Modern Era
Chapter 26: Crisis of Populism 2017 ― Today
Make America Great Again 2017-2021
Build Back Better 2021-2025
America First 2025-Today
War on Terror 2001 ― 2017
Yet to Happen
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Documents
Master Index
1862
An open letter urging Abraham Lincoln to enforce existing anti-slavery laws and adopt emancipation as a central war aim, arguing that hesitation toward slavery was undermining the Union cause. It reflects growing Northern pressure to transform the Civil War into a moral and military struggle against slavery, helping set the stage for Lincoln’s shift toward the Emancipation Proclamation.
Horace Greeley
The Prayer of Twenty Millions
1862
In response to Horace Greeley’s public editorial “The Prayer of Twenty Millions,” Abraham Lincoln’s letter clarified that his paramount constitutional duty as president was the preservation of the Union, not the immediate abolition or preservation of slavery as an end in itself. Lincoln emphasized that any action he took regarding slavery — including emancipation — would be justified only insofar as it helped suppress the rebellion and restore national authority, while still affirming his personal wish “that all men, everywhere, could be free.”
Abraham Lincoln
Response Letter to Greeley
Biographies
Gerald Ford (1913-2006) was the 38th president of the United States, assuming office in 1974 after Richard Nixon resigned. A longtime congressman and former vice president, Ford sought to restore trust in the federal government while confronting inflation, unemployment, the Watergate scandal, and the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Ford is remembered for providing stability and helping the nation recover.
Gerald
Ford
John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) was the 35th president of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. His presidency was defined by Cold War confrontations, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the expansion of the space program, and increasing federal support for civil rights. Though his presidency lasted less than three years, Kennedy's assassination and his vision of American public service made him one of the most enduringly remembered presidents in American history.
John
F. Kennedy
Spiro T. Agnew (1918-1996) rose from Maryland county government to become governor and then Richard Nixon's vice president. His nationally prominent speeches became a feature of Nixon's political strategy, but a separate federal corruption investigation led to his resignation in October 1973. Gerald Ford succeeded him under the newly established procedure of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.
Spiro
Agnew
George H. W. Bush (1924-2018) was the 41st President of the United States, whose long career in government included service as a congressman, diplomat, CIA director, and vice president. His presidency was defined by the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Persian Gulf War, and major domestic legislation. Bush left a legacy as an experienced and pragmatic statesman whose emphasized diplomacy and international cooperation.
George
H. W. Bush
Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) was the 39th president of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 during economic challenges, energy shortages, and international crises. His presidency achieved significant diplomatic successes, while his administration also promoted human rights, energy conservation, and environmental protection. After leaving office, Carter became a leading humanitarian through the Carter Center, earning the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize.
Jimmy
Carter
Walter Mondale (1928-2021) was a Minnesota lawyer and politician who served as attorney general, U.S. senator, and vice president under Jimmy Carter. As vice president, he worked unusually closely with Carter and helped establish the modern vice president as an active presidential adviser. After leaving office, Mondale became the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984 and later served as ambassador to Japan.
Walter
Mondale