Abraham Lincoln

Can the Republican Party Reclaim Lincoln?

by Kevin Levin on June 6, 2013 · 8 comments · Follow me on

Next month National Review editor, Rich Lowry, is publishing a book about Abraham Lincoln. Part of the project is an attempt to reclaim Lincoln from the extreme Libertarian Right of Thomas DiLorenzo and Walter Williams, among others. In the most recent issue of NR Lowry offers a taste of his forthcoming book. The anti-Lincoln critique [...]

Four Score and Seven Years Ago

by Kevin Levin on May 30, 2013 · 6 comments · Follow me on

What do you think of this song and video? Is it an effective teaching tool for a certain age range or does it simply promote an overly simplistic narrative of American history that borders on propaganda? The song “Four Score and Seven Years Ago” sings the opening of the Gettysburg Address and tells of Lincoln, [...]

Lincoln: Front and Center With Vlade Divac

by Kevin Levin on March 12, 2013 · 0 comments · Follow me on

I’m not sure what to make of this one.  I want to say that this is Vlade Divac, but I can’t be sure. What do you think? OK, so it’s not Divac.  Either way it’s pretty hilarious.

Carole Emberton Reconsiders the Black Military Experience

by Kevin Levin on March 11, 2013 · 0 comments · Follow me on

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the current state of interpretation re: the history of black Union soldiers during the Civil War and beyond in preparation for the Future of Civil War History Conference, which will take place later this week in Gettysburg.  As I’ve said before, I think there is much to celebrate [...]

“How About You and I Form a More Perfect Union”

by Kevin Levin on February 20, 2013 · 1 comment · Follow me on

The only thing that would have been better is if they got Daniel-Day Lewis to play the role.

On January 5, 2013, director Steven Spielberg, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, and screenwriter Tony Kushner returned to Richmond, Virginia, where “Lincoln” was filmed, to discuss the process of “Bringing History to Life on Film” before an audience of 4,200. Moderated by Tim Reid.

Crowdsourcing Lincoln and Fort Sumter Classroom Simulation

by Kevin Levin on January 31, 2013 · 8 comments · Follow me on

Time for a little crowdsourcing in preparation for a simulation on Lincoln and Fort Sumter that my students will perform a week from this coming Tuesday.  The overall idea is to have my students play the role of cabinet advisers and I, of course, will play Lincoln.  Since I only have nine students we should [...]

Lincoln in the Movies

by Kevin Levin on January 27, 2013 · 8 comments · Follow me on

This first video is perfect for a course on Lincoln and/or Civil War memory.  It provides a nice overview of how Lincoln has been interpreted in Hollywood movies and television since 1915.  The only reference that I was unfamiliar with is the recent short animation, Robot Chicken: Jedi in Chief, in which George W. Bush [...]

A Presidential Inauguration for the Civil War Sesquicentennial

by Kevin Levin on January 21, 2013 · 8 comments · Follow me on

The Presidential Inauguration exercises have been filled with references to the Civil War era, including President Lincoln, Union, the 150th anniversary of emancipation and the unfinished capitol dome.  I just saw Frederick Douglass and reenactors from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry march by the president’s reviewing stand.  We even heard a reference to Stonewall, though [...]

1234567891011121314