Follow-up: Paul Finkelman on the Lincoln-Douglas Debates and the 1860 Election

Paul Finkelman presented this program to 50 teachers gathered at ESD112 on February 4, 2010.   In the talk, Dr. Finkelman emphasized the role Lincoln’s response to the Dred Scott decision played is his national ascendancy and the link between the debates, the election, and southern secession.

Audio Recordings (to accompany your next trip to the gym):

• Paul Finkelman on The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
• Paul Finkelman on The 1860 Election

Documents:

• Lincoln’s “House Divided” Speech (June 16, 1858)
• The Freeport Debate (August 27, 1858):  Freeport Debate; video reenactment
• Republican Party Platform 1860
• Democratic Party Platform 1860 – Breckinridge Faction
• Democratic Party Platform 1860 – Douglas Faction
• Constitutional Party Platform 1860
• South Carolina Secession Declaration (December 20, 1860)
• First Inaugural Address of Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861)

Questions to consider while reading the documents

Additional Resources

• Lincoln on the Web

Lincoln Douglas Debates

• House Divided Site
• The Lincoln/Douglas Debates of 1858
• Lincoln, Douglas, and Their Historic Debates (slide show)
• Twelve Things You Might Not Know About the Lincoln-Douglas Debates
• Life in the North and South 1847-1861: Before Brother Fought Brother (Middle School Curriculum Unit)

Election of 1860

• House Divided Site
• The Election of 1860 Role Play by Bill Bigelow
• Voting America – Election Results
• Abraham Lincoln, the 1860 Election, and the Future of the American Union and Slavery (high school lesson plan)
• The Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana Classroom Resources – Election of 1860
• The Union is Perpetual (lesson from the Chicago Historical Society)