The Civil War: 150 Years. National Park Service Sesquicentennial Commemoration.

Then: June 3, 1861

Death of a Statesman

Stephen Douglas was among the greatest legislators of the 1850s, but his controversial views split up the Democratic Party and enabled Lincoln to win the presidential race.

History: Biography of "The Little Giant"
Resources: The Famous Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Now: September 26, 2008

The Legacy of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates

Though the format is considerably changed from the original, modern presidential debates trace their roots to the Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

Resources: Commission on Presidential Debates