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The Lincoln Program
2022-2023
The Statesmanship of George Washington

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About the Program

In this the second year of the Lincoln Program, students will study the statesmanship and political thought of George Washington.  Students admitted to the program will receive two free books and will study with Dr. Bill Reddinger, Associate Professor of Government at Regent University.  Students will also have the opportunity to learn from Dr. Jeffry Morrison, professor at Christopher Newport University and expert on George Washington and author of one of the free books that participants will receive.  
 

Why study George Washington?  The first year of the Lincoln Program featured a careful study of the speeches of Abraham Lincoln.  For the second year, students will study the life and political thought of Washington.  In a time when the very idea that America is worth defending is an open question, it is fitting that Americans become familiar with the man regarded as the "Father of His Country."  In studying Washington, we will ask such questions as:

  • Why was Washington regarded by King George III as "the greatest character of the age"?  

  • What made Washington's leadership so impressive?

  • What role did he play in the American Revolution and in the establishment of a new country?

  • Was Washington morally indefensible because of his having been a slave owner?

  • What was Washington's contribution to religious liberty in the American republic?

Books & Benefits

Participants will enjoy the following benefits:

  • A copy of George Washington: A Collection (Liberty Fund Press)

  • A copy of The Political Philosophy of George Washington (Johns Hopkins University Press) by Jeffry Morrison

  • Food & refreshments during meetings

  • A certificate of completion of this program that can be included in a teacher's dossier as proof of specialized content knowledge.  To complete the program, all students must agree to attend all meetings and events.  At the conclusion of the program, students will choose one of the following two options to show proof of content knowledge:

    • 1. Completion of a 1,000 word essay in response to an essay prompt provided by the faculty facilitator, or:​

    • 2. Completion of a lesson plan to be used by social studies, history, politics, or civics educators.  (Lesson plans, like the Lincoln Program, should include but need not be limited to discussion of primary sources relating to George Washington.)

Schedule

Meeting 1 – Welcome to the 2nd Year of the Lincoln Program

Date and Time: 1/18/23 – 6:00 PM (Location TBA)

(Students will receive their books at this meeting.)

Reading 1: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 68: “To Colonel Lewis Nicola”

Reading 2: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 179: “To James Madison”

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Meeting 2 – George Washington, “The Greatest Character of the Age”

Date and Time: 1/25/23 – 6:00 PM (Location TBA)

Reading 1: George Washington: A Collection,

Reading No. 77: “Speech to the Officers of the Army”

Reading 2: Morrison, The Political Philosophy of George Washington, 1-61

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Meeting 3 – George Washington, American Cincinnatus

Date and Time: 2/1/23 – 6:00 PM (Location TBA)

Reading 1: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 12: “To the President of the Second Continental Congress”

Reading 2: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 93: “Address to Congress on Resigning His Commission”

Reading 3: Morrison, The Political Philosophy of George Washington, 62-106

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Meeting 4 – George Washington and the American Constitutional Republic

Date and Time: 2/8/23 – 6:00 PM (Location TBA)

Reading 1: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 178: “Farewell Address”

Reading 2: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 231: “To Jonathan Trumbull”

Reading 3: Morrison, The Political Philosophy of George Washington, 107-134.

 

Meeting 5 – 2nd Annual Lincoln Program Lecture: George Washington and Slavery

This year's speaker is Dr. Jeffry Morrison

Professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University

Date and Time: 2/20/23 - 1:15-2:15 PM (Location TBA)

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Meeting 6 – Discussion with Dr. Jeffry Morrison

Date and Time: 2/20/23 3:00 PM (Location TBA)

Reading: Morrison, The Political Philosophy of George Washington, 173-180

(Our discussion will focus on the assigned reading, but it may include any portion of Dr. Morrison's book that the group has studied up to this point.)

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Meeting 7 - George Washington and the Meaning of Religious Liberty

Date and Time: 3/1/23 – 6:00 PM (Location TBA)

Reading 1: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 91: “To the Ministers, Elders, Deacons, and Members of the Reformed German Congregation of New York”

Reading 2: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 180: “To the United Baptist Churches”

Reading 3: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 181: “To the General Assembly of Presbyterian Churches”

Reading 4: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 188: “ To the Hebrew Congregations”

Reading 5: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 189: “To the Roman Catholics”

Reading 6: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 190: “To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport”

                Reading 7: Morrison, The Political Philosophy of George Washington, 158-163

 

Meeting 8 – Cancelled

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Meeting 9

Date and Time: 3/29/22 - 6:00 PM (Divinity 3rd Floor Suite)

Washington’s Understanding of the Place of Religion in a Pluralistic Republic

Reading 1: Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 182: “To the Annual Meeting of Quakers”

Reading 2: George Washington: A Collection, Reading No. 183: “Thanksgiving Address”

Reading 3: Morrison, The Political Philosophy of George Washington, 135-158; 163-172

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Meeting 10

Date and Time: 4/12/22 - 6:00 PM (Location TBA)

At this meeting, we will share a final meal, and we will discuss the final essay or lesson plan.

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