This is my first “official” post as a contributor to the Doing Social Studies blog.  As I type it, I’m sitting in the lobby of a hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana.  But a block from where I am sitting, President-Elect Abraham Lincoln gave a speech in February, 1861 on his way to the White House.  A nice historical marker gives the location of the speech and quotes a line from the speech which I would like to share with you.

In all trying positions in which I shall be placed, and, doubtless, I shall be placed in many such, my reliance will be placed upon you and the people of the United States; and I wish you to remember, now and forever, that it is your business, and not mine; that if the union of these States, and the liberties of this people shall be lost, it is but little to any one man of 52 years of age, but a great deal to the thirty millions of people who inhabit these United States, and to their posterity in all coming time. It is your business to rise up and preserve the Union, and liberty for yourselves, and not for me.

What an amazing defense of what we do in teaching the social studies.   Continue reading A Lesson in Our Republic →