Key Terminology
heresthetic- a political strategy by which a person or group sets or manipulates the context and structure of a decision making process in order to win or be more likely to win (dictionary.com)
straw man fallacy- misrepresenting an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute; typically oversimplify opposing views and/or disregard inconvenient points in favor of points that are easy to argue against (grammarist.com)
straw man fallacy- misrepresenting an opponent’s position to make it easier to refute; typically oversimplify opposing views and/or disregard inconvenient points in favor of points that are easy to argue against (grammarist.com)
Necessary Background
- From August 21st through October 15th, 1858, Abraham Lincoln (Republican) debated Stephen Douglas (Democrat) seven times at different locations in Illinois. They competed for an Illinois Senate seat in the US Congress. The debate at Alton was the final formal speaking engagement of the "Lincoln-Douglas Debates."
- Lincoln showed tremendous audacity as he marched directly and repeatedly into the proverbial lion’s den to challenge Stephen Douglas. At the time, Douglas was one of the most seasoned and powerful political minds in American politics. These debates highlighted Democrat Stephen Douglas's adherence to popular sovereignty- the ability for future American states to vote for the state's status as a slave state or a free state. Douglas's views contradicted Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party's belief that slavery should not expand westward into the territories.
The Seventh Debate at Alton, Illinois: Lincoln's Statement
Lincoln recognizes slavery as a moral wrong and reiterates the Republican Party's commitment to keep slavery from expanding westward into the territories.
Close Reading Document and Screen Cast Videos
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Task:
1) identify and describe Lincoln's thesis statement (argument) as well as (at least) three supporting details (be prepared to explain your reasoning in a class discussion)
2) identify and explain examples of Lincoln
AND
4) how the historical context influence Lincoln's argument
2) identify and explain examples of Lincoln
- using heresthetics
- identifying the straw man argument
AND
4) how the historical context influence Lincoln's argument
Impact and Significance
Douglas had the ingenuity to be supported in the late contest both as the best means to break down, and to uphold the Slave interest. No ingenuity can keep those antagonistic elements in harmony long."
- Abraham Lincoln to Henry Asbury
…your popular majority in the state will give us the privilege of naming our man on the national ticket in 1860 -- either President or Vice Pres't.”
-Horace White to Abraham Lincoln