Showing Lincoln at Peoria by Lewis E. Lehrman

To understand President Abraham Lincoln, one must understand the extraordinary antislavery speech Lincoln delivered at Peoria, Illinois, on October 16, 1854. This three-hour address marked the turning point in Lincoln's political pilgrimage, dramatically altering his political career and, as a result, the history of America. Though historians and biographers have noted its importance, Lincoln's speech at Peoria has not received the attention it deserves. Lehrman offers a complete examination of the speech that changed the course of our nation.