As a current Lincoln-Douglas debater, I am quite interested to know how the format was initially created. Thanks! For reference, the current speech times of LD debate: • Affirmative Constructive- 6 minutes • Cross-Examination- 3 minutes • Negative Constructive- 7 minutes • Cross-Examination- 3 minutes • First Affirmative Rebuttal- 4 minutes • Negative Rebuttal- 6 minutes • Second Affirmative Rebuttal- 3 minutes
I'm not sure if I've understood your question entirely correctly but according to Battle Cry of Freedom, "in each debate the opening speaker talked for one hour, his opponent responded for an hour and a half, and the first speaker closed for half an hour. Douglas and Lincoln alternated as opening speaker, Douglas opening and closing four of the seven debates."