About this episode

This episode explores the origins and complexities of the American Civil War, focusing on the conflict over slavery and its impact on the nation.

The American Civil War started with a single, explosive question: could a nation built on slavery survive without it? Several Southern states chose to protect the institution that underpinned their economy and social order, at any cost. But when that necessitated their leaving the Union, the conflict that followed did not unfold along a single front. It tore across the continent, from dusty towns in the far West to river ports along the Mississippi, and from quiet New England villages to the cotton fields of the Deep South. Millions were drawn into it, and hundreds of thousands would die. How did a democratic republic fracture so completely? Why did the question of slavery push the country beyond compromise and into catastrophe? And how did a war that began over the survival of the Union become a revolution for freedom itself? This is a Short History Of the American Civil War, Part One of Two. A Noiser podcast production. Hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Caroline Janney, Professor of History of the American Civil War and Director of the John L. Nau Centre for Civil War History. Written by Sean Coleman | Produced by Kate Simants | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec…

People in this episode

Hosts: John Hopkins, Sean Coleman, Kate Simants, Chris McDonald, Katrina Hughes, Tom Pink, Oliver Sanders, Anisha Deva, Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Cody Reynolds-Shaw

Topics covered

• American Civil War
• slavery
• Union
• conflict
• history
• freedom

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: John L. Nau Centre for Civil War History

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