Lucien Ellington of the University of Tennessee and Paul Dickler of the Foreign Research Policy Institute discuss aspects of China's relationship with the West. They focus on the economic dynamism of China, and end with a question-and-answer session. This lecture was conducted for "China's Encounter with the West: A History Institute for Teachers," held on March 1-2, 2008. The event was sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Asia Program, and held at UTC.

Audio and video options are available.

Karl Wallingon of the Naval War College presents a critical analysis of Southern strategy during the Civil War, presenting it as a "game" in which students can engage in analyzing how the South might have won the war. This lecture was delivered as part of "America in the Civil War Era: A History Institute for Teachers," held May 17-18 at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College and Adult Education, Carthage College.

Audio and video options are available.

Daniel Walker Howe, Professor of History Emeritus, UCLA, and Rhodes Professor of American History Emeritus, Oxford University, discusses the period 1815-1848—focusing on innovation in communication and its consequences. This lecture was delivered as part of "America in the Civil War Era: A History Institute for Teachers," held May 17-18 at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College and Adult Education, Carthage College.

Audio and video options are available.

Walter A. McDougall, Co-Chair of the FPRI History Institute for Teachers and Alloy-Ansin Professor of International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses the development of democracy throughout the 19th century, from 1829 to 1877—and the many important historical events that took place during this period. This lecture was delivered as part of "America in the Civil War Era: A History Institute for Teachers," held May 17-18 at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College and Adult Education, Carthage College.

Audio and video options are available.

Michael Neiberg of the University of Southern Mississippi discusses the teaching of World War I and how to bring students into the subject. This lecture was part of "What Students Need To Know About America’s Wars, Part I: 1622-1919: A History Institute for Teachers, held July 26-27, 2008 at the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Cantigny First Division Foundation.

Audio and video options are available.

Brian McAllister Linn of Texas A & M University discusses the Spanish-American War and the Phillippine-American War, approaching them as wars often forgotten in coverage of U.S. history and frequently difficult for students to understand. This lecture was part of "What Students Need To Know About America’s Wars, Part I: 1622-1919: A History Institute for Teachers, held July 26-27, 2008 at the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Cantigny First Division Foundation.

Audio and video options are available.

Peter Karsten of the University of Pittsburgh outlines what he believes should be taught in schools about the wars the U.S. has participated in, including the effects of the wars on U.S. society and on the relationship of the military with U.S. society at large. This lecture was part of "What Students Need To Know About America’s Wars, Part I: 1622-1919: A History Institute for Teachers, held July 26-27, 2008 at the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Cantigny First Division Foundation.

Video and audio options are available.

Mark Grimsley of Ohio State University examines the military significance of the Civil War in terms of general U.S. military history, especially the ways in which it differed from other American wars. This lecture was part of "What Students Need To Know About America’s Wars, Part I: 1622-1919: A History Institute for Teachers, held July 26-27, 2008, at the First Division Museum in Wheaton, IL, sponsored by the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Wachman Center and by the Cantigny First Division Foundation.

Video and audio options are available. Note that the "Listen to streaming MP3 audio" option links to a lecture on the Mexican-American War. However, audio is available by selecting "Download MP3 audio file."

Library of Congress historian Marvin Kranz discusses Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address, pointing out that research has revealed that some of the phrases in the speech were suggested to Lincoln by others, while at the same time praising Lincoln's self-taught prose writing style.

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, follows Abraham Lincoln's early life, including his family's arrival in Illinois, his first political campaign, his participation in the Black Hawk War, his time as a postmaster and surveyor, his election to the state legislature, and his beginning to study law. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part One: Boyhood and Migration, 1809–1830."

To view this documentary, select "Indian Fighting and Politics in New Salem, 1831-1836" under "Multimedia Slideshows."