Final answer:
Lincoln and Douglass both sought the abolition of slavery and the preservation of American democratic values, as seen in the prominent Lincoln-Douglas debates, although their methods and stances on racial equality differed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass fought for the abolition of slavery and for the rights of African Americans, albeit from different perspectives and within the constraints of their time. Both men believed in liberty and the ideals of the American Revolution but grappled with the social and political realities that saw a nation divided on the issue of slavery. The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 are a pivotal moment in history, illuminating the contrasts in leadership and vision regarding slavery's place in America.
Lincoln and Douglas both envisioned a future where the principles of freedom were upheld, yet their approaches to achieving this vision differed. Lincoln emphasized the wrongness of slavery and its dehumanization of blacks but attempted to navigate the racial prejudices of his time by distancing himself from the idea of social and political equality for blacks. Meanwhile, Frederick Douglass was a staunch advocate for not only the end of slavery but also for full civil and human rights for African Americans.