Issues Affecting America: Responsible
Citizenship Fall 2008
The Battle of Gettysburg, the largest and bloodiest one of the
Civil War fought in North America, is examined by Dr. Brennan,
Associate Professor of History and Director of the Honors Program
on the Staten Island campus. Seeking to determine the significance
of this famous battle, Dr. Brennan approaches his subject from the
perspective of the Union, places it in its domestic and
international political context. He clarifies the role of the
European powers, examines Abraham Lincoln’s problems as the Union’s
Commander-in-chief, explains why the Confederate invasion of the
North occurred in late June of 1863, assesses the impact of the
invasion and traces the battle’s unexpected start and subsequent
course. He also examines its immediate and long-range results — the
importance of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and the role it played
in championing democratic principles throughout the world.
Dr. Brennan first presented the basic ideas for this lecture at
Gettysburg, PA, during a 2003 conference of the Northeast Region of
the National Collegiate Honors Council. A past president of the
Council, Dr. Brennan began his career in 1959 as a faculty member
at St. John’s University. He has served as an academic dean and
director of evening and weekend programs on the Staten Island
campus. Dr. Brennan is a recipient of St. John’s President’s Medal
and the Terrence Cardinal Cooke Award for contributions to the
Staten Island campus. He is currently President of the Board of
Directors of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin on Staten Island
and Moderator of Staten Island’s First Friday Club. Completing his
graduate work at the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, Dr.
Brennan was then awarded a Ph.D. in History after defending his
dissertation on England in the foreign policy of King Francis I of
France, 1515 – 1525 from Fordham University.
Registration
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for this event.
Sponsored by the Office of the Vice
Provost
Date
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Time
12:15 – 1:20 p.m.
Location
Kelleher Center, Kiernan Suite, Staten Island Campus