Lincoln and Emancipation
July 15–21, 2012
Columbia University
Instructors
James Oakes, Professor of History, The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY)
Matthew Pinsker, Pohanka Chair in Civil War History, Dickinson College
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Maura Wynne, Master Teacher/Coordinator
Guest Lecturers
Andrew Delbanco, Columbia University
Harold Holzer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Kate Masur, Northwestern University
Introduction:
Historians James Oakes (CUNY) and Matthew Pinsker (Dickinson College) will explore Lincoln’s evolving views on slavery, from his earliest anti-slavery expressions in the 1830s and 1840s to the development of his presidential emancipation policy during the Civil War. The seminar will consider how Lincoln grew in his attitudes about slavery and race, but also how certain of his natural rights principles remained constant throughout his career. Participants will examine a wide variety of primary source documents in the course of the week. The discussions will also strive to place Lincoln in the context of his day, offering particular attention to the ideas of abolitionists and Republicans and also to the often-complicated legal arguments in the courts and Congress that preceded the abolition of American slavery. Finally, participants will consider how historians have debated these issues and how textbooks and teachers might more effectively incorporate these controversies into their classrooms as the 150th anniversary of emancipation approaches.
Required Readings
The Fiery Trial by Eric Foner
The Radical and the Republican by James Oakes
Recommended Readings
Lincoln at Cooper Union, by Harold Holzer
“The African American Delegation to Abraham Lincoln: A Reappraisal,” Civil War History (June 2010) by Kate Masur
Lincoln’s Sanctuary, by Matthew Pinsker
Abraham Lincoln: People, Places, Politics, Gilder Lehrman History in a Box series
Course Websites
Gilder Lehrman Institute online http://gilderlehrman.org
Emancipation Digital Classroom http://housedivided.dickinson.edu/sites/emancipation
Schedule
SUNDAY, JULY 15
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration at Elliott Hall (49 Claremont Avenue)
5:30 p.m. Meet at dorm to walk to Opening Reception
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Dinner and Introductions (Amsterdam Lounge and Tapas)
MONDAY, JULY 16 LINCOLN, SLAVERY AND THE CONSTITUTION
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Introducing Abraham Lincoln (Pinsker) – 80 Claremont
HANDOUTS–Greeley Letter // Lincoln Autobiography // Boss Lincoln // Lincoln on Slavery
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Slavery and the Constitution (Oakes) – 80 Claremont
HANDOUTS–Constitution and Slavery // Lincoln and Slave Trade
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Gilder Lehrman Session (Wynne) – 307 Diana Center
HANDOUTS —House Divided Project
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Dinner
TUESDAY, JULY 17 POLITICS AND CULTURE IN THE AGE OF LINCOLN
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 A.m. Abolitionist Imagination (Delbanco)–517 Hamilton
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Lincoln and Frederick Douglass (Oakes) –517 Hamilton
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Field Study
- Cooper Union, Great Hall (Holzer)
- Plymouth Church (tour)
- Brooklyn Bridge (self-guided)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Dinner
WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 FROM CONFISCATION TO EMANCIPATION
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. Contrabands and Confiscation (Oakes) –80 Claremont
HANDOUTS–Contraband of War // Confiscation // 37th Congress // Emancipation Origins
12:00 p.m. – 1: 00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Emancipation Proclamation (Oakes / Pinsker) –Mudd 233
HANDOUTS- September 22 Proclamation // Emancipation & Law of War // Black Soldiers
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Field Study, Gilder Lehrman Collection (Beth Huffer) NYHS
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Dinner
THURSDAY, JULY 19 TOWARD ABOLITION
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Beyond Proclamation, (Oakes / Pinsker) –80 Claremont
HANDOUTS–Second Birth of Freedom // Gettysburg Revisions // Blind Memorandum
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Lincoln and African Americans (Masur) –Mudd 233
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pedagogy Session (Wynne) –Mudd 233
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Dinner
FRIDAY, JULY 20 THE LEGACY DEBATE
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Reconstructing Constitution (Oakes / Pinsker) –80 Claremont
HANDOUTS–Reconstructing Constitution // Global Context // Douglass on Lincoln
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. General Roundtable Wrap Up –80 Claremont
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Farewell Dinner (Symposium – 544 West 113th Street)
