Join citizens and teachers from across Missouri as the Missouri Humanities Council and TeachingAmericanHistory.org present this free three-part webinar series. Each episode will focus on a different era of presidential campaign politics, focusing on a single pivotal election as a vehicle to examine the laws, norms, and events of those times. The series, taken together, will provide attendees with a view of American presidential electoral politics as it has evolved over the centuries, how things have changed, and how in some cases, been remarkably consistent.

These live programs are free to all, and attendees will be able to ask the panelists questions via the chat function during the program. All episodes will air at 7pm Central Time and will last 60 minutes each. The registration link will enable you to sign up for all the whole series at once, and you will be sent login credentials the day before each episode.

Dr. Jeff Sikkenga, Professor Political Science at Ashland University and Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center, will lead each episode, interviewing a difference scholar from our graduate faculty each week.

Episode titles and suggested readings for each are below.

• 4 August: Jefferson and the Election of 1800; Panelist: Dr. Cara Rogers
  • Alien and Sedition Acts, 13 NOV 1797
  • Letter to John Taylor, Thomas Jefferson, 4 June 1798
  • Letter to Elbridge Gerry, Thomas Jefferson, 26 JAN 1799
  • Letter to Harrison Gray Otis, Alexander Hamilton, 23 DEC 1800
  • Letter to Thomas Mann Rudolph, Thomas Jefferson, 19 FEB 1801
  • First Inaugural Address, Thomas Jefferson, 4 MAR 1801
• 11 August: Lincoln and the Election of 1860; Panelist: Dr. Jason Stevens
  • Republican Party Platform of 1860
  • Democratic Party Platform of 1860
  • South Carolina’s Declaration of the Causes of Secession, 24 DEC 1860
  • Farewell Speech, Abraham Lincoln, 11 FEB 1861
  • Speech at Independence Hall, Abraham Lincoln, 22 FEB 1861
  • First Inaugural Address, Abraham Lincoln, 4 MAR 1861
• 18 August: Reagan and the Election of 1980; Panelist: Dr. Chris Burkett
  • Acceptance Speech 1980 Democratic Convention, Jimmy Carter, 14 AUG 1980
  • Crisis of Confidence Speech, Jimmy Carter, 15 July 1979
  • A Time for Choosing, Ronald Reagan, 27 OCT 1964
  • Acceptance Speech at 1980 Republican Convention, Ronald Reagan, 17 July 1980
  • Transcript: Presidential Debate in Cleveland, OH, 28 OCT 1980

Registration is ongoing, so can register even after the series begins. You only need to register once, however.

Register Here