The Westport Library presents

Lecture Series
The Crisis of the Union, Then and Now
Featuring American Historian, Connor Williams

June 25, August 13, and October 15, 2024, 6:00 PM

Over recent years, Americans from both sides of the aisle and all parts of the political spectrum have worried about increasing polarization in American society. Americans, they fear, can no longer find common ground with one another. Compromises no longer come to pass; many lawmakers do not even try. Individuals yearn for a bygone era with more civil politics, fewer stark differences, and when Americans all, generally, got along. Many worry about even more chaos still yet to come.

For the last two decades, American Historian and Westport resident, Connor Williams has studied the era when Americans really didn’t get along, and when all those fears of uncivil politics, stark differences, and chaotic days led to the greatest catastrophe in our nation’s history: The American Civil War.

Over a three-part series this summer and fall, Williams will present The Crisis of the Union, Then and Now at the Westport Library. Using a historical perspective, Williams will illuminate the many factors from approximately 1848 to 1861 that started a conflict that between those fighting for the United States and those fighting against them – killed more Americans than all our others wars from 1775 onward, combined.

Following each historical presentation, Williams will guide a respectful discussion about the current politics of our present, and how they both resonate and differ with the passions of the past. For these conversations, he will keep the focus more on trends and ideologies than party affiliation; Williams only plans on using “Republican” and “Democrat” in their historical, 1850s sense.

FREE, $20 suggested donation to benefit the library

ABOUT CONNOR WILLIAMS, AMERICAN HISTORIAN

Amongst his other work on the American Civil War, Connor Williams conducted his doctoral studies under the guidance of Pulitzer-Prize winning Yale historian David Blight, and has worked for the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition. More recently, Connor served as the Lead Historian for the United States Congress’ Naming Commission, researching the causes and consequences of Confederate commemoration in the United States military. A book on his experiences in Civil War history and memory, A Promise Delivered: The Naming Commission, Nine Army Bases, and Ten True American Heroes is under contract with Macmillan, and should be published in early 2025.

This Lecture Series: The Crisis of the Union, Then and Now, is made possible, in part, by the Essex County Arts Council’s Cultural Assistance Program Grant with Funding Provided by Essex County.

ABOUT THE WESTPORT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

The Westport Library Association was founded in 1884 and has been serving the Town of Westport and surrounding communities continuously since then. The library provides traditional library services as well as access to e-Books, Audio-Books, Free Wi-Fi (indoors and outdoors), copying, scanning and printing. The Westport Library is governed by an all-volunteer board of trustees and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Tax revenue covers less than 20% of the library’s operating budget. The Westport Library is a member of the Clinton-Essex-Franklin Library System.