Course Description:

This course is an intensive study of one [or more] important text[s] in American history, politics or literature. Examples might include The Federalist Papers, Franklin's Autobiography, Tocqueville's Democracy in America or Twain's Huckleberry Finn. The text[s] may change from course to course, and the course may be repeated up to two times with the permission of the Chair.

Abraham Lincoln wove his words into the fabric of American history. In the twenty-first century, Lincoln's political language remains more contemporary than all but the most timeless of the political language of the American Founding. This course is a study of selected Lincoln speeches [and writings] aiming to illuminate Lincoln's understanding of the relation of the principles of the American Founding to the most pressing issues of his day.

Readings:

• Lewis E. Lehrman, Lincoln at Peoria: The Turning Point. Stackpole Books (July 4, 2008) ISBN-10: 0811703614; ISBN-13: 978-0811703611.
• Roy Basler, ed., Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings (Paperback). Da Capo Press (December 4, 2001) ISBN-10: 0306810751; ISBN-13: 978-0306810756.
• Allen C. Guelzo, Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America (Paperback). Simon & Schuster (7 Nov 2006) ISBN-10: 0743299655; ISBN-13: 978-0743299657.
• Declaration of Independence and Constitution of the United States of America. ISBN: 1878802232. Ashbrook Center Booklet, Ashland, Ohio: Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs, 2001.
• Course Packet (CP)

Recommended Readings:

• Garry Wills, Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words that Remade America. Simon & Schuster (November 14, 2006) ISBN-10: 0743299639; ISBN-13: 978-0743299633.
• Ronald C. White, Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural. Simon & Schuster (February 3, 2003) ISBN-10: 0743212991; ISBN-13: 978-0743212991.
• Harry V. Jaffa, Crisis of the House Divided: An Interpretation of the Issues in the Lincoln Douglas Debates. University of Chicago Press (1999) ISBN 0226391132.
• Harold Holzer, Lincoln at Cooper Union: The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President Simon & Schuster Lincoln Library (November 7, 2006) ISBN-13: 978-0743299640.

Course Objectives:

This course has three broad objectives: to engage in the serious reading of important texts in American history and government; to make progress toward greater understanding of certain pivotal events in American history; and to understand the statesmanship manifested in selected Lincoln speeches and writings. More specifically, the course aims to increase participants' familiarity with and understanding of:

1. How to read a complex political text.
2. Some of the important issues in American politics in the 1850s and '60s.
3. Selected Lincoln speeches and documents.
4. The relation of Lincoln's arguments and actions to the purposes of the American Founding.
5. The relation of Lincoln's arguments and actions to the great political issues of his day.

Course Requirements:

A 3-4 page seminar paper (due at the beginning of Session 17) and a final examination.

Grades will be assigned in the following manner:

If you have the opportunity to devote any time preparing for this course in advance, you can consult the schedule and see what the sequence of readings and topics will be.

Students auditing the course as a part of a Teaching American History Grant program must complete the readings and attend all of the seminars and fully participate during the week.

Sunday, July 5
4:30 - 6:00 pm: Introduction to this course and Session I

Topic: Apples of Gold and Pictures of Silver: Lincoln and the American Founding

Focus: Jefferson wrote that in drafting the Declaration of Independence he meant to give expression to "the American mind." What does the Declaration tell us about the American mind as it relates to the foundations, forms, and purposes of the first political institutions established in the newly sovereign United States of America? How does Lincoln understand the relation between the Declaration and the Constitution? How does the fact of slavery affect the Declaration and the Constitution?

Reading:

• Declaration of Independence (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 3)
• Selection from Thomas Jefferson letter to Henry Lee (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 51)
• Selection from Thomas Jefferson letter to Roger Weightman (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 52)
• Abraham Lincoln, Fragment on the Constitution and Union (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 58)
• Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Debates in Congress (The Founders' Constitution, Chapter 15, Document 18) (CP p. 3)
• Alexander Stephens, Cornerstone Speech, March 1861, excerpt, (CP p. 8)
• The Constitution of the United States (Declaration/Constitution booklet, p. 9)

7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Session 2 Institute Lecture (Attendance is required)

Monday, July 6
9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 3

Topic: Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854

Focus: In each of our readings we are looking for the political judgment that informs the words and arguments. What is the occasion for the speech or document? What is at stake? What are the relevant political circumstances, immediate and far-removed? How do they affect the speech or document? What does the speech or document aim to accomplish? What is it arguing against and what are the alternative views? What obstacles does it aim to overcome? To what audiences is it addressed? How does it appeal to them? What principles can be discerned at work in it; what practical calculations? How does it attempt to reconcile justice with consent and the rule of law?

Reading:

• Lehrman, 289-328, "Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854"
• Lehrman, 1-68

10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 4

Topic: Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854

Reading:

• Lehrman, 289-328 "Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854"
• Lehrman, 69-140

1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Session 5

Topic: Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854

Reading:

• Lehrman, 289-328, "Speech at Peoria, October 16, 1854"
• Lehrman, 140-188

Tuesday, July 7
9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 6

Topic: Dred Scott speech, June 26, 1857

Reading:

• Basler, 352, "Dred Scott speech, June 26, 1857"
• Lehrman, 189-196

10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 7

Topic: A House Divided speech, June 16, 1858 (Springfield)

Reading:

• Basler, 372, "A House Divided speech, June 16, 1858 (Springfield)"
• Lehrman, 196-209
• Harry V. Jaffa, "The Speech that Changed the World" (CP pg 16)

1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Session 8

Topic: Cooper Union Speech, February 27, 1860 (New York)

Reading:

• Basler, 517, "Address at Cooper Union, February 27, 1860 (New York)"
• Lehrman, 209-215
• Guelzo, "Lincoln's Audition" (CP pg 24)

Wednesday, July 8
9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 9

Topic: First Inaugural, March 4, 1861

Reading:

• Basler, 577, "Address at Independence Hall, February 22, 1861"
• Basler, 579, "First Inaugural, March 4, 1861"
• Basler, 594, "Message to Congress in Special Session, July 4, 1861"
• Lehrman, 217-255

10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 10

Topic: Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1862; January 1, 1863

Reading:

• Basler, 651, "Letter to Horace Greeley, August 22, 1862"
• Emancipation Proclamation,
  • September 22, 1862 (CP pg. 30)
  • January 1, 1863 (Basler, pg. 689)
• Guelzo, 1-59

1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Session 11

Topic: Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1862; January 1, 1863

Reading:

• Emancipation Proclamation,
  • September 22, 1862 (CP pg. 30)
  • January 1, 1863 (Basler, pg. 689)
• Guelzo, 61-111

Thursday, July 9
9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 12

Topic: Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1862; January 1, 1863

Reading:

• Emancipation Proclamation,
  • September 22, 1862 (CP pg. 30)
  • January 1, 1863 (Basler, pg. 689)
• Guelzo, 111-156

10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 13

Topic: Emancipation Proclamation, September 22, 1862; January 1, 1863

Reading:

• Emancipation Proclamation,
  • September 22, 1862 (CP pg. 30)
  • January 1, 1863 (Basler, pg. 689)
• Guelzo, 157-250

1:45 pm - 3:15 pm: Session 14

Topic: Gettysburg Address

Reading:

• Basler, 734, "Gettysburg Address"
• Selected commentary

Friday, July 10
9:00 am - 10:30 am: Session 15

Topic: Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

Reading:

• Basler, 792, "Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865"
• Selected commentary

10:50 am - 12:20 pm: Session 16

Topic: Review and Conclusions

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Session 17 (Paper due)

Final Examination