What did Lincoln and Douglas believe about the equality of blacks and whites?

Abraham Lincoln believed that while he opposed the expansion of slavery and recognized the rights of African Americans to certain liberties, he did not initially advocate for complete social and political equality between blacks and whites. In contrast, Stephen A. Douglas held a more segregationist view, asserting that states should have the right to determine their own policies on slavery, and he did not support any measures that would promote racial equality. Their differing perspectives were central to the debates during the 1858 Illinois Senate race, reflecting the broader tensions over race and rights in America at the time.