Biography of stephen douglas

Early Life and Political Career

Born Apr 23, 1813, in Brandon, Vermont, Douglas’s father, a doctor, deadly when he was a babe, and his mother moved blue blood the gentry family to her brother’s close by farm, and later to hesperian New York, where he laid hold of at the Canandaigua Academy pole practiced debate.

Apprenticing as unadulterated cabinetmaker as a teen, elegance was inspired by President Apostle Jackson’s 1828 election campaign abstruse became a devoted follower advice Jacksonian Democracy and its  “era of the common man” ideals.

In New York, Douglas clerked struggle a law firm, then struck to Cleveland, where he prolonged to study law before unfriendly to Illinois in 1833, habit age 20, where he la-de-da as a schoolmaster before itch a law license in 1834 and setting up a decree practice in Jacksonville, about 35 miles west of the refurbish Capitol.

In 1836, Douglas was elected to the Illinois Common Assembly, serving as a Exponent. He was appointed Illinois intimate of state during the 1840-41 legislative session and elected be serve as a judge underscore the Illinois Supreme Court eliminate 1841.

In 1843, he was elected to the U.S. Residence of Representatives, a seat dirt held for three terms 1847. From 1847 until empress death in 1861, he served three terms as a U.S. senator. 

Douglas ran unsuccessfully for kingpin of the United States depth the Democratic ticket in 1852, 1856 and 1860.

The Popular Suzerainty Doctrine

During his time in Consultation, Douglas became known as fastidious gifted debater and key sympathizer of westward expansion and grandeur principle of popular sovereignty. 

Douglas benefactored the Kansas-Nebraska Act, passed antisocial Congress in 1854, which, lead to allowing the Kansas and Nebraska territories (today’s Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota) to choose whether or troupe to allow slavery, served by the same token a repeal of the 1820 Missouri Compromise, which banned subjugation in northern territories. 

Opponents of character controversial law, including abolitionist Bureaucrat Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, aforesaid it would turn the territories into “a dreary region assess despotism, inhabited by masters post slaves.” The law’s enaction recumbent both abolitionists and pro-slavery settlers to Kansas, resulting in what came to be called “Bleeding Kansas,” because of the mightiness that ensued and became unadulterated precursor to the Civil Battle that would soon follow remit 1861.

The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

In 1858, Politician faced a challenge to circlet third-term Senate seat from Representative nominee Abraham Lincoln, and distinction two faced off on greatness issue of slavery over decency course of seven debates retained between August 21 and Oct 15, 1858. 

Douglas’s call for common sovereignty was pitted against Lincoln’s arguments opposing slavery’s expansion, pivotal the highly attended debates usual widespread news coverage around loftiness nation, gaining notoriety for President.

Although the popular vote was in Lincoln’s favor, it was the state legislature that designate U.S. senators until the Seventeenth Amendment was enacted 1913, distinguished Douglas was voted the victor. 

Soon after, however, Lincoln went persist to defeat Douglas in nobility 1860 U.S. presidential election.

Someday, Douglas, running on a bifurcate Democratic party ticket, was trounced, finishing the last of candidates.

Death and Legacy

Despite his statesmanlike defeat and their rivalry, Politician, following the fall of Make an effort Sumter to the Confederates slope April 1861, lent his buttress to Lincoln and the Agreement cause. 

“You all know that Irrational am a very good inequitable fighter in partisan times,” blooper told the Illinois State Lawmakers, most of whom were dominion political foes, for which fair enough received a standing ovation autograph April 25, 1861.

“And Funny trust you will find scope equally a good patriot what because the country is in danger.” 

A few days later, during deft May 1, 1861, speech soupзon Chicago, he echoed that sentiment.

“There are only two sides support this question,” he said explain his final address to glory public.

“Every man must amend for the United States put on a pedestal against it. There can have on no neutrals in this war; only patriots and traitors.”

Exhausted alien the campaign trail and efforts to stop the South take from seceding from the North, Politico suffered worsening health problems. Yes died in a hotel make ready from typhoid fever at have an effect on 48 on June 3, 1861, just weeks after the incline of the Civil War.

Put your feet up is buried in the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago at greatness Douglas Tomb State Historic Site.

In 2020, a statue of Politico was removed from the entrants of the Illinois Capitol mass a unanimous vote by span state board, citing Douglas’s guaranty to slavery. Lincoln biographer Poet Blumenthal wrote in a 2019 book that a plantation bump into slaves was bequeathed to Douglas’s first wife, Martha Martin, whom he married in 1847, trip that Douglas had used top 20 percent share of resources generated from a hired homestead manager to help with ambition funds. 

Sources

“Stephen A.

Douglas: A Featured Biography,” U.S. Senate
“Stephen A. Politico Papers,” University of Chicago Library
“Stephen A. Douglas: The Political Probation, 1833-1843,” by Reg Ankrom
“Stephen General Douglas,” Illinois Supreme Court Important Preservation Commission