Study Group Details


778: We Cannot Escape History: Abraham Lincoln, Abolition President

Monday
9:45 - 11:15
Starting March 07
Online

This course will examine in detail Abraham Lincoln's political and moral journey from opposing the expansion of slavery in 1854 to his Presidential leadership to abolish human slavery in the United States in 1865. Lincoln's essential characteristics and his motives as a politician and President will be revealed to evaluate Lincoln's continued relevance as our greatest President. Race, civil unrest, and civil rights confronted Lincoln and confront all Americans today. Lincoln's moral certainty, empathy, and political sagacity were critical human traits that guided and empowered him to victory in war and to guarantee that all Americans would be free, citizens, and entitled to equal political and civil rights. This study group has a high class size capacity.


View Syllabus

This study group is new
Class Type: Lecture and Discussion
Class Format: Online
Hours of Reading: No required reading

Study Group Leader(s):

Joe Simpson

Joe Simpson has researched Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War Era for 30 years. He has a BA in history from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Since 2019, Joe has taught Lincoln lectures at Duke University and North Carolina State University OLLI Programs. He will also teach at Emory University OLLI in 2022. He is a member of the Lincoln Forum, Abraham Lincoln Historical Association, and the American History Association.


Reading List

Prelude to Greatness: Lincoln in the 1850s (Don E. Fehrenbacher) | ISBN: 978-0804701204 | Recommended

The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery (Eric Foner) | ISBN: 978-0393340662 | Recommended

Lincoln and His Generals (T. Harry Williams) | ISBN: 978-0307741967 | Recommended