JOURNAL ARTICLE
Stephen A. Douglas and a Nation of Law.
Published In: Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, 2026, v. 119, n. 1. P. 15 1 of 3
Database: America: History and Life with Full Text 2 of 3
Authored By: Ankrom, Reg 3 of 3
Abstract
This article focuses on the political career and legacy of Stephen A. Douglas, a prominent 19th-century Illinois politician known for his role in shaping U.S. westward expansion and his rivalry with Abraham Lincoln. Douglas advanced key legislation including the Compromise of 1850, which facilitated the annexation of vast western territories, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which introduced popular sovereignty to decide the issue of slavery in new states. Despite controversy and the rise of the Republican Party, Douglas remained a central figure in Democratic politics and supported the Union during the nation’s secession crisis. His efforts and debates with Lincoln significantly influenced the political landscape leading up to the Civil War. [Extracted from the article]
Additional Information
- Source:Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 2026/03, Vol. 119, Issue 1, p15
- Document Type:Article
- Subject Area:History
- Publication Date:2026
- ISSN:1522-1067
- DOI:10.5406/23283335.119.1.03
- Accession Number:192456738
- Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society is the property of Illinois State Historical Society and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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