The pivotal speech that changed the course of Lincoln's career and America's history. Complete examination of the speech, including the full text delivered in 1854 in Peoria, Illinois.

“A masterwork [by] the preeminent historian of the Civil War era.”—Boston Globe Selected as a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times Book Review, this landmark work gives us a definitive account of Lincoln's lifelong engagement with the nation's critical issue: American slavery. A master historian, Eric Foner draws Lincoln and the broader history of the period into perfect balance. We see Lincoln, a pragmatic politician grounded in principle, deftly navigating the dynamic politics of antislavery, secession, and civil war. Lincoln's greatness emerges from his capacity for moral and political growth.

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice In 1858, challenger Abraham Lincoln debated incumbent Stephen Douglas seven times in the race for a U.S. Senate seat from Illinois. More was at stake than slavery in those debates. In Lincoln’s Tragic Pragmatism, John Burt contends that the very legitimacy of democratic governance was on the line. In a United States stubbornly divided over ethical issues, the overarching question posed by the Lincoln-Douglas debates has not lost its urgency: Can a liberal political system be used to mediate moral disputes? And if it cannot, is violence inevitable? “John Burt has written a work that every serious student of Lincoln will have to read...Burt refracts Lincoln through the philosophy of Kant, Rawls and contemporary liberal political theory. His is very much a Lincoln for our time.” —Steven B. Smith, New York Times Book Review “I'm making space on my overstuffed shelves for Lincoln’s Tragic Pragmatism. This is a book I expect to be picking up and thumbing through for years to come.” —Jim Cullen, History News Network “Burt treats the [Lincoln-Douglas] debates as being far more significant than an election contest between two candidates. The debates represent profound statements of political philosophy and speak to the continuing challenges the U.S. faces in resolving divisive moral conflicts.” —E. C. Sands, Choice

Excerpt from Abraham Lincoln in Peoria, Illinois The writer cannot refrain from publicly ex pressing his surprise and pleasure at the reception it has received and with the requests for general distribution. Complying with this demand this second edition has been issued. It contains the first edition complete and additional matter such as pic tures of Peoria as it then appeared - early steam boats - the first railroad train to enter town over the Bureau Valley road (now the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific) from Chicago, which incident occurred November 7th, 1854, three weeks after the lincoln-douglas debate of October 16th hotels where entertainment was furnished for man and beast - a picture of Peoria in 1832 when Lin coln passed through on foot upon his return from the Black Hawk war - the old market housealso, after a long search, we have found a partial report of Judge Douglas' address, preceding Mr. Lincoln's on October 16, 1854. As far as we have been able to ascertain, this is the first time it has been published in any book. All these create an atmosphere from which may be formed a picture which it is confidently believed will prove of inter estand value to the ever increasing army of stu dents of the stirring times which preceded our National recognition and gave liberty to every man, woman and child, regardless of race, creed or color, throughout the land, and united all in ever increasing love for the flag. Lincoln's speech as given in the first edition is taken from the Peoria Transcript. Upon Lin coln's return to Springfield be, three days later, wrote out and revised it, desiring no doubt to give a more clear and not to be misunderstood expres sion of his views upon the questions then at issue. In this volume is given the reporter's copy as it appeared in the first edition as well as the address as personally revised by Mr. Lincoln upon his return to Springfield. Allowance must be made for possible errors in the reporter's copy, for shorthand was then but little in vogue and the speech was probably taken in long hand at the time delivered, but upon care ful reading I cannot help but think it accurately reported. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

From Ken Zurski, author of "The Wreck of the Columbia, " comes a collection of stories about people and events which helped shape a city and region. Included are profiles of Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Lindbergh and many other famous and not so famous figures who played a part in the rich history of Peoria and Central Illinois. Incorporating important historical milestones like the first flights, the rise of the automobile, and radio's early days, Zurski skillfully intertwines local and national perspectives into each story for a captivating trip back to the past. "Peoria Stories" will both enlighten and entertain.

In February 2009, America celebrates the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and the pace of new Lincoln books and articles has already quickened. From his cabinet’s politics to his own struggles with depression, Lincoln remains the most written-about story in our history. And each year historians find something new and important to say about the greatest of our Presidents. Lincoln Revisited is a masterly guidePub to what’s new and what’s noteworthy in this unfolding story—a brilliant gathering of fresh scholarship by the leading Lincoln historians of our time. Brought together by The Lincoln Forum, they tackle uncharted territory and emerging questions; they also take a new look at established debates—including those about their own landmark works. Here, these well-known historians revisit key chapters in Lincoln’s legacy—from Matthew Pinsker on Lincoln’s private life and Jean Baker on religion and the Lincoln marriage to Geoffrey Perret on Lincoln as leader and Frank J. Williams on Lincoln and civil liberties in wartime. The eighteen original essays explore every corner of Lincoln’s world—religion and politics, slavery and sovereignty, presidential leadership and the rule of law, the Second Inaugural Address and the assassination. In his 1947 classic, Lincoln Reconsidered, David Herbert Donald confronted the Lincoln myth. Today, the scholars in Lincoln Revisited give a new generation of students, scholars, and citizens the perspectives vital for understanding the constantly reinterpreted genius of Abraham Lincoln.