Lincoln/Douglas%20Debate

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Lincoln/Douglas Debate

• History and Structure
• "A man never tells you anything until you
  contradict him."
• -George Bernard Shaw

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Lincoln/Douglas Debates of 1858

• The 1858 election campaign for U.S. Senate for
  state of Illinois
• Stephen A. Douglas against a then unknown Abraham
  Lincoln
• Lincoln accepted the nomination with the famous
  lines A house divided against itself cannot
  stand.' I believe this Government cannot endure
  permanently half-slave and half-free."

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Lincoln/Douglas Debates of 1858 contd

• They participated in 7 debates, 3 hours apiece,
  in 7 different cities in Illinois
• People came from all over the state to watch them
  debate in crowds of nearly 15,000
• Lincoln and Douglas presented sharply opposing
  viewpoints on the issue of slavery and the legal
  rights of blacks
• This issue addressed a problem that was dividing
  the nation and threatening the continued
  existence of the Union
• Douglas won the Senate position, but Lincoln went
  on to win the presidency in 1860.

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Lincoln/Douglas Debate Structure

• This style of debate has two sides. The side
  which favors the proposition is called the
  Affirmative position, and the side that opposes
  the proposition is called the Negative position.
• This style is very reliant on time and good
  behavior/manners.

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Lincoln/Douglas Debate

• Affirmative position debater presents
• constructive debate points. (6
  minutes)
• Negative position debater cross-examines
• affirmative points. (3 minutes)
• Negative position presents constructive debate
• points. (7 minutes)
• Affirmative position cross-examines negative
• points. (3 minutes)
• Affirmative position offers first rebuttal (4
• minutes)
• Negative position offers first rebuttal (6
• minutes)
• Affirmative position offers second rebuttal (3
• minutes)

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Congressional Debate Structure Introduction
(15-30 sec.) Attention Getter
Purpose ("I rise to the affirmative/stand
negative on the bill or resolution...")
Preview ("for the following reasons") Body (2
Minutes) Clash! o State issues
on the floor o State points in
conflict o Prove your point with
evidence including the source and date of
publication, add the credentials of
the source o logic- explain why this
evidence reinforces your point and your side
o Tell the assembly the impact of your point
and how it should affect their vote Present
a Challenge to the Opposition. Conclusion (30
sec.) Summarize key points of clash.
Summarize key points. Come full circle.
Open yourself for cross-examination and
clarification. ("I am now open for
cross-examination and points of further
clarification.")