While historians have long agreed that the february 27, 1860, speech somehow accounted for lincolns rise from obscurity. The speech that made abraham lincoln president, published by simon and schuster. The battle was not only a major turning point in favor of the union army but was also the largest and. During this free, open event, sidney blumenthal, the acclaimed author of two previous volumes on abraham lincoln, recounts lincolns astonishing return from the political desert and ascent to the presidency, including his landmark speech at cooper union in february 1860. The speech is the subject of a new book by harold holzer, lincoln at cooper union. Abraham lincoln 100 photographs the most influential.
Its richly detailed account of lincoln s visit to new york in 1860 is as absorbing as any novel, and its close analysis of lincoln s cooper union address adds significantly to our understanding of his political philosophy. Abraham lincoln began the cooper union address by explaining he would refute the arguments made by stephen douglas in a widely circulated article. Its richly detailed account of lincoln s visit to new york in 1860 is as absorbing as any novel, and its close analysis of lincoln s cooper union address adds significantly to our understanding of. Lincoln at cooper union was about the speech he made in nyc in early 1860 that put him on a path to the presidency. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincoln s suitability for the presidency, and reassured conservatives of his moderation while reaffirming his opposition to slavery to republican progressives.
Lincoln believes slavery is wrong because its contrary to founding fathers beliefs. Lincoln was not yet the republican nominee for the presidency, as the convention was scheduled for may. Douglas had attempted to show that the founding fathers did not believe the national government could regulate slavery in the territories. Civil war times lincoln at cooper union is the most interesting and important book on the sixteenth president published in years. Go here for more about lincoln s cooper union speech. In october 1859 abraham lincoln accepted an invitation to lecture at henry ward beechers. The cooper union address delivered in new york city on february 27, 1860, propelled abraham lincoln to the 1860 republican nomination. While i found holzers analysis of the content of the speech fascinating, the rest of the book focused on minutiae that lincoln fanatics might appreciate but did not hold my interest. Holzer makes a convincing case that the speech not only made lincoln the leading. Lincoln at cooper union by abraham lincoln on free audio. We believe nay, we know, that that is the only thing that has ever threatened the perpetuity of the union itself. So this goes through 1859, and then in 1860, lincoln is invited to the cooper union, and then the hartford and several places back east. On the day of the speech, february 27, 1860, lincoln took a stroll on broadway with some men from the republican group hosting his speech.
The speech that made him president paperback november 3, 2003 by john a. Abraham lincoln and the triumph of an antislavery nationalism jstor. Cooper union speech, february 27, 1860 cooper union, courtesy of library of congress according to matt pinsker, lincolns cooper union speech offers the best and most comprehensive statement of lincolns political beliefs on the eve of his nomination for president housedivided. While this book is rather academic, i want to know if goodreaders enjoyed this book. Big crowds and lots of press coverage, and in general, and so you know, were in february of 1860, and those speeches were over by the first week in march. The presidency of abraham lincoln began on march 4, 1861, when he was inaugurated as the 16th president of the united states, and ended upon his assassination and death on april 15, 1865, 42 days into his second term.
The cooper union speech or address, known at the time as the cooper institute speech, was delivered by abraham lincoln on february 27, 1860, at cooper union, in new york city. Abraham lincoln 18091865 on 27 february 1860, abraham lincoln gave this address at the cooper union in new york city. Harold holzers new book further cements lincoln s reputation as the united states greatest president. The book is very well written, and does a great job of telling the story of lincoln, the country, and the politics of the time period. In this book about abraham lincoln s cooper union address, harold holzer claims, never before or since in american history has a single speech so dramatically catapulted a candidate toward the white house 235. When he gave the speech, lincoln was considered by many to be just a country lawyer. Winner of the lincoln prize lincoln at cooper union explores lincoln s most influential and widely reported prepresidential address an extraordinary appeal by the western politician to the eastern elite that propelled him toward the republican nomination for president. The lincoln douglas debates are often cited as the instrument that thrust abraham lincoln into national prominence. Lincoln spoke honestly, if insincerely, as goodwin puts it, during the push to. On february 27, 1860 abraham lincoln, at the invitation of an organization calling itself the young mens central republican union, delivered a masterful speech in the great hall at the cooper union that would cement his candidacy for president. The book went through several printings in the 1850s and early 1860s and helped to fuel abolitionist sentiment in the north.
Winner of the lincoln prizelincoln at cooper union explores. Before taking to the podium, he stopped at the broadway photography studio of mathew b. In this book about abraham lincolns cooper union address, harold holzer claims, never before or since in american history has a single speech so dramatically catapulted a candidate toward the white house 235. This book is a must for anyone fascinated by abraham lincoln.
Cooper union speech, february 27, 1860 lincoln as the. Lincoln at cooper union audiobook by harold holzer. Elementary students can use the images from the timeline to create a picture book about lincoln. Winner of the lincoln prizelincoln at cooper union explores lincoln s most influential and widely reported prepresidential address an extraordinary appeal by the western politician to the eastern elite that propelled him toward the republican nomination for president. Trump and lincolns cooper union speech the historic present. It is considered one of his most important speeches. Here we take a look at abraham lincolns speech at the cooper institute in new york city now cooper union on february 28, 1860 and compare one part of it with the rhetoric coming from trump supporters in 2016. The facts with which i deal with this evening are mainly old and familiar. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of abraham lincoln and what it means. The western politians introduction to the east, the. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincolns.
After he arrived in new york lincoln learned the venue of his speech had changed, from beechers church in brooklyn to the cooper union then called cooper institute, in manhattan. Lincoln movie borrowed from the book team of rivals by doris kearns. Abraham lincoln at the cooper union the cooper union. Abraham lincolns most famous and eloquent words were spoken in a brief speech given at the site just four months after the battle. Abraham lincoln he bolstered his national reputation with a speech he delivered at cooper union in new york city, february 1860. Abraham lincoln cooper union speech text voices of. The cooper union speech or address, known at the time as the cooper institute speech, was delivered by abraham lincoln on february 27, 1860, at cooper.
After he gave the speech, he soon became his partys nominee for president. It follows the full text transcript of abraham lincoln s cooper union address, delivered in the great hall of the cooper union in manhattan, new york, n. Cooper union speech february 27, 1860 lincolns writings. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In 1860, abraham lincoln makes a speech in new york and lays out a middle ground for the republican party. Its richly detailed account of lincolns visit to new york in 1860 is as absorbing as any novel, and its close analysis of lincolns cooper union address adds. Lincoln at cooper union book by harold holzer official. In february 1860, abraham lincoln, an unknown lawyer from the west with no formal education, delivered a speech before a new york audience that transformed him into a serious presidential contender. On 27 february 1860, abraham lincoln gave this address at the cooper union in new york city.
Lincoln was the first member of the recentlyestablished republican party elected to the presidency. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts. Lincoln had gained a reputation and a following among some republicans in 1858 when he skillfully debated senator stephen a. A republican that ran in the election of 1860 who was against adding any new slave states. When lincoln arrived in new york, the young mens republican union had assumed sponsorship of the speech and moved its location to the cooper institute in manhattan. Lincoln at cooper union explores lincolns most influential and widely reported prepresidential address an extraordinary appeal by the western politician to the eastern elite that propelled him toward the republican nomination for president. Abraham lincolns 1860 cooper union address youtube. Harold holzer talks about his book, lincoln and the power of the press. Abraham lincoln at cooper institute, new york city new york, ny 27 february 1860 1 mr. On this day 158 years agofebruary 27, 1860 abraham lincoln of illinois delivered an invited speech at the cooper institute in new york city. The speech that made abraham lincoln president presents an analysis of the famed 1860 speech, with particular attention to the historical, polit. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The speech had to be perfect, but lincoln also knew the importance of image.
In lincoln at cooper union he does for lincolns 1860 speech what garry wills did for the gettysburg address. Lincoln s speech at cooper union in new york city early in 1860 was designed as a rebuttal to stephen a. Summary of lincoln s arguments at cooper union note. Larry arnn on lincolns cooper union speech the hugh. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincoln s suitability for the. Lincoln at cooper union explores lincoln s most influential and widely reported prepresidential address an extraordinary appeal by the western politician to the eastern elite that propelled him toward the republican nomination for president. Abraham lincoln, address at cooper institute, new york. The union s board included members such as horace greeley and william cullen bryant, who opposed william seward for the republican presidential nomination.
Abraham lincoln was a littleknown oneterm illinois congressman with national aspirations when he arrived in new york city in february 1860 to speak at the cooper union. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincoln s. Had it not been for his right makes might speech on feb. Douglass doctrine of popular sovereignty, which would have allowed the spread of slavery into the territories. Again, our point of comparison between the 1860 and the 2016 presidential campaigns is sectionalism. Some historians have argued that the speech was responsible for. A surprisingly great read about the narrow topic of abraham lincoln s speech at cooper union in 1860. Douglas of illinois a democrat as the two ran against one another to represent illinois in the united states senate. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincoln s suitability for the presidency, and reassured. Summary of lincolns arguments at cooper union lincoln.
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