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Abraham Lincoln and American Political Institutions of Self-Government with Michael Zuckert

Description

How can we perpetuate American political institutions of self-government? To answer this question, Michael Zuckert, author of ‘A Nation So Conceived: Abraham Lincoln and the Paradox of Democratic Sovereignty’ and professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, joins BRI Senior Fellow Tony Williams. Together, they discuss how Lincoln embodied self-government, his core of democratic sovereignty, and the statesman’s role in preserving self-government. How does Lincoln’s understanding of self-government allow us to perpetuate it today?

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Robert E. Lee & the Battle of Gettysburg with Allen Guelzo | Pivotal Battles in American History #2

How did the Battle of Gettysburg shape the outcome of the Civil War and why was it pivotal in American history? In this episode of our Scholar Talks series, "Pivotal Battles in American History," BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams is joined by Allen Guelzo, Director of the James Madison Program’s Initiative in Politics and Statesmanship and three-time winner of the prestigious Lincoln Prize, to discuss Dr. Guelzo’s highly acclaimed books "Robert E. Lee: A Life" and "Gettysburg: The Last Invasion." Why did Lee decide to join the Confederacy despite professional and personal conflicts, and how did his tactical decisions at Gettysburg influence the outcome of the Civil War?

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What made Abraham Lincoln’s famous speech at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania during the Civil War so memorable? In this episode of BRI’s Primary Source Close Reads, Kirk explores the Gettysburg Address and what the battle and speech meant to the United States. What vision of the Civil War did Lincoln create through this speech? What parts of Lincoln’s language worked to emphasize the importance of this moment for the country?