The cooper union address given by abraham lincoln in the great. Trump and lincolns cooper union speech the historic present. The speech that made abraham lincoln president new york. In october 1859, lincoln accepted an invitation to lecture at henry ward. He cited how various founding fathers, some who were slaveholders, had envisioned the end of slavery into the future of the embryonic country.
Yet, due to the careful research and lincolns forceful argument, it was stunningly effective. Abraham lincoln s speech at cooper union is a distinctive illustration of the greek concept kairosseizing the opportune moment to issue an appropriate response. The cooper union speech, which was carefully researched by lincoln and refers often to the founders and authors of the constitution, is an antislavery lecture, capped by a ringing warning to wouldbe secessionists in the south. I will be so bold as to say that it was popular sovereignty that made lincoln president.
Nott to abraham lincoln, saturday, september 01, 1860 sends proofsheets of cooper union speech contributor names lincoln, abraham, 18091865 created published. It seems hyperbolical to write a book on an address that runs but a few pages in roy p. After he gave the speech, he soon became his partys nominee for president. Harold holzers new book further cements lincolns reputation as the united states greatest president. Welcome to part four of our series on the serious and striking comparisons between the u. In the address, lincoln discusses the most pressing issue of the day, slavery, and attacks the view put forth by stephen douglas and others that. Abraham lincoln began the cooper union address by explaining he would refute the arguments made by stephen douglas in a widely circulated article. 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. Harold holzer is an independent scholar who, in the midst of a busy career at the metropolitan museum of art, has written or edited over twenty books about lincoln.
The unions board included members such as horace greeley and william cullen bryant, who opposed william seward for the republican presidential nomination. The speech that made abraham lincoln president find. The author, harold holzer, provides a welldocumented leadup to the actual speech in new york city, including lincolns decision to accept the invitation, his extensive preparation for the speech, and his budding awareness of his appearance as a midwesterner in new york city. The first half of the cooper union address was a response to a speech by stephen douglas. 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. United states politics and government 18571861 subject. Go here for more about lincolns cooper union speech. 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. Abraham lincoln argued against the spread of slavery to the western states in a february 1960 speech at cooper unions great hall. The speech that made abraham lincoln president by harold holzer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Either the opponents of slavery, will arrest the further spread of it. Abraham lincolns cooper union address the new york. Douglas had attempted to show that the founding fathers did not believe the national government could regulate slavery in the territories. 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. It was likely the most important speech of lincolns political career because. Kairos dictates that what is said in a given situation must be said at the right moment in time. Lincoln at cooper union audiobook, written by harold. He also discussed the new york metropolitan museum of art. Holzer talked about his book, lincoln at cooper union. Go here for more about lincoln s cooper union speech. In his remarks he talked about the importance of the. Lincolns speech at cooper union in new york city early in 1860 was designed as a rebuttal to stephen a. On 27 february 1860, abraham lincoln gave this address at the cooper union in new york city.
Published by the cooper union for the advancement of science and art, 1960. 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. Abraham lincoln 18091865 on 27 february 1860, abraham lincoln gave this address at the cooper union in new york city. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincolns suitability for the presidency and. The speech that made abraham lincoln president is a wonderful book that will please anyone interested in american history, new york city, or oratory.
Abraham lincoln at cooper institute, new york city new york, ny 27 february 1860 1 mr. A book, an entire book, on lincolns cooper union address. Eminent lincoln scholar harold holzer in his book, lincoln at cooper union, describes the painstaking research and effort lincoln put in to prepare for the most important speech of his life. Pdf on jun 1, 2005, barry schwartz and others published lincoln at cooper union. The cooper union address given by abraham lincoln in the.
Lincoln at cooper union book by harold holzer official. Abraham lincolns strongest association in new york city is with cooper unions great hall. The speech that made abraham lincoln president 2004 is a comprehensive account of the momentous cooper union address, including p. However, holzer shows a unique view of the trip and the speech and how lincoln used the opportunity to campaign in the east before he was. And it is not one of his speeches with passages that are often quoted.
Lincoln at cooper union by abraham lincoln free ebook. Next the author introduces actor sam waterston who reenacts the address. Introductions to individual documents are by abraham lincoln online. 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. The cooper union address delivered in new york city on february 27, 1860 helped propel abraham lincoln to the 1860 republican nomination. Many historians assert that the speech made lincoln. The speech that made abraham lincoln president find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Cooper union, arguably lincolns most rhetorically intricate speech,6 is significant because it served as a momentous occasion for lincoln to proffer his.
The speech he gave there is widely seen as the start of lincolns run for the presidency. Larry arnn on lincolns cooper union speech the hugh. The oration is the subject of a new book by harold holzer entitled, lincoln at cooper union. Summary of lincolns arguments at cooper union lincoln. Lincoln was not yet the republican nominee for the presidency, as the convention was scheduled for may. Cooper union speech february 27, 1860 lincolns writings. 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. Summary of lincolns arguments at cooper union note. Lincoln at cooper union by abraham lincoln loyal books. Douglas of illinois a democrat as the two ran against one another to represent illinois in the united states senate.
Lincoln at cooper union, the speech that made abraham. According to matt pinsker, lincolns cooper union speech offers the best and most comprehensive statement of lincolns political beliefs on the eve of his. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincolns. Abraham lincoln december 1, 1862 updated february 11, 2017 infoplease staff. Lincoln at cooper union explores lincolns most influential and widely reported prepresidential addressan extraordinary appeal by the western politician to the eastern elite that propelled him toward the republican nomination for president. Cooper union speech in 1860, abraham lincoln makes a speech in new york and lays out a middle ground for the republican party. Selected speeches and writings by abraham lincoln the source of this small sample of letters, speeches, and writings is the collected works of abraham lincoln, edited by roy p. But there is a book by garry wills on the very short. Delivered in new york in february 1860, the cooper union speech dispelled doubts about lincolns suitability for the. The union s board included members such as horace greeley and william cullen. But no lincoln speech was ever delivered with more preparation, under more scrutiny, for higher stakes than this one. The facts with which i deal with this evening are mainly old and familiar. Honest abe himself credited the speech, which has come to be called his right makes might speech, with playing a major role in his rise to the white house.
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. On this day 158 years agofebruary 27, 1860abraham lincoln of illinois delivered an invited speech at the cooper institute in new york city. Simon and schuster, 2006, 2 harold holzer boldly calls the cooper union talk the speech that made abraham lincoln president. And professor holzer deserves our thanks for making it so fascinating. Contributing editors for this page include stacy hoeflich. Lincoln had gained a reputation and a following among some republicans in 1858 when he skillfully debated senator stephen a. Listen to and read the cooper union address delivered by presidential candidate abraham lincoln in new york on february 27, 1860. Cooper union speech, february 27, 1860 lincoln as the. Hunter interpretive essay pdf voices of democracy university.
The speech that made abraham lincoln president, published by simon and schuster. It follows the full text transcript of abraham lincolns cooper union address, delivered in the great hall of the cooper union in manhattan, new york, n. The speech that made abraham lincoln president presents an analysis of the famed 1860 speech, with particular attention to the historical, polit. He parses the intricate language of the 90minute speech, then goes into its structure three main sections.
Lincolns cooper union speech was one of his longest, at more than 7,000 words. 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. Cooper union speech, february 27, 1860 lincoln as the great. Buckinghams introduction discusses lincolns political background and the events and issues leading up to the speech. When he gave the speech, lincoln was considered by many to be just a country lawyer. Lincoln believes slavery is wrong because its contrary to founding fathers es the declaration of independence to state expansion of slavery was prohibited. Douglass doctrine of popular sovereignty, which would have allowed the spread of slavery into the territories. 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. Holzer looks at the cooper union speech and shows how lincoln, the master politician used the speech and his trip east to get the 1860 nomination. Had he not triumphed before the sophisticated and demanding audience he faced at new yorks cooper union on february 27, 1860, lincoln would never have been nominated, much less elected, to the presidency that november march 12, 2016. There are more beautiful speeches in the lincoln canon second inaugural, gettysburg, and more impressive displays of research cooper union.
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