Lincoln on the Civil War, a Reading & Discussion program at JCAL

In recent times, the press has speculated that due to the growing polarization of US politics, perhaps a American civil war is in the offing. This fall, JCAL Reads, supported by a grant from Humanities New York, isn’t looking to stoke such speculation so much as gain a historical perspective on what this means. By examining some of the Abraham Lincoln’s addresses on freedom, civic duty, slavery and the Constitution both before and during his Presidency — from his 1838 “Address to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois” to his famous “House Divided” speech — we will reflect on how deeply painful, polarizing political times can be soothed, if not mitigated, by remembering the core and enduring American values brilliantly and timelessly articulated by our 16th President.