This book offers a concise and insightful overview of the history of political parties in America, as told by Stephen A. Douglas, one of the most prominent and controversial political figures of the 19th century. It covers the main constitutional and party questions of the day, including the issue of slavery, and provides a unique perspective on some of the most important events in American history. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of politics and government in the US. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.