The Mind of Abraham Lincoln: An Immersive Afternoon

Rutgers University

Louis Masur is Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University. A cultural historian who has written on a variety of topics, his most recent work is The Sum of Our Dreams: A Concise History of America (2020). A specialist on Lincoln and the Civil War, he is the author of Lincoln’s Last Speech: Wartime Reconstruction & The Crisis of Reunion (2015), Lincoln’s Hundred Days: The Emancipation Proclamation and the War for the Union (2012), and The Civil War: A Concise History (2011). Masur’s essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, the Washington PostSlate, and on CNN. He has been elected to membership of the American Antiquarian Society, the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, and the Society of American Historians and has received teaching awards from Harvard University, the City College of New York, Trinity College and Rutgers University. His website is www.louismasur.com.

 

Overview

Every American is drawn to Abraham Lincoln.
His story invites us to marvel at how this poor, self-educated, frontier lawyer transformed himself into a political leader who defended democracy, preserved the nation, and abolished slavery. To best understand Lincoln, we must read and discuss his remarkable writing and speeches. Professor Louis Masur will provide detailed biographical information and context, and some of the time in this class will be devoted to discussion and analysis. Members of the seminar will receive a packet of writings which they may choose to read before class. These readings include some of Lincoln’s most important speeches and writings: debates with Stephen Douglas, the First and Second Inaugural, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address – as well as some less known but important works.
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