesty and abstract way of thinking. Also, he wasn't very good at Illinois politics.

The debating began when Lincoln took the stage June 16th, at the Republican State Convention in Springfield. These seven, historical debates between Lincoln and Douglas took place between August 21st and October 15th. Held outdoors, the...