Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum examines Lincoln's development of a political language balanced between formal oratory and direct speech.

To view this clip, scroll to "Lincoln's Political Rhetoric and the Growth of American Democracy" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum very briefly looks at Abraham Lincoln's association with the Whig party and his reasons for choosing it, as a believer in free labor.

To view this clip, scroll to "Lincoln the Whig" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum outlines Lincoln's experiences as a captain in the Black Hawk War and the general ineffectiveness of militia in Lincoln's day.

To view this clip, select "Abraham Lincoln's Militia Service in the Black Hawk War" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum looks at Abraham Lincoln's remarks on women in politics, and considers the increasing presence of women in politics throughout the 19th century.

To view to this clip, scroll to "Abraham Lincoln, Women, and Politics" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum looks at Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery, contrasting them with those expressed by Stephen Douglas in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

To listen to this clip, select "Abraham Lincoln's Attitudes Toward Race and Slavery" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum discusses the importance of religious beliefs in presidential campaigns in Abraham Lincoln's day, and considers what is known of Lincoln's changing religious views.

To listen to this clip, select "Abraham Lincoln's Religious Beliefs and Public Life" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum considers reasons Abraham Lincoln may have left rural frontier life for law and politics, including the influence of his female family members and a possible near-religious sense of being called to do great deeds.

To listen to this lecture, select "Lincoln's Ambitions and Attitudes Toward Frontier Life" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Eric Foner of Columbia University discusses the religious base of many abolitionists' beliefs; and contrasts it to Lincoln's antislavery position, based on concepts from the Declaration of Independence and the idea of free labor.

To listen to this clip, scroll to "Abraham Lincoln and the Roots of the Abolitionist Movement" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Eric Foner of Columbia University looks at perceptions of the Lincoln-Douglas debates today, in which their significance derives from Lincoln's participation, and contemporary perceptions, in which the debates received attention because Douglas took part.

To listen to this clip, select "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Eric Foner of Columbia University discusses the use of the race and slavery issues by political parties during Abraham Lincoln's lifetime, and looks at Lincoln's own views on the issues as expressed in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

To view this clip, select "Abraham Lincoln and the Politics of Race" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."