Chapter 15: Lincoln Decides to Return to Politics

The Kansas-Nebraska controversy and the Kansas violence opens the door for Lincoln to re-enter national politics.

Douglas has been his adversary in Illinois since 1834, both in courtroom battles and the courtship of Mary Todd. Furthermore, Lincoln does not like Douglas. He refers to him as “the least man I ever saw” who “will tell a lie to ten thousand people one day, even though he knows he may have to deny it to five thousand the next.”

Abe sets his sights on challenging Douglas in his bid for re-election to his Senate seat in 1858.