Question

During the Lincoln-Douglas debates, which position did Abraham Lincoln take?

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

c. Slaves had natural rights but were not entirely equal to whites.

Lincoln emphasized the moral iniquity of slavery and attacked popular sovereignty defended by Douglas. But in response to accusations of being a dangerous radical abolitionist stated that even if slaves had natural rights, they were not entirely equal to whites.

At the debate at Charleston Lincoln went further than ever before in denying the charge that he was an abolitionist, saying that:

“I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And in as much as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything. I do not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife. My understanding is that I can just let her alone”.

Answer 2

During the Lincoln-Douglas debates, Abraham Lincoln believed that C. Slaves had natural rights but were not entirely equal to whites.