Stephen A. Douglas, Advocate of Popular Sovereignty

Stephen Douglas

(1813-1861)

WHO HE WAS:

Stephen Arnold Douglas was a prominent American politician from Illinois, best known for his series of debates with Abraham Lincoln during the 1858 Illinois Senate race. Douglas, often dubbed the "Little Giant" for his diminutive stature but formidable political influence, was a leading advocate for the doctrine of popular sovereignty, which held that settlers should determine whether slavery would be allowed in a new U.S. territory.

WHAT HE SAID:

"Let the people rule!"

The rallying cry of Douglas, emphasizing his belief that the citizens of a territory had the right to decide their own laws regarding slavery.

WHY HE MATTERED:

Douglas played a key role in the political landscape leading up to the Civil War. His support for the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the concept of popular sovereignty intensified the national debate over slavery and contributed to the fracturing of the Union.