Location: Civil War Museum
Instructor: Doug Dammann
Participants in the Media Club are invited to read the book before the meeting and to come prepared to share their thoughts on its themes in an informal and thought provoking discussion.
Jon Grinspan’s new book explores a political group known as the Wide Awakes and how their actions influenced the presidential election of 1860 and the coming of the Civil War. The group began as fired-up young Northerners who acted as bodyguards to defend Republican stump speakers from frequent verbal and physical attacks. The idea spread and hundreds of thousands of young people organized into boisterous, uniformed, torch-bearing brigades. These Wide Awakes--mostly working-class Americans in their twenties--became one of the largest, most spectacular, and most influential political movements in our history. To some, their actions demonstrated the power of a rising majority promoting political ideas. To others, it looked like a paramilitary force training to invade the South. Within a year, the nation would be at war with itself, and many on both sides would point to the Wide Awakes as the mechanism that got them there.
Online sales end two days prior to class due to supply needs or student counts for the instructors, please call the Museums (262-653-4140) to inquire if registrations are still available.
Cancellations and Refunds
*A full refund will be issued if the Kenosha Public Museum, Dinosaur Discovery Museum, or Civil War Museum cancels a workshop or camp.
*All refunds requested within 72 hours of the program are subject to a $10 processing fee.
*No refunds are offered on or after the day a workshop or camp begins.
*Class cancellations can happen if enrollment minimums are not met two days prior to the event. You will be contacted via phone or email if your event is canceled.
If unforeseen circumstances (i.e. weather, power outages, instructor illness) occur within 72 hours of the workshop or camp and the program must be canceled, the museum will do its best to reschedule or provide a voucher to take a program of a similar or same cost.