Prof. Allen Guelzo: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+19+Guelzo.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Focus

As Lincoln recounts the early history of the federal government, what authority did it exercise over slavery? What problems do southerners have with the Republican Party, and how does Lincoln respond to their charges? Why does Lincoln claim that the southern disposition during the 1860 election year was to “rule or ruin in all events”? What is his advice to Republicans as they face opposition over the slavery controversy? In his address to the New Jersey Senate, why does Lincoln call the American citizenry God’s “almost chosen people”? What is Lincoln’s declared agenda as the incoming president? Why does he think secession unjustified and illegitimate? What is Lincoln’s view of the authority of the Supreme Court? What does Lincoln mean by “the better angels of our nature”? How does Lincoln think the country can avoid civil war?

Readings

Fornieri, The Language of Liberty

Address at Cooper Institute (Feb. 27, 1860)

Letter to George Ashmun (May 23, 1860)

Farewell Address to N.J. Senate (Feb. 21, 1861)

Address in Independence Hall, Philadelphia (Feb. 22, 1861)

First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1861)

James Buchanan, State of the Union Address (Dec. 1860)

Letter to Alexander H. Stephens (Dec. 22, 1860)

Farewell Speech at Springfield (Feb. 11, 1861)

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+18+Morel.mp3 Focus What reasons did Southern secession commissioners give for seceding from the Union? What reasons did Alexander Stephens give in defense of the Southern Confederacy?   Readings Charles B. Dew, "Apostles of Secession," North and South, IV (April 2001) John C. Calhoun, "Slavery as a Positive Good" (February 6, 1837) R.B. Rhett and C.G. Memminger, "The Justifying Causes of Secession" Alexander Stephens, Cornerstone Speech Lincoln, "Proclamation Calling Militia and Convening Congress," (April 15, 1861) Constitution of the Confederate States of America Lincoln, "Letter to Reverdy Jackson" (April 24, 1861) Lincoln, "Letter to Winfield Scott" (April 25, 1861) Fornieri, The Language of Liberty Annual Message to Congress (December 3, 1861), Excerpt Supplemental/Optional Readings McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, chap. 8 Mackubin Thomas Owens, "The Case Against Secession" The post Session 18: The Rights and Wrongs of Secession appeared first on Teaching American History.

Dr. Lucas Morel: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+18+Morel.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Focus

What reasons did Southern secession commissioners give for seceding from the Union? What reasons did Alexander Stephens give in defense of the Southern Confederacy?

Readings

Charles B. Dew, “Apostles of Secession,” North and South, IV (April 2001)

John C. Calhoun, “Slavery as a Positive Good” (February 6, 1837)

R.B. Rhett and C.G. Memminger, “The Justifying Causes of Secession”

Alexander Stephens, Cornerstone Speech

Lincoln, “Proclamation Calling Militia and Convening Congress,” (April 15, 1861)

Constitution of the Confederate States of America

Lincoln, “Letter to Reverdy Jackson” (April 24, 1861)

Lincoln, “Letter to Winfield Scott” (April 25, 1861)

Fornieri, The Language of Liberty

Annual Message to Congress (December 3, 1861), Excerpt

Supplemental/Optional Readings

McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, chap. 8

Mackubin Thomas Owens, “The Case Against Secession”

TAH.org hosted the fifth in this school year's American Presidents webinar series, this time focusing on the single term presidency of James K. Polk. The 72-minute discussion between scholars was attended by a live teacher audience of 69 from across the country, and touched on topics from Polk's role in Manifest Destiny to the Mexican War, and his impact on America of his times and afterward. The post Saturday Webinar: James K. Polk appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/tah-podcasts/15-16+podcasts/2015+11+07+James+Polk+webinar+audio.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

TAH.org hosted the fifth in this school year’s American Presidents webinar series, this time focusing on the single term presidency of James K. Polk. The 72-minute discussion between scholars was attended by a live teacher audience of 69 from across the country, and touched on topics from Polk’s role in Manifest Destiny to the Mexican War, and his impact on America of his times and afterward.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+17+McPherson.mp3 Focus Why did the South secede? Why did secession lead to war? For a half century the northern, free states coexisted politically in the same nation with southern, slaveholding states. Why and how did that national structure fall apart in the 1850s? Was this breakdown inevitable, or could wiser political leadership have prevented it? Why did the election of Abraham Lincoln as president precipitate the secession of seven lower-South states? Why did both sides prefer war to compromise? Could this terrible war have been avoided? Could the positive results of the war (Union and freedom) have been achieved without war?   Readings James M. McPherson, "What Caused the Civil War?," North and South, IV (Nov. 2000), 12-22, and response to this article in subsequent issues of North and South. Hans L. Terfousse, The Causes of the Civil War, 91-125 (excerpts from Ramsdell, Potter and Current). Charles B. Dew, "Apostles of Secession," North and South, IV (April 2001), 24-38. The post Session 17: The Causes of the Civil War appeared first on Teaching American History.

Dr. James M. McPherson: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+17+McPherson.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

Focus

Why did the South secede? Why did secession lead to war? For a half century the northern, free states coexisted politically in the same nation with southern, slaveholding states. Why and how did that national structure fall apart in the 1850s? Was this breakdown inevitable, or could wiser political leadership have prevented it? Why did the election of Abraham Lincoln as president precipitate the secession of seven lower-South states? Why did both sides prefer war to compromise? Could this terrible war have been avoided? Could the positive results of the war (Union and freedom) have been achieved without war?

Readings

James M. McPherson, “What Caused the Civil War?,” North and South, IV (Nov. 2000), 12-22, and response to this article in subsequent issues of North and South.

Hans L. Terfousse, The Causes of the Civil War, 91-125 (excerpts from Ramsdell, Potter and Current).

Charles B. Dew, “Apostles of Secession,” North and South, IV (April 2001), 24-38.

The final session of the Foundation for Teaching the U.S. Constitution webinar took place on Tuesday, 27 October 2015, with Dr. Gordon Lloyd discussing the final Hearing Question and the challenges that face and are likely to face American Constitutional Democracy in the 21st Century. The post We The People Webinar session 6 appeared first on Teaching American History.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/tah-podcasts/Gordon+Lloyd/We+The+People+A+Foundation+for+Teaching+the+Constitution+Dr+Gordon+Lloyd+webinar+session+6+audio.mp3 | Open Player in New Window

The final session of the Foundation for Teaching the U.S. Constitution webinar took place on Tuesday, 27 October 2015, with Dr. Gordon Lloyd discussing the final Hearing Question and the challenges that face and are likely to face American Constitutional Democracy in the 21st Century.

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/presidential-academy/Session+16+Guelzo.mp3 Focus Contrast Lincoln's understanding of the relation between public opinion and political rule with that of Stephen Douglas. What does Douglas mean by "diversity" and how does he use it to attack Lincoln's alleged doctrine of "uniformity"? Why does Douglas think Lincoln is wrong to criticize the Dred Scott opinion? How does Lincoln answer Douglas's charges? What does Lincoln mean by the "moral lights" of the community? In the second debate, how does Lincoln force Douglas into a quandary regarding popular sovereignty and support for the Dred Scott opinion? (See Douglas's argument about "unfriendly legislation.") In the seventh debate, what is Lincoln's understanding of the Founders' views regarding slavery? How does Lincoln show that the rhetoric of Douglas makes him a kind of abolitionist in practice?   Readings Fornieri, The Language of Liberty A House Divided (June 16, 1858) The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858), 1st, 2nd, and 7th Debates Supplemental/Optional Readings: Fornieri, The Language of Liberty Speech in Reply to Douglas at Chicago (July 10, 1858) Speech in Reply to Douglas at Springfield (July 17, 1858) The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858), Background, 251-61 The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858), 3rd through 6th Debates The post Session 16: Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858 appeared first on Teaching American History.