A House Divided: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

The PC version of this product is included in the Ultimate Civil War Collection

Grafica Multimedia

Reference/US History

Ages: 12 and up

Ratings:

Thumbs Up from New Media

An Interactive Journey Through Antebellum America

Step back to 1858 and immerse yourself in an interactive mansion filled with artifacts of American life. As you explore each room, you'll learn how our nation edged towards Civil War.

A House Divided is an excellent supplement to American history, government, rhetoric, and African American studies classes.

Over an hour of fully indexed and footnoted video reenactments bring history to life.

Evocative photo essays explain critical events and key figures, adding to your understanding.

Narrated excerpts from autobiographies of American slaves add the human dimension to the political rhetoric.

Music selections, games, and interactive objects broaden your appreciation for the era.

Features Include

• Video reenactments
• Evocative photo essays
• Narrated slave diary excerpts
• Political cartoon gallery
• 1 and 2 player games
• Complete transcripts of the Lincoln-Douglas debates
• Debate Companion
• College Resource Guide
• 29 selections of period music

Requirements:

Windows: An MPC II level PC with 4mb (8mb recommended) of RAM running Windows 3.1. A 256 color monitor and speakers are required.

Reviews:

Electronic Entertainment, June 1995

"When Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were in their prime, they debated the hot issues of the day without resorting to petty name-calling. Grafica Multimedia's A House Divided: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates gives you a taste of what it might have been like in the age before sound bites replaced ideas.

"Produced in cooperation with the recent C-Span re-enactment of the famous 1858 senatorial debates over slavery, the title begins at the Reddick mansion (the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate) with an explanation of the program's mostly intuitive interface. Click to get an explanation of the events leading up to the debates, or look at an excerpt from a slave's diary or a retrospective of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

"A House Divided deftly weaves together period photos, illustrations, political cartoons, and music, viewable by clicking on various items in the mansion. There's even a game to test your knowledge of the era.

"The debates themselves are re-enacted in crisp video clips, but you can also peruse the transcripts in the library. A House Divided treats its subject with appropriate seriousness, without getting yawningly academic."

New Media, April 22, 1996

"A House Divided: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates proves there's a better way to teach history. The year is 1858, and you're investigating a mansion filled with artifacts that tell the story of a critical, troubled time in U.S. history, when slavery is hotly debated and the union is in jeopardy. The issues are given voice in a series of debates between President Abraham Lincoln and Sen. Stephen Douglas, which, in addition to the events of the day, are the focus of A House Divided.

"Every object and piece of art in the mansion articulates some aspect of the slavery issue. The music in the parlor, representing the white culture, is juxtaposed with the work songs and spirituals of slaves. Mary Price's description of her life as a slave is contrasted with the work of 19th-century political satirists.

"While the research and presentation of A House Divided is excellent, its menu organization isn't. Wandering through the house is more satisfying."

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