GOVERNMENT Policies During the CIVIL WAR [APUSH Review Unit 5 Topic 9] Period 5: 1844-1877

Summary

In this engaging video from Heimler's History, the focus is on Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War and its profound impact on American ideals. The video delves into the strategic and moral dimensions of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which, while not freeing all enslaved people, effectively prevented European support for the Confederacy and encouraged many to join the Union. A pivotal moment is the Gettysburg Address, a speech that not only redefined the war's purpose but also articulated the struggle against slavery as a fulfillment of America's democratic principles. Delivered in just four minutes, the address's ten sentences have left a lasting legacy, emphasizing the importance of a government that serves the people and ensuring the nation's dedication to freedom and equality.

Takeaways

• 📜 The video discusses Unit 5 of the AP U.S. History curriculum focusing on Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War and its impact on American ideals.
• 🔍 Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation is characterized as a military tactic rather than a moral proclamation, as it freed some enslaved people but not all, particularly not in the border states.
• 🌐 The Emancipation Proclamation effectively prevented European diplomatic support for the South, which was crucial to the South's strategy for winning the war.
• ⚔️ The proclamation also provided an opportunity for many enslaved people to escape to Union camps and some even fought for the Union against their former enslavers.
• 📝 Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is highlighted as a pivotal moment that reframed the purpose of the Civil War as a fight to end slavery and fulfill America's founding democratic ideals.
• 🎤 The Gettysburg Address was delivered by Lincoln after the main speaker, Edward Everett, and despite being much shorter, it is the speech that is remembered and celebrated.
• ⏳ The significance of the Gettysburg Address is emphasized by its brevity and impact, taking only four minutes to deliver ten sentences that redefined the war's meaning.
• ❤️ Lincoln's speech is described as one of the most magnificent ever given, effectively capturing the struggle against slavery as a fulfillment of America's foundational ideals.
• 📚 The script encourages the audience to read and internalize the Gettysburg Address, emphasizing its importance and the reward of understanding its message.
• 🌟 The beauty and power of the Gettysburg Address is praised, and the video ends by highlighting its significance in American history and its role in shaping the nation's identity.
• 📈 The video aims to support students' understanding of the subject for their class and potentially improve their performance on exams.

Q & A

What was the main topic of discussion in the video?

The main topic of discussion was the impact of Abraham Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War on American ideals.

What was the purpose of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation?

The Emancipation Proclamation was a military tactic that freed enslaved people in the Confederacy and aimed to prevent European diplomatic support for the South.

Why was the Emancipation Proclamation considered more of a military tactic than a moral proclamation?

It was considered a military tactic because it did not free all enslaved people, particularly those in the border states, and its primary effect was to weaken the Confederacy's chances of international support.

What was the significance of the Gettysburg Address?

The Gettysburg Address was significant because it reframed the purpose of the Civil War as a fight to end slavery and portrayed the struggle as the fulfillment of America's founding democratic ideals.

Who was the main speaker at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery?

Edward Everett was the main speaker at the dedication, but it was Abraham Lincoln's speech that is most remembered and celebrated.

Why is the Gettysburg Address considered one of the most magnificent speeches in history?

The Gettysburg Address is considered magnificent because it was concise, powerful, and effectively redefined the meaning of the Civil War and the principles for which the nation stands.

What was the main idea Lincoln conveyed in the Gettysburg Address?

Lincoln conveyed the idea that the Civil War was a test of whether a nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to equality could endure, and he called for a renewed dedication to the principles for which the soldiers fought and died.

How long did it take Lincoln to deliver the Gettysburg Address?

Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address in approximately four minutes.

What was the context in which the Gettysburg Address was given?

The Gettysburg Address was given during the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery, following the Battle of Gettysburg, which was a turning point in the Civil War.

What was the original purpose of the war before Lincoln's leadership helped redefine it?

The original purpose of the war was to preserve the Union, but Lincoln's leadership and the Emancipation Proclamation helped redefine it as a struggle for freedom and the end of slavery.

How did Lincoln's speeches, particularly the Gettysburg Address, impact the perception of the Civil War?

Lincoln's speeches, especially the Gettysburg Address, elevated the perception of the Civil War from a mere conflict to preserve the Union to a moral struggle for freedom and equality, aligning it with America's founding principles.