Kyle Zelner of the University of Southern Mississippi discusses the military history of British North America prior to the Revolutionary War, arguing for the significance of this history to both military and general U.S. history overall. Zelner also covers the Revolutionary War itself. 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.

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This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including Lincoln's continued opposition of Stephen Douglas's political views; his rise to presidential candidacy; the fevered presidential race that followed; the secession of Southern states in reaction to his election; and his First Inaugural Address. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Seven: Debating Douglas on the National Stage, 1857-1858."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "The Campaign of the Century, 1859-1861."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including his return to politics in reaction to the passing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and his election to the state legislature and resignation to run for the Senate. The lecture describes both Lincoln's and the nation's reactions to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and to the possibility of extending slavery into the territories that it represented. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Five: Return to the Law, 1850-1853."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Rise of the Republican Party, 1854-1856."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, examines several years of Abraham Lincoln's life, including the end of his term in Congress, his extended return to the practice of law in Illinois, the death of one son and birth of two others, and his continued program of self-education. The lecture also describes the political condition of the U.S. during these years, including tensions over extension of slavery into the territories. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Four: Congress and the Mexican War, 1844-1849."

To view this documentary, scroll to "Multimedia Slideshows," and select "Return to the Law, 1850-1853."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, details several years in Abraham Lincoln's life, including his acquisition of a law license, his support of moving Illinois's capital, his continued political campaigning, and his marriage to Mary Todd. This lecture continues from the lecture "Lincoln's Biography, Part Two: Indian Fighting and Politics in New Salem, 1831-1836."

To view this documentary, select "Springfield, the Law, and the Whig Party, 1837-1843" under "Multimedia Slideshows."

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, traces the development of religious institutions and trends in antebellum Illinois, beginning with the early days of Western exploration of North America and continuing to the mid-1800s. It focuses particularly on the importation of New England Protestant social reform ideals and the migration of Mormons to Illinois—a migration which led to the rise of the city of Nauvoo and, eventually, to the Mormon War.

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, traces the economic development of Illinois from the beginning of the 19th century to the mid-1800s. It focuses particularly on the development of infrastructure, from steamboat lines to canals to railroads.

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, traces the history and status of African Americans in Illinois, beginning with the early years of North American exploration and continuing on to the Civil War.