Part Five: Years of Meteors Summary and Analysis

Lincoln ran his Senatorial campaign against Douglas on principle, not for personal gain. Lincoln's "House Divided" speech was instantly famous, though Democrats called him a warmonger and an abolitionist. He was not advocating war, only making a prediction—that if the Union continued with its moral crisis over slavery, disaster would ensue. Lincoln focused on central Illinois: the north would go to him, the south to Douglas, so the central part of the state would be the deciding factor. Though Buchanan sent men to use patronage in Lincoln's favor, Lincoln was wary of accepting favors from anyone— he wanted to remain honest. Lincoln and Douglas roamed Illinois, giving speeches and debating. Lincoln's Republicans wanted him to pin Douglas down on all the contradictions he had made in his campaign, especially his...