The American Civil War (Part Two of Two)

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In the decades since the United States declared their independence from Britain, the question of slavery had become increasingly divisive. As the nation expanded, fragile political agreements over the issue failed, and the frontier became a battleground. When Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, seven Southern states chose secession from the Union over accepting limits on slavery. War followed. Eventually, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and transformed the war from a fight to preserve the Union into a struggle over freedom itself. But far from being the end of the story, emancipation marked the beginning of a new and far more dangerous phase of the war.

So what happened when Black Americans were finally allowed to fight for the Union? What would it take to resolve the bloodiest conflict ever fought on American soil?

This is a Short History Of the American Civil War, Part Two 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 produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Anisha Deva | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw

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