Letters from an American February 11, 2026
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Feb 13, 2026 A lively recounting of Abraham Lincoln’s origins and rise to power. Discussions trace his Civil War leadership and why he framed the Gettysburg remarks around the Declaration. The show examines proslavery arguments from wealthy enslavers and Lincoln’s 1850s reasoning against racial hierarchy. It highlights books that influenced Lincoln and the risks of accepting inequality.
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Lincoln's Life And Presidency
- Abraham Lincoln was born February 12, 1809, and became the 16th president of the United States.
- Heather Cox Richardson recounts his life from birth through leading the nation during the Civil War and his assassination in 1865.
Founding Rooted In The Declaration
- Lincoln grounded the nation's founding in the Declaration of Independence rather than the Constitution.
- Heather Cox Richardson explains he valued the Declaration's claim that all men are created equal over property protections in the Constitution.
Captain Riley's Narrative Influence
- Lincoln listed influential books, including James Riley's 1817 Narrative about white men enslaved in Africa.
- Heather Cox Richardson uses this example to show how captivity narratives shaped Northern readers' views on slavery and equality.
