Final answer:
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were a series of seven debates that took place in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. The debates focused on the issue of slavery and its expansion, and they helped raise Lincoln's profile in the political arena.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates were a series of seven debates that took place in 1858 between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. They were held in Illinois as part of the senatorial race. The debates focused on the issue of slavery and its expansion, with Lincoln representing the Republican Party and Douglas representing the Democratic Party.
During the debates, Lincoln challenged Douglas on his position on slavery, and Douglas defended his stance. The debates gained national attention and helped to raise Lincoln's profile in the political arena, despite not winning a seat in the U.S. Senate. The debates were significant in highlighting the problem of slavery and paving the way for the next presidential election.