{"product_id":"stephen-a-douglas-the-political-apprenticeship-1833-1843","title":"Stephen A. Douglas","description":"\u003cp\u003e   When newly elected Illinois State Representative Abraham Lincoln first saw 5'4\" Stephen A. Douglas, he sized him up as \"the least man I ever saw.\" With the introduction of Douglas's first bill in 1834, Lincoln soon thought differently. The General Assembly not only passed the bill, it appointed the 21-year-old Douglas State's Attorney of Illinois' largest judicial district, replacing John J. Hardin, one of Lincoln's most powerful political allies.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e   It was the first of many Douglas-Lincoln contests in the decade ahead. Struggles over banking, internal improvements, party organizations, the seat of government and slavery--even romantic rivalry--put them on opposing sides long before the 1860 presidential election. These battles were Douglas's political apprenticeship and he would use what he learned to obstruct Lincoln--his friend and nemesis--while becoming the most powerful Democrat in the nation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"McFarland \u0026 Co Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32065174339667,"sku":"","price":36.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9780786498079.jpg?v=1764988244","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/stephen-a-douglas-the-political-apprenticeship-1833-1843","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}