Mr. Lincoln's Chair


Book Description

The Civil War struck America's Shaker communities with all the violence of a hurricane. Through the dramatic story of two worlds in collision, author Anita Sanchez gives illuminating insights into the nature of each. As she unfolds the story of the Shakers' quest to spur President Abraham Lincoln to grant them conscientious objector status, the reader realizes how critically important to our nation is the legacy of a people who are too often dismissed as merely being the makers of nice chairs. Vivid and beautifully written, this book is a wonderful introduction to the history, faith, culture and heritage of the Shakers, who have been interacting with and quietly influencing the mainstream culture of the United States for over 230 years while most Americans were unaware it was even happening. -Darryl Thompson Shaker historian and historical interpreter Book jacket.




I am Abraham Lincoln


Book Description

Each picture book in this series is a biography of an American hero, told in a simple, conversational, vivacious way, and always focusing on a character trait that made the person heroic. (Cover may vary) The heros are depicted as children throughout, telling their life stories in first-person present tense, which keeps the books playful and accessible to young children. This book spotlights Abraham Lincoln who always spoke his mind and was unafraid to speak for others.This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book are: • A timeline of key events in the hero’s history • Photos that bring the story more fully to life • Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable • Childhood moments that influenced the hero • Facts that make great conversation-starters • A virtue this person embodies: Abraham Lincoln's compassion made him a great leader. You’ll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!




Our American Cousin


Book Description

Our American Cousin is a three-act play written by English playwright Tom Taylor. The play opened in London in 1858 but quickly made its way to the U.S. and premiered at Laura Keene’s Theatre in New York City later that year. It remained popular in the U.S. and England for the next several decades. Its most notable claim to fame, however, is that it was the play U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was watching on April 14, 1865 when he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, who used his knowledge of the script to shoot Lincoln during a more raucous scene. The play is a classic Victorian farce with a whole range of stereotyped characters, business, and many entrances and exits. The plot features a boorish but honest American cousin who travels to the aristocratic English countryside to claim his inheritance, and then quickly becomes swept up in the family’s affairs. An inevitable rescue of the family’s fortunes and of the various damsels in distress ensues. Our American Cousin was originally written as a farce for an English audience, with the laughs coming mostly at the expense of the naive American character. But after it moved to the U.S. it was eventually recast as a comedy where English caricatures like the pompous Lord Dundreary soon became the primary source of hilarity. This early version, published in 1869, contains fewer of that character’s nonsensical adages, which soon came to be known as “Dundrearyisms,” and for which the play eventually gained much of its popular appeal.










Mr. Lincoln's T-Mails


Book Description

This “intriguing” look at the sixteenth president’s telegraph usage during the Civil War “revisits a familiar hero, but does so from an utterly new perspective” (Ken Burns). The Civil War was the first “modern war.” Because of rapid changes in American society, Abraham Lincoln became president of a divided United States during a period of technological and social revolution. Among the many modern marvels that gave the North an advantage was the telegraph, which Lincoln used to stay connected to the forces in the field in almost real time. No leader in history had ever possessed such a powerful tool to gain control over a fractious situation. An eager student of technology, Lincoln (the only president to hold a patent) had to learn to use the power of electronic messages. Without precedent to guide him, Lincoln began by reading the telegraph traffic among his generals. Then he used the telegraph to supplement his preferred form of communication—meetings and letters. He did not replace those face-to-face interactions. Through this experience, Lincoln crafted the best way to guide, reprimand, praise, reward, and encourage his commanders in the field. Written by a former FCC chairman, Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails tells a big story within a small compass—both an elegant work of history and a timeless lesson in leadership. By paying close attention to Lincoln’s “lightning messages,” we see a great leader adapt to a new medium. No reader of this work of history will be able to miss the contemporary parallels. Watching Lincoln carefully word his messages—and follow up on those words with the right actions—offers a striking example for those who spend their days tapping out notes on their various devices. “Mr. Lincoln’s T-Mails shines. . . . an accessible jaunt through this formative American event.” —USA Today “Wheeler shows a Lincoln groping for a best-use of new technology and learning the limitations of the ‘killer app.’”—Booklist “Altogether captivating.” —Harold Holzer, author of Brought Forth on This Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration




Mr. Lincoln's Way


Book Description

The touching story of a school principal and the bully whose life he'll change, by beloved New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Patricia Polacco. Mr. Lincoln is the coolest principal ever! He knows how to do everything, from jumping rope to leading nature walks. Everyone loves him . . . except for Eugene Esterhause. "Mean Gene" hates everyone who's different. He's a bully, a bad student, and he calls people awful, racist names. But Mr. Lincoln knows that Eugene isn't really bad-he's just repeating things he's heard at home. Can the principal find a way to get through to "Mean Gene" and show him that the differences between people are what make them special? "A touching and complex story that sends a positive message to kids and creates hope for these working with kids who seem to be lost and categorized as bullies."—Children's Literature










Abraham Lincoln Campaign Newspapers 1860 - 1864


Book Description

518 pages of Abraham Lincoln campaign newspapers from the elections of 1860 and 1864. Many newspapers at the time took specific and clearly partisan positions, which were often reflected in the names of the newspaper. The newspapers in this collection go beyond just a partisan political bias. These newspapers were created and existed only to get Abraham Lincoln elected or re-elected President, then ceased publication after the election. Election 1860 In 1860 there were three mainstream political parties in the United States; Republican, Democratic, and the new Constitutional Union party. The Democratic Party split into two over the issue of slavery, making 1860 a four way race. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln was the least known of all candidates seeking the nomination of the Republican Party. Best known and leading the Republican pack was United States Senator, former governor of New York and future United States Secretary of State, William H. Seward. Second was Ohio governor and future United States Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase. Third was Missouri lawyer, politician and future United States Attorney General, Edward Bates. Fourth was Horace Greeley, founder and editor The New York Tribune, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 6th district, and in 1872 the founder of the Liberal Republican Party. Fifth was Illinois lawyer and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois' 7th district (1847 - 1849), Abraham Lincoln. A former Whig party member, Lincoln became engaged in Illinois state Republican Party politics in 1854. At the 1856 Republican National Convention, the nominating process for the Vice President spot on the party's ticket ended with Lincoln coming in second place. In 1858, Lincoln sought to replace the incumbent Democrat United States Senator from Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas. The two clashed during a series of seven debates. In 1858, United States senators were elected by their state legislatures. Democrats won a slight majority of seats in the Illinois General Assembly in 1858. The legislature then re-elected Douglas. Despite his loss due to internal party politics, Lincoln gained popular publicity from his performance during the Lincoln–Douglas debates, which allowed him to enter the pack of Republican candidates in 1860. One by one the Republican candidates fell away. The consensus was that Greely was too unpredictable, Bates was too old, and Chase did not possess political skills. Lincoln won out over Seward. Seward's outspokenness on the spread of slavery made many believe that was he too radical on the issue. Lincoln was seen as a moderate when came to slavery; also it was hoped that since he was from Illinois, that he would appeal to voters in the west. The Democratic Party split into two during its national convention in Charleston, South Carolina, in April 1860. The leading Democratic candidate was Illinois Senator Stephen Douglas. Douglas advocated popular sovereignty, where the majority within a state would decide if slavery was to exist in that state. This angered most Southern Democrats who wanted the right to hold slaves guaranteed in the western territories and future states. Delegates from eight southern states withdrew from the convention and nominated their own candidate, Vice President of the United States John C. Breckinridge. A group of conservative former Whigs, along with Know Nothing party members and some Southern Democrats who were against succession, joined to form the Constitutional Union Party. In their platform they strongly spoke out against disunion and avoided the issue of slavery. They nominated former United States Senator from Tennessee John Bell. On Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, 1860, Republican Lincoln received 39.9 percent of the popular vote, Northern Democrat Douglas 29.5 percent, Southern Democrat Breckinridge 18.1 percent, and Constitutional Unionist Bell 12.5 percent. In the Electoral College Lincoln received 180 electoral votes; Breckinridge won 72 of the 303 total available electoral votes. Election 1860 Newspaper - The Freeport Wide Awake 52 pages of the Freeport Wide Awake, constituting 13 issues dating from August 18, 1860 to November 17, 1860. This weekly campaign newspaper was published between the time of the Chicago Convention and after the election in November; it supported Abraham Lincoln and Republican candidates. The newspaper's slogan was "No slumber till the battle is won." Three other newspapers were published in 1860 with "Wide Awake" in their title in: Providence; De Witt, Iowa; and Akron. Only one copy of any of the issues of these other "Wide Awake" newspapers is known to still be in existence. In the 1850's the Republican Party organized marching clubs made up of young men across the United States. In 1860, a number of "Wide Awake Clubs" were organized to support Abraham Lincoln. The Wide Awakes adopted a paramilitary style. Members wore black glazed hats, oil cloth capes to protect themselves from flames and carried six-foot long torches with a whale oil canister at its top. Wide Awakes held rallies where they marched with their torches lit, singing political campaign songs and reciting campaign slogans. Also included in this collection is a four page circular produced by the Albany, New York Republican Wide-Awake Club, regarding the uniform and the organization of the club. Election 1860 Serial Tract - Lincoln and Liberty!!! 38 pages of the tract "Lincoln and Liberty!!!," constituting 10 issues dating from June 19th, 1860 to October 2, 1860. This serial was published by the Young Men's Republican Union of the City of New York. The Young Men's Republican Union sponsored a lecture given by Lincoln on February 27, 1860 at the Cooper Union in New York City. The Cooper Union speech would be regarded by many, including eminent Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer as, "The Speech That Made Abraham Lincoln President." Election 1860 Newspaper - The Rail Splitter 24 pages of The Rail Splitter newspaper constituting 6 issues dating from June 23, 1860 to October 27, 1860. The Rail Splitter was a campaign newspaper in support of candidate Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party in the presidential campaign of 1860. This newspaper was based in Chicago, Illinois and published 18 weekly issues from June 23, 1860 to October 27, 1860, by publisher Charles Leib. A different pro-Lincoln newspaper also called the Rail Splitter was published in Cincinnati during the same time period. In the first issue, June 23, 1860, Leib wrote this in the introduction to his newspaper, "We have in our Prospectus given the reasons that induced us to establish 'The Rail Splitter.' It is occasionally thrown into our teeth, that in 1856 we labored earnestly for the election of James Buchanan, and it is true. We believed him to be an honest man, and that he ("he" in italics for emphasis) would be President, if elected. We were however, mistaken, for he is the willing tool of the slavery propagandists, who have put a collar around his neck, and will not even permit him to bark, unless in their presence." He finished his introduction by stating, "We are responsible for all articles that appear in 'The Rail Splitter,' and as this promises to be a warm and exciting campaign, in which there will be a great deal of crimination and recrimination; if we should incur the displeasure of any of the Democracy (the term Democracy was often used at the time to refer the Democratic Party and its rule) for telling the truth, and they should feel aggrieved, they can call at our office, at 66 Randolph Street, up stairs, where we will be most happy to give them any satisfaction they may desire. We will not, however, take back any statement we make, of the truth of which we are satisfied." Election 1864 The election of 1864 was disrupted by the Civil War. Electoral votes were not counted from states in rebellion. Tennessee and Louisiana, under Union control chose Electoral College electors; however Congress did not count their votes. The Democrats in non-rebellion states were divided between "Peace Democrats" and "War Democrats." The Republican Party, in a move to appeal to Northern Democrats in favor of the war, changed its name to the National Union Party for the 1864 election. Lincoln was the Republican/National Union Party nominee. Union Major General George B. McClellan was the Democratic Party nominee. McClellan ran as a "peace candidate." McClellan was still a U.S. Army general on active duty during the campaign. He did not resign his commission until Election Day. McClellan campaigned on continuing the war and restoring the Union. He was not seeking the abolition of slavery. The former position differed from the Democratic Party platform which called for an immediate end to the war and negotiated settlement with the Confederacy. The Democratic platform included the statement, "Resolved, That this Convention does explicitly declare, as the sense of the American people, that after four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretense of military necessity or war power higher than the Constitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden down, and the material prosperity of the country essentially impaired, justice, humanity, liberty, and the public welfare, demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessation of hostilities, with a view to the ultimate Convention of all the States, or other peaceable means, to the end that at the earliest practicable moment, peace may be restored on the basis of the Federal Union of the States." Lincoln had strong doubt that he would be re-elected President. The last President to be re-elected was Andrew Jackson in 1832. Military victories during the fall of 1864 boosted President Lincoln's popularity. On Election Day November 8, 1864 only 4 percent of the votes casted were by servicemen. Each state decided how they would handle voting by members of the military. Only seven states, California, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin, allowed servicemen to vote. Many servicemen would have been happy to see the election end the war. However, it is believed that most thought that ending the war would mean that their sacrifices would have been in vain. Many soldiers wrote to family members urging them to vote for Lincoln. Election Day results saw Lincoln winning 55% of the popular vote, approximately 403,000 votes. Lincoln received 30,503, 75.8 percent, of the votes cast by soldiers. Since the last election in 1860, the Electoral College added three new states Kansas, West Virginia, and Nevada, all free-soil states. In the Electoral College Lincoln received 212 of the 233 votes. Lincoln won all but 3 of the 25 states convening in the Electoral College, losing New Jersey, Delaware, and Kentucky. Election 1864 Newspaper - The Campaign Dial 404 pages of The Campaign Dial newspaper, consisting of all 51 issues published. The paper was published from September 8, 1864 to November 5, 1864. The Campaign Dial had higher production value than other campaign newspapers of the era. It was published daily except on Sunday. At a time when many major newspapers were only 4 pages, The Campaign Dial was 8 pages. The front page of most issues contained an illustration. Download for free the 38 page paper written by historian Gary L. Bunker for the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association concerning The Campaign Dial at: The Campaign Dial A Premier Lincoln Campaign Paper, 1864 by Gary L. Bunker.pdf. It contains a week-by-week analysis of the content of the newspaper. Election 1860 Newspaper - The Kentucky Campaign In addition to the 518 pages described above, this collection includes 24 pages, 3 issues, of the Southern Democrat campaign newspaper The Kentucky Campaign, which was in support of John C. Breckinridge for president. The slogan of the newspaper was a Breckinridge quote, "The constitution on equality of the States! These are symbols of everlasting union. Let these be the rally cry of the people."