Question

in 1858, abraham lincoln ran as the republican party candidate for the united states senate against the incumbent democratic senator, judge stephen douglas. lincoln and douglas held a series of seven debates throughout illinois, focusing overwhelmingly on what was the most contentious issue of the day: slavery, and whether it should be permitted in the new territories and states that were being rapidly acquired at the time. the lincoln - douglas debates were so heated, in part because of a controversial address lincoln had previously given at the illinois state capitol on june 16, 1858, now known as the \house divided\ speech. lincoln: a house divided against itself, cannot stand. i believe this government cannot endure, permanently, half slave and half free. i do not expect the union to be dissolved - i do not expect the house to fall - but i do expect it will become divided. it will become all one thing or all the other. either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become lawful in all the states, old as well as new - north as well as south. during the third debate in jonesboro, illinois on september 15, 1858, douglas responded to lincolns \house divided\ contention by iterating the democratic position on slavery, emphasizing the rights of states (and, by extension, new territories) to legislate their own policies on slavery. douglas: i now come back to the question, why cannot this union exist forever divided into free and slave states, as our fathers made it? it can thus exist if each state will carry out the principles upon which our institutions were founded, to wit: the right of each state to do as it pleases, without meddling with its neighbors. just act upon that great principle, and this what purpose do lincoln and douglas share in the debates? a to learn b to judge c to inform d to persuade

Explanation:

The Lincoln - Douglas debates were political debates where the two candidates were trying to gain support for their positions on slavery and other issues. Debates are typically used to persuade the audience, in this case, voters and the public on their stance regarding slavery and the future of the Union.

Answer:

A. to persuade