Civil War 150th: The Road to Civil War
In hindsight, it’s easy to see the Civil War as a conflict just waiting to happen. But to Americans in the spring of 1861, disunion was anything but inevitable. In the days leading up to the firing on Fort Sumter, in fact, Virginia officials rejected secession by a 2-1 margin. Even among those who expected war, few imagined the devastation that was just around the corner.
In this episode, the History Guys focus on the dramatic six months between Abraham Lincoln’s election and the outbreak of war. Over the course of the hour, they attempt to understand the period from the perspective of Americans at the time. Why did abolitionists dread the prospect of Lincoln’s presidency? Why did slaveholders in many parts of the South argue against secession? What made the leaders of Virginia, a state long known as “the mother of presidents,” finally decide to break their ties with the nation? How did 19th century ideas about race and gender shape people’s decision-making? And finally, did the existence of slavery mean some kind of civil war would come sooner or later, or might war have been averted?
“The Road to Civil War” is Part I of a three-part BackStory series commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
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Guests Include:
* David Blight — historian and author of A Slave No More and Frederick Douglass’s Civil War
* Elizabeth Varon — historian and author of Disunion!: The coming of the American Civil War
* William Freehling — historian and author of Showdown in Virginia and The Road to Disunion
Features and Highlights
Listen to the story of Lincoln’s train journey from Springfield to Washington, DC, and hear extended versions of interviews in the show.
Further Reading
Want to peer further down the road to Civil War? The BackStory research team has compiled a comprehensive list of print and online resources for further exploration. Read On.
Listing of the music heard in “Civil War 150th: The Road to Civil War”
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Trackbacks & Pingbacks
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Lincoln’s Journey | BackStory with the American History Guys :
[...] The following narrative of President Lincoln is featured in the BackStory episode “Civil War 150th: The Road to Civil War.” You can listen to the entire episode here. [...]
Quote -- April 1, 2011 @ 11:11 am -
Civil War 150th: Road to Civil War | BackStory with the American History Guys :
[...] This is a listing of the music used in the BackStory episode, “Civil War 150th: Road to Civil War,” broadcast in March 2011. You can listen to the entire episode here. [...]
Quote -- April 1, 2011 @ 2:19 pm -
“The Road to Civil War” — Features and Highlights | BackStory with the American History Guys :
[...] The following are extended versions of interviews included in the BackStory episode “Civil War 150th: The Road to Civil War,” produced in March of 2011. You can listen to the entire episode here. [...]
Quote -- April 6, 2011 @ 1:33 pm -
“The Road to Civil War”–Transcript | BackStory with the American History Guys :
[...] Civil War 150th: The Road to Civil War | BackStory with the American History Guys : [...]
Quote -- April 14, 2011 @ 1:21 pm -
What a Tragedy! | Encyclopedia Virginia: The Blog :
[...] “Cornerstone” speech, mentioned here, can be heard at the 28:30 mark of the first episode of BackStory‘s Civil War [...]
Quote -- April 27, 2011 @ 11:32 am -
The Civil War, 150 Years Later | BackStory with the American History Guys :
[...] As America launches its multi-year commemoration of the Civil War, it’s easy to overlook the fact that back in the spring of 1861, disunion was anything but inevitable. This episode traces the dramatic six months leading up to the outbreak of war, and explores the complex layers of logic and emotion that Americans experienced as they looked into a very uncertain future. Listen here. [...]
Quote -- July 5, 2012 @ 7:27 am -
Civil War 150th: FOR STATIONS | BackStory with the American History Guys :
[...] [PREVIEW HERE] [...]
Quote -- July 5, 2012 @ 7:29 am
So, I asked this in the main section, but perhaps this is the more relevant segment. Can you please elaborate on the motivations of various Virginia political factions with an eye towards contrasting them with the divisions in the national parties – and particularly how much the collapse of the Whig Party affected political dynamics here?
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Bob — sorry that you’re having difficulty listening. Write me directly [backstory at virginia dot edu] and i’ll troubleshoot with you.
QuoteThis was my first time listening, and I will not only “subscribe” via iTunes but mine the archives for more. Truly superb – many thanks to all who contributed their time and talents to this.
QuoteAs an African American male living all of my life in the South (the home of the Confederacy), whose ancestors were slaves, and whose grandchildren and great grandchildren have emerged bountifully on the other side of Institution of Slavery, I thoroughly enjoyed your show on “The Road to the Civil War”. I have been researching my family’s history for the past two years, and I have landed in the years of the Emancipation Proclamation. I found your show to be very informative. I will use the information I learned in my presentation to the family at our next Family Reunion. Thank you for the service you offer. Your information is quite enlightening for me as my research had up to this point primarily focused on the other side of slavery, my slave ancestors. It was quite enlightening to peer into the minds of the decision makers during the Civil War Era, through your program, which helped me to understand the state of mind of my ancestors during this era. Thanks again!
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