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One of three debate events currently in use by the National Forensic League (NFL). Also known by its initials, LD, Lincoln-Douglas was named for the famous debate that took place between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas before the Civil War. The event is differentiated from the other two debate styles in that, firstly, only one person competes per side (as opposed to the two-person teams of PF and CX), and secondly, it concentrates on issues of value and morality rather than plan, the fixation of policy debate and (theoretically) PF.

Lincoln-Douglas debate was formed in the 1970's by John Copeland as a response to the increasingly academic and technically obsessive style, also known as "progressive," that had manifested in policy debate, and is therefore seen to be more of a rhetorically inclined event than policy. On the other hand, the relative depth of focus and emphasis of logical analysis LD demands makes it more technical than PF. Contemporary coaches and LD critics disagree on which influence should (or rather, ought to) be more important.

The odd-ball of the debate family, LD attracts criticism from CXers who don't understand its conspicuous lack of cards, or evidence, and its prioritization of speaking style--though some have come to grudgingly appreciate it. PFers, who carry a significant aversion to the mention of philosophy, a critical part of the LD debater's repertoire, opine that the event is "too open-ended"--roughly translated, "too smart"--for their tastes, and only jokingly claim that they will enter it. Fortunately, nobody cares what PFers think about debate, if anything.

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