The Lincoln versus Douglass debates were a source of much entertainment and reflection during a very difficult time for this nation. Nine debates were originally supposed to take place in nine separate congressional districts, however the two agreed to only conduct seven "joint appearances" due to their recent individual appearances in two of the districts. These two districts are Springfield and Chicago. Each debate was divided into speaking times. One candidate would speak for an hour, then the other for 90 minutes. Then the original candidate would speak for a 30-minute rebuttal. Justice Stephen Douglas was responsible for the Popular Sovereignty Act. Douglas accused Lincoln of being a member of the “black Republican party,” of wanting to free all slaves, and of overthrowing the “constitutional rights” of the slave owner. The judge was responsible for the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise in the states of Kansas and Nebraska. He soon replaced the compromise with the Popular Sovereignty Act. Before these debates Douglass had been accused of alienating people from the Republican side by encouraging their fear of a merger. Douglass seemed to be the more deceitful of the two arguing. He often lied in his private speeches and deceived voters with half-truths. Stephen Douglas would take the pro-slavery side of the debate. On the other hand, Lincoln was a staunch abolitionist and believed that the Declaration of Independence applied equally to blacks and whites. This was, as he called it, a “self-evident truth,” which is “the electric cord… that binds together the hearts of patriotic and freedom-loving men.” Lincoln expanded on this topic in his very famous speech on the division of the House. He accused Douglas of wanting... middle of paper... a good orator and rather persuasive and good at relating to the common man. He stated that Douglas' statement was seriously incorrect. These debates were the talk of the nation for months to come. Slavery was a burning issue and the role of the parties involved was an important factor in this debate. During these events, information was provided to countless people. The public was so well informed that local debates were started instead of the main debate. Issues ranging from slave rights to slave freedom were discussed. At one point Lincoln asked himself how a black man could be deprived of the rights that God and the Declaration had granted him?... this question was the basis of much discussion. Our great nation once chose to stray down the path of interpreting God's will without the guidance of our great creator. Let's hope we don't go down this road again.