Historian: Civil War never truly ended
Author to speak about the conflict’s continuing impact Oct. 12 at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
 

[October 09, 2023]    Abraham Lincoln offered a compelling vision of a prosperous and united country after the Civil War, and then an assassin robbed America of his leadership. Historian Jeremi Suri believes that act of violence ruined the divided nation’s chance for a fresh start.

Suri will speak Oct. 12 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum about the struggles for justice and unity in the aftermath of Lincoln’s death. He’ll explain how Confederate resistance remained strong and ultimately prevented American democracy from reaching its potential.

Suri will draw from his most recent book, “Civil War by Other Means: America's Long and Unfinished Fight for Democracy,” which argues America remains trapped in “the long shadow of a civil war that still has not ended.”

His presentation begins at 6:30 on Thursday, Oct. 12, at the presidential museum’s Union Theater. It will also be available online. To reserve a seat or get Zoom access, visit the Events section of the ALPLM’s website, www.PresidentLincoln.Illinois.gov . Educators who attend the event and complete an Illinois State Board of Education survey will receive 1.5 continuing professional development units.

Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author and editor of eleven books on contemporary politics and foreign policy and hosts the podcast “This Is Democracy.”

After he speaks, Suri will have a limited number of copies of his book available for purchase and signing.

The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is to inspire civic engagement through the diverse lens of Illinois history and sharing with the world the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. We pursue this mission through a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship built on the bedrock of the ALPLM’s unparalleled collection of historical materials – roughly 13 million items from all eras of Illinois history.

For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov.

[Christopher Wills (he/him/his)
Director of Communications
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]