Final answer:
Textbooks could improve by detailing Stephen Douglas's nuanced political strategies surrounding the Kansas-Nebraska Act and his stance on slavery, notably his Freeport Doctrine. They should also explore how his efforts to navigate northern and southern views led to a split in the Democratic Party and how his opposition inadvertently amplified Abraham Lincoln's standing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Textbooks could provide a more nuanced view of Stephen Douglas, especially in the context of his role in the Illinois Senate race of 1858 and the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. While Douglas's backing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act reignited sectional tensions by allowing the possibility of slavery in new territories, it shouldn't be interpreted as enthusiastic support for slavery itself. Instead, it was a political maneuver aimed at promoting economic growth, and it underlines his complex stance on issues of the era. Douglas's Freeport Doctrine, detailed in the second debate, signified that despite the Dred Scott decision, he believed territories could still bar slavery through local laws. Textbooks should also address how Douglas and the Democratic Party were affected by these actions. Douglas's approach inadvertently contributed to the split in the Democratic Party by trying to appease both northern and southern views, which can be seen as both a political strategy and a misstep.
Furthermore, the debates showcased Douglas addressing racial equality, labelling the Republicans as a 'Black Republican' party, and throwing them on the defensive. Nevertheless, through this opposition, Abraham Lincoln became a leading national figure, thereby setting the stage for the 1860 Presidential election. Detailed exploration of these complexities in textbooks would provide students a more critical perspective on Douglas's contributions and failures.