Lincoln’s Toughest Decisions: Complexities of Emancipation

President Lincoln developed the Emancipation Proclamation during his first summer at the Cottage. President Lincoln thought about how the Proclamation would affect various groups, the progress of the war, and his upcoming re-election.

This Juneteenth, participate in “Lincoln’s Toughest Decisions” – a program rarely open to the public! Dive deep into the history behind Juneteenth’s complexities with a guided tour of President Lincoln’s Cottage followed by this intimate and multi-faceted program.

During the program, each participant gets a set of primary sources related to a specific historical person and their perspective on emancipation. Participants debate the associated questions among themselves. The program allows participants to grapple with the complex leadership and social justice questions Lincoln wrestled with while in residence at President Lincoln’s Cottage. “Lincoln’s Toughest Decisions” is conversational and inquiry-based, and provides not only an informative look at the past, but also an opportunity for reflection about the present.