Abraham Lincoln wove his words into the fabric of American history. In the 21st century, Lincoln's political language remains more contemporary than all but the most timeless of the political language of the American Founding. This course is a study of selected Lincoln speeches aiming to illuminate Lincoln's understanding of the relation of the principles of the American Founding to the most pressing issues of his day.

Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man (1952) is the great American novel about race, perhaps even the great American novel. It considers and affirms the principle—that "mysterious binding force"—that holds the U.S. together as a people and that is tied to its own history. In doing so it raises all the important political questions about equality, freedom, rights and justice; the legacy of slavery and white supremacy; our "human and absurd diversity." The novel's deliberate attempt, in Ellison's words, "to return to the mood of personal moral responsibility for democracy" makes perfectly clear the connection between literature and politics. The seminar will also consider a few of Ellison's essays bearing directly on Invisible Man.

This course examines American strategy and operational art during the middle part of the 19th century. During the first part of the course, participants will look at the development of American grand strategy during the era of the early Republic, based on an understanding of America's place in the world, the genesis of the war with Mexico, the strategy and major campaigns of the Mexican War, and the way that Mexico prepared the generation of officers who led the armies of both the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War. During the second part, participants will examine the strategy and campaigns of the Civil War. Civil-military relations in a republic is a major thread that runs throughout the course.

Participants in this workshop will learn how to use artworks as primary sources in their classrooms to teach American history and critical thinking. This workshop brings together the best of the Young America and Westward Expansion eras featured in SAAM's school programs. Both activity ideas as preparation for a tour or as stand-alone classroom lessons will be covered.

This workshop will provide educators with resources and ideas for Heritage Month programming. It will explore works by African-American artists such as Joshua Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, and Sam Gilliam. Each teacher will also receive an African-American Artists: Affirmation Today kit for their classroom.

In cooperation with the College of Education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is sponsoring a one-day teacher workshop, free of charge, to classroom, pre-service teachers, and community college educators of language arts and social studies, though all disciplines are welcomed.

This forum, designed for secondary, pre-service, and community college educators, explores the content, methodologies, and rationales for teaching the history of the Holocaust; increases teachers' knowledge of the Holocaust; and examines contemporary issues associated with this history.

In cooperation with the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is sponsoring a one-day teacher workshop, free of charge, to classroom, pre-service teachers, and community college educators of language arts and social studies, though all disciplines are welcomed. This workshop will focus on rationale, technology and resources for teaching about the Holocaust.