Teaching Lincoln’s Evolving Views on Race

Since his assassination, Abraham Lincoln has often been referred to as the “Great Emancipator.” While he played a critical role in ending American chattel slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation and 13th Amendment, the truth is more complicated. Many Americans, Black and White, fought to end slavery, both during and before the Civil War. Further, while Lincoln opposed slavery, he held complex political and personal views on the institution and African Americans that changed over time.

In this hands-on, interactive session led by ALPLM's Lincoln Historian, Dr. Christian McWhirter, and Director of Education, Heather Nice, participants will engage in a short conversation about historical context before examining a collection of primary sources to evaluate how to teach Lincoln's views on race and slavery.

Participants have the option of attending the session virtually or in-person; upon completion, all participants will receive 3.0 credits (CPDU). If you choose to attend the in-person event, you must bring a laptop or tablet to access the session materials and abide by the museum’s COVID guidelines. Those who choose to attend virtually should also plan to connect via laptop or tablet with a microphone and webcam.