Episode list

Lincoln is the embodiment of the American dream and the president to whom all others are compared. Although we think we know his story, it's full of surprises and misnomers. Episode 101 builds the man that will eventually become the historical icon and clarifies some generalizations that have ingratiated themselves into his mythology. From his hard scrabble roots on the far edge of the frontier through his courtship of a complicated woman who will later push him to great political heights, episode 101 examines how Lincoln's background shaped his personality, views, and explores some of the lesser known aspects of his life before political stardom.

102 builds Lincoln's political position and persona. As the issue of the expansion of slavery sets the country ablaze, Lincoln throws his hat back in the political ring. 102 examines his nuanced stance on slavery and equality during this period, and how through single-minded focus, poignant oration, political savvy, and moral conviction, a lawyer from Illinois ascended from obscurity to the White House. There's also a whole bunch of really great stories in here.

Episode 103 sets the stage for war. As Lincoln, the one-term congressman prepares to take office, the South severs itself from the United States and the country faces an unprecedented crisis. Episode 103 examines the task that lies ahead for Lincoln and the stakes of the presidency that lies before him.

Episode 104 delves into the mind of and pressures on the leader of a country at war. While the Lincolns face personal tragedy at home, men die by the thousand on the battlefield, and Lincoln is forced to make an unprecedented decision while wrestling with his own mental health. Episode 104 examines Lincoln's journey to the Emancipation Proclamation and questions if Lincoln's motive was moral integrity or military necessity.

In episode 105, Lincoln's evolution on issues of slavery and equality begin to come full circle. As the war wraps up, the lessons he's learned and experiences he's had come to fruition as he delivers the most iconic speech and piece of legislation of his career. But the successes he sees in the Oval office and on the battlefield come at the cost of his marriage and family.

In the wake of his assassination, Lincoln transforms from a controversial figure at the helm of America's largest crisis to a martyred hero. After his brutal murder, episode 106 follows the epic manhunt for his killer as well as the unraveling of the wife and country he left behind. America is rife with racial conflict, and his assassination sets the stage for the next 100 years of Civil Rights struggles from Jim Crow through Black Lives Matter. Lincoln has been canonized and mythologized as a savior and a hero, but his reality is far more complex. If we must believe he represents who we are as a country, then we should look to his evolution to inspire us to learn, grow, and change the way that he did.