The American Civil War - OverSimplified (Part 1)

Summary

The video script provides a detailed account of the complex historical events leading up to and during the American Civil War. It highlights key figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Robert E. Lee, and pivotal moments like the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. The narrative explores the political and social tensions between the North and South, the strategic military engagements, and the international implications of the war. With a mix of humor and historical facts, the script brings to life the struggles and triumphs of this transformative period in American history.

Takeaways

• 🌐 NordVPN sponsored the video, offering a discount for new subscribers.
• 🎓 Abraham Lincoln was largely self-taught, becoming a skilled lawyer and eventually a politician.
• 🌟 Lincoln's legal acumen was demonstrated when he caught a witness lying about a murder case by using an almanac.
• 🔍 Lincoln's interest extended to politics, where he served as a legislator and navigated complex issues like states' rights and slavery.
• ⚖️ The founding fathers left many questions about the new nation's governance open to interpretation, leading to debates and conflicts.
• 📈 The economic disparity between the industrial North and the slave-dependent South was a significant factor in the growing sectional tensions.
• 🚄 Eli Whitney's cotton gin revolutionized the cotton industry and exacerbated the reliance on slavery in the South.
• 🤝 The Missouri Compromise was an attempt to maintain a balance between free and slave states, but it was short-lived.
• 🌱 The addition of new states like California and the territories of New Mexico and Utah further complicated the balance between slave and free states.
• 🔥 John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry was a failed abolitionist attempt that heightened tensions and contributed to the onset of the Civil War.
• ✒️ Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal moment that redefined the purpose of the war, making it about ending slavery and not just preserving the Union.

Q & A

What was the main reason for the Civil War?

The main reason for the Civil War was the issue of slavery, which created a deep divide between the North and the South, each developing along very different lines and cultural identities.

How did Abraham Lincoln's upbringing influence his career?

Abraham Lincoln grew up in a relatively poor family, moving from Kentucky to Indiana and then to Illinois. He read extensively, worked various jobs, and wrote poetry before entering the law profession, where he became a clever and astute lawyer.

What was the significance of the Missouri Compromise?

The Missouri Compromise was an attempt to maintain the balance between free and slave states by admitting Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, thus preventing the expansion of slavery and delaying the Civil War.

How did the invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney impact the South?

The invention of the cotton gin by Eli Whitney in 1793 caused the slave trade in the South to explode, as it made cotton production more profitable and increased the demand for slave labor.

What was the turning point that led Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation?

The turning point for Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation was the Union's victory at the Battle of Antietam, which provided the needed military success to justify such a radical measure.

Why was the Emancipation Proclamation significant in preventing European intervention in the Civil War?

The Emancipation Proclamation was significant because it reframed the purpose of the war to include the abolition of slavery, making it difficult for European powers, especially those opposed to slavery, to support the Confederacy.

How did Lincoln's personal life influence his leadership during the Civil War?

Lincoln's personal life, including the loss of his son Willie, affected him deeply. Despite his personal tragedies, he demonstrated great composure and determination, which helped him to lead the nation through the challenging times of the Civil War.

What was the role of General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War?

General Ulysses S. Grant played a crucial role during the Civil War. He was known for his determination and strategic victories, including the Battle of Fort Donaldson and the Battle of Shiloh. His military successes were key to the Union's progress.

What was the impact of the Battle of Bull Run on public perception of the Civil War?

The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War and the Union's defeat led to a sobering realization of the war's potential for destruction and the possibility that the North might not win the war.

How did the issue of slavery divide the nation and contribute to the start of the Civil War?

The issue of slavery divided the nation as the North and South developed different economic and cultural identities. The North industrialized and didn't rely on slaves, while the South's economy became dependent on them. This divide, coupled with political debates and the question of states' rights versus federal power, contributed to the start of the Civil War.

What was the significance of the Dred Scott Case in the years leading up to the Civil War?

The Dred Scott Case was significant because the Supreme Court ruled that people of African descent, whether slave or free, could not be U.S. citizens and therefore could not sue for their freedom. This decision undermined progress towards abolition and intensified the divide between the North and South.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Introduction and Sponsorship

The video begins with a sponsorship message from NordVPN, offering a significant discount on their annual subscription. The narrator also promotes overSimplified Merch and a new character pin, providing links for the audience to follow. The setting then shifts to a humorous take on the birth of Abraham Lincoln and a brief overview of his early life, his self-taught journey into law, and his reputation as a clever lawyer. The paragraph ends with a mention of Lincoln's entry into politics and the complex issues of the time, including the debate over the meaning of 'all men are created equal' and the unresolved questions about states' rights and executive powers.

05:00

🌟 Lincoln's Early Political Career and the Rise of Tensions

This paragraph delves into Lincoln's political career, highlighting his role as a legislator and the contentious issues of the time, particularly slavery. It discusses the omission of Thomas Jefferson's condemnation of slavery from the Declaration of Independence due to political concerns. The growing divide between the North and South is explored, with the North industrializing and the South relying on slave labor for its plantations. The Missouri Compromise and the admission of Maine as a free state are mentioned, along with the escalating tensions as new states joined the Union and threatened the balance between free and slave states.

10:02

🔍 The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Bleeding Kansas Conflict

The paragraph discusses the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed these territories to vote on the legality of slavery, despite their location above the Missouri Compromise line. This decision led to a massive influx of both pro- and anti-slavery settlers in Kansas, resulting in violent clashes known as Bleeding Kansas. It also introduces John Brown, a radical abolitionist whose actions contributed to the escalating violence. The paragraph concludes with the formation of the Republican Party and the increasing tension between North and South, including incidents of violence in Congress and the Dred Scott Case, which ruled that people of African descent could not be citizens.

15:03

🏆 The Struggle for Freedom and Lincoln's Rise to Prominence

This section focuses on the harsh realities of slavery, the efforts of abolitionists, and the rise of Abraham Lincoln as a leading figure in the Republican Party. It describes the inhumane treatment of slaves, the risk of escape through the underground railroad, and the economic motivations behind some Northern opposition to slavery. Lincoln's moral stance against slavery is highlighted, along with his cautious approach to preventing its expansion rather than seeking its outright abolition. The paragraph ends with a reference to an abolitionist's attempt to take down slavery by force.

20:04

🔴 The Election of 1860 and the Secession Crisis

The paragraph details the events leading up to the American Civil War, starting with the election of Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent secession of Southern states. It discusses the Southern perspective on Lincoln's anti-slavery stance and their decision to form the Confederate States of America. The justifications for secession, the loyalty of generals like Robert E. Lee to their states, and the symbolic acts of the Confederacy are also covered. The paragraph concludes with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, which marked the beginning of the Civil War.

25:05

🛡️ Strategies and Setbacks in the Early Stages of the Civil War

This section outlines the Union's military strategy at the start of the Civil War, including a blockade to starve the South of supplies, control of the Mississippi River, and a plan to capture the Confederate capital. It discusses the initial movements of the Union forces, the role of General George McClellan, and the setbacks faced by the Union, including the First Battle of Bull Run and the loss of control in the Southwest. The paragraph also touches on Lincoln's personal tragedy with the death of his son Willie and his decision to take a more active role in the war effort.

⚔️ The Confederate Response and the Battle of Antietam

The paragraph describes the Confederate response to the Union's military strategy, with General Robert E. Lee taking command and launching a series of rapid and aggressive battles against the Union forces led by General McClellan. It details Lee's tactical advantage over McClellan and the Union's retreat. The paragraph also covers the Union's naval successes, the use of ironclads, and the political implications of the war on the international stage. It concludes with the discovery of Lee's battle plans and the Union's crucial victory at the Battle of Antietam, which paved the way for Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, giving the war a new purpose and preventing European intervention.

Keywords

💡NordVPN

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) service provider that allows users to encrypt their internet connection and access region-restricted websites by routing their traffic through a remote server. In the video, it is mentioned as the sponsor of the video, offering a discount to viewers, which is a common practice for funding educational or entertainment content.

💡Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He is renowned for his leadership during the American Civil War and for his role in the abolition of slavery. In the video, Lincoln's life, career, and significance in American history are discussed, highlighting his rise from humble beginnings to the presidency and his stance on slavery.

💡American Civil War

The American Civil War was a conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy) that had seceded from the Union. It is central to the video's narrative, illustrating the causes, key events, and consequences of the war, including the issues of state rights, slavery, and the struggle for power and ideology between the North and the South.

💡Slavery

Slavery was a system under which individuals were treated as property and were forced to work against their will. In the context of the video, slavery was a contentious and morally reprehensible institution that played a pivotal role in leading to the American Civil War. The video discusses the economic and social implications of slavery and its eventual abolition through the Emancipation Proclamation.

💡Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. It is highlighted in the video as a significant turning point in the Civil War, transforming the conflict into a struggle not only for the preservation of the Union but also for the freedom of enslaved people.

💡Secession

Secession refers to the act of withdrawing from a political entity or union, which, in the video, is used to describe the Southern states' decision to leave the United States and form their own government, the Confederate States of America. This act of secession was a catalyst for the Civil War and is depicted as a response to perceived threats to the institution of slavery and states' rights.

💡General Robert E. Lee

General Robert E. Lee was a Confederate general who commanded the Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War and is celebrated for his military prowess. The video portrays Lee as a skilled tactician who led the Confederate forces in several significant battles, including the invasion of the North and the battles that took place in Virginia.

💡General Ulysses S. Grant

General Ulysses S. Grant was a Union general and the 18th President of the United States. In the video, Grant is depicted as a determined and effective military leader known for his victories in the Western theater of the Civil War. His approach to warfare, including his demand for 'unconditional surrender' at Fort Donaldson, is discussed as a key factor in the Union's successes.

💡Blockade

A blockade is a military action that involves preventing ships from entering or leaving a particular area, often to restrict the movement of goods or resources. In the video, the Union's blockade of Southern ports is mentioned as a strategic move to cut off supplies to the Confederacy and weaken its economy, particularly targeting the export of cotton.

💡Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the 19th century for enslaved African Americans to escape to freedom, primarily to the North. The video references the Underground Railroad as a symbol of resistance and a means by which abolitionists helped slaves gain their freedom.

💡State's Rights

State's rights refer to the principle that individual states within a country have certain powers and autonomy that are not delegated to the federal government. The video discusses state's rights as a central issue in the Civil War, with the Southern states arguing for greater autonomy, particularly regarding the maintenance of the institution of slavery.

Highlights

Abraham Lincoln's upbringing in a relatively poor family and his journey from Kentucky to Indiana and Illinois shaped his early life.

Lincoln's self-taught legal career and cleverness in court, including the use of an Almanac to discredit a false testimony.

Lincoln's political career began with service in local and national assemblies, during a time of significant debate over the meaning of 'all men are created equal'.

The ambiguity of the founding fathers on issues such as state versus federal powers and the definition of 'all men' led to intense political and social conflict.

The economic reliance on slavery in the South, fueled by inventions like the cotton gin, contrasted with the North's growing abolitionist movement.

The Missouri Compromise and the admission of Maine as a free state highlighted the delicate balance between free and slave states.

The Dred Scott Case of 1857 was a significant blow to the abolitionist movement, ruling that people of African descent could not be citizens.

John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859 was a failed attempt to incite a slave uprising but contributed to the growing tension between the North and South.

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and his stance against slavery, despite his cautious approach, was a catalyst for the secession of Southern states.

The Confederate States' secession and the formation of the Confederate government rested on the 'great truth of racial inequality', as stated by the Confederate vice-president.

The Battle of Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the American Civil War and the failure of a peaceful resolution to secession.

Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers and the South's response demonstrated the readiness of both sides for conflict.

The Union's strategy of blockading the South, controlling the Mississippi River, and moving a main force South to take the Confederate Capitol was designed to end the war.

The Battle of Bull Run was a significant loss for the Union and a wake-up call regarding the realities and destructiveness of the war.

General George McClellan's cautious approach and failure to act despite having superior numbers led to further setbacks for the Union.

General Ulysses S. Grant's victories in the West, including the demand for 'unconditional surrender' at Fort Donaldson, provided some of the few bright spots for the Union.

The issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 by Lincoln transformed the war into a fight for freedom and prevented European intervention on the side of the Confederacy.

The Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single day of war in American history, resulted in a crucial Union victory and provided the backdrop for the Emancipation Proclamation.

Transcripts

- [Narrator] This video was made possible by NordVPN.

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Okay, Mrs. Lincoln, this is it.

One last push and we're done.

(grunting)

Nine months and four days ago.

My father brought forth upon my mother himself

and gave to her a child conceived in a shack in Kentucky

and dedicated to the proposition

that I will drink num-nums from a bottle

and do little poo poos in my pantses

for the next two to three years.

Now, what is it babies do again?

Oh yeah.

(cries loudly)

I am not touching that.

Abraham Lincoln grew up

with his relatively poor family

in Kentucky, eventually moving to Indiana,

and finally, Illinois.

He read a lot of books, worked a lot of jobs,

wrote some questionable poetry

and finally entered the law profession.

Despite being self-taught,

he turned out to be a pretty clever and astute lawyer.

In one case, a guy claimed he witnessed a murder at night

and Lincoln was like, "How could you have seen anything

in the dark?"

"There was a bright full moon."

"A what?"

"A bright full moon."

"Can you say that again, please?"

"There was a bright full moon."

"A dim half moon?"

"No, a bright full moon."

"That's funny because according to this Almanac

"there was a dim half moon that night

which makes you a liar!"

"Uh...

"Well, I got a bright full moon for y'all right here."

"Now that's what I call a rebuttal."

(claps loudly)

- [Narrator] Lincoln and his cheekbones,

weren't only interested in law however,

he also dabbled in the world of politics,

serving as a legislator in both local

and national assemblies.

And what a time it was.

Not even 100 years after the founding fathers wrote,

all men are created equal.

Politicians were already asking,

yeah, but what does that mean exactly?

It means all men.

Yeah, but what does that mean...

Exactly?

And not just that states' rights

versus the federal government.

What are the executive powers of the president?

Is cereal a soup?

The founding fathers left some of these questions

perhaps a little too open to interpretation.

And the biggest question of them all was slavery,

an ugly mark, and what should have been

a revolutionary new nation based on liberty and democracy.

Thomas Jefferson had written a condemnation of slavery

in the declaration of independence,

but out of fear of losing Southern State support,

it was removed.

Hey guys, do you think leaving this a little vague

will create any unforeseen problems in the future?

Cannonball.

And those unforeseen problems

were now beginning to rear their ugly heads.

As the nation developed the North and the South developed

along two very different lines

and two very different cultural identities emerged.

Northern cities began rapidly industrializing

while the Southern climate allowed for large plantations

of labor-intensive crops.

As a result, one half of the country didn't rely on slaves

while the other half had become economically

dependent on them.

In 1793, Eli Whitney's cotton gin caused the slave trade

in the South to explode,

while in the North a growing abolitionist movement

was taking root.

A general mistrust began to develop between the North

and the South.

As Northerners felt the South were hell bent

on expanding slavery and fear spread throughout the South

that the North wanted to take their slaves away.

In 1819, there were 11 free states

and 11 slave states, a perfect balance,

a happy medium, a harmonious relationship.

Hey guys, nice to meet you.

I'm Missouri, and I would like to become the 23rd state.

Hey buddy, welcome to the nation.

We'll be happy to accept you as a free state.

No, you don't.

You're trying to get one over on us.

Missouri is gonna be a slave state.

Okay, listen why don't we just ask Missouri

what it wants to be...

Slave state.

Well, then allow me to introduce to you

the newest freshest state on the scene, Maine.

Hey, you can't do that.

And you can't have any more slaves things about this line.

What?

The issue of slavery is solved

and it will never come up again.

A few years later, it came up again.

You see, as America expanded westward,

each new state or territory that was added

threatened to up and the delicate balance between the slave

and free States.

If one faction managed to outnumber the other,

it could gain an easy majority and force its own ideals

on the opposing side

leaving a huge portion of the population,

feeling spiteful and depressed.

For awhile compromises, kick the can down the road

and kept the volatile balance in check

as new free and slave states were roughly added in Paris

but then one landmass mass state just had to barge in

and ruin everything as usual.

(gun shots)

The addition of Texas saw the United States

enter into a war with Mexico, which they won,

gaining a huge amount of land out West

and creating even more problems.

Hey guys, nice to meet you.

I'm California and I would like to become the 31st state.

Hey buddy, welcome to the nation.

We'll be happy to accept you as a Southern slave state.

No, you don't.

You're trying to get one over on us.

California is gonna be a free state.

Okay, listen,

why don't we just ask California what it wants to be

and we can...

Free state.

Well, then allow me to introduce to you

the territories of New Mexico and Utah

able to freely vote for slavery themselves.

Hey, you can't do that!

And we can enter Northern territory anytime we want

to recapture escaped slaves!

What?

The issue of slavery is solved

and it will never come up again.

(crowd shouts loudly)

A few years later, it came up again.

In 1854 a democratic Senator from Illinois

wanted to build a really cool Chichi train here

and proposed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska

be created open to slavery,

even though they were clearly above

the Missouri compromise line.

Obviously the Northern States were like, "Hell no."

But the Southern Democrats who controlled Congress

at the time were like, "Well, if you love liberty

and democracy so much,

then you should let them vote on whether slavery

should be legal or not."

And so it was.

Huge numbers of pro and anti-slavery settlers

rushed to Kansas to sway the vote in their favor.

And while they were all there,

they began to beat crap out of each other.

One of the settlers was a man named John Brown,

a former businessman who failed

at just about everything he tried and went arguably insane.

He was a radical abolitionist and dedicated much of his life

to the underground railroad and freeing slaves.

One night in revenge for an earlier rate

by pro-slavery forces,

he and his sons killed a number of pro-slavery settlers

in the territory, helping to kick-start years of violence

known as Bleeding Kansas.

Kansas and Nebraska both eventually voted in favor

of outlawing slavery.

But from here, the tension began to grow at a rapid pace.

In 1852 author Harriet Beecher Stowe

penned Uncle Tom's Cabin,

a bestselling novel that exposed the terrible cruelty

of slavery to the world.

How awful.

How morally corrupted nation must be

to allow such things to happen.

Your majesty, what should we do

about all the starving children working in the coal mines?

Nothing!

In 1854, the Republican party was formed,

and Abraham Lincoln emerged as a leading figure.

Southern Democrats viewed the new Republican party

with mistrust, believing it to be radical and abolitionist.

In 1856 a politician named Charles Sumner

gave a speech in Congress,

calling out slave owning Democrats with fiery language,

"If slavery was a woman, she'd be an ugly one.

"And the Senator from South Carolina

"would like to boink her."

Representative Brooks, do you have a rebuttal?

I have a rebuttal, all right?

Yeah, here's a rebuttal for you.

(loud bangs)

Come on, surely this isn't allowed.

I dunno.

I'll have to consult the rule book.

Hmm, I can't find anything about caning

a political opponent, but it says here I'm not

allowed to wear a woman's underwear.

News of the violence,

on the Senate floor took the nation by storm.

Southern slave owners sent representative Brooks new canes

to replace his now broken one.

And on the floors of Congress, politicians carried weapons

in self-defense, which is never a good sign.

In 1857, the Supreme court ruled in the Dred Scott Case

that all people of African descent slave

or free could not be citizens

and therefore could not sue for their own freedom

under any circumstances,

undoing years of progress with the strike of a gavel.

Now within all this bitter debate over slavery

there were many nuances North versus South,

Republican versus Democrat,

States versus the federal government.

But let's strip all of that away.

For 4 million individuals living in America,

this wasn't about political intrigue or party alignment.

It was about the basic human right to be free.

Men, women and children were stolen from their homelands

and brought to the American continent where for generations

they were considered to be property,

forced to live in poverty

and work from sunrise to sunset,

plantation overseers did whatever they

felt was necessary to get the most out of their slaves.

Punishments were often barbaric.

Families were regularly separated

and parents could often only watch

as their children were auctioned off,

never to be seen again.

Thousands of slaves took the treacherous risk

of running away and abolitionists in the North helped

many escape by the underground railroad.

As bounty hunters entered the North to chase them down.

Leading figures within the abolitionist movement

included many significant free black men and women.

But it's important to note that

from many of the anti-slavery white individuals

in the North,

opposition to slavery was often an economic issue,

not a moral one.

As many worried large plantations would take their lands

and livelihoods away.

Abraham Lincoln knew that slavery was a moral evil

and he regularly spoke out against it

in powerful speeches that helped him rise

through the ranks of the new Republican Party.

He lamented at the hypocrisy

of a great American nation meant to stand

as a shining beacon of freedom

while also enslaving 4 million men, women and children.

He most famously declared in 1858 that a house divided

against itself cannot stand,

that one day, slavery in America would end.

However, even Lincoln was cautious in his opposition.

He didn't want to outlaw it entirely

but simply prevent its expansion.

So that given enough time he believed it would

naturally die out.

Thankfully history would force his hand.

In October, 1859 one abolitionist

decided he tried to single-handedly

take down slavery by force.

Who'd be crazy enough to even attempt such a thing?

Ah, it's our good friend, John Brown.

He planned to seize arms from an armory in the town

of Harper's ferry, free the slaves there

and continue South inciting a major slave uprising

along the way, a noble cause, a bad plan,

and terrible execution.

Brown's van took the armory and some hostages

but we're quickly surrounded by one Robert E. Lee

and his US Marine.

Brown was captured, and a couple of months later,

he was executed for treason.

Northerners sympathized with Brown,

but Southerners were like you see this,

they're coming for us.

Soon, there'll be a million John Browns.

A million John Browns?

What on earth are you thinking about?

The John Brown farm.

Yeah, me too.

To make matters worse,

new Northern free States meant now the Southern States

really were outnumbered and they were beginning to

feel bitterly, spiteful and oppressed.

Further fear began to spread in the South,

when news broke that a relatively unknown figure had just

secured the Republican party nomination for president.

Abraham Lincoln mostly well liked among anti-slavery

northerners had made some of the most powerfully

worded speeches against slavery of any politician

at the time.

And now there was a chance

that he and his cheekbones could become president,

for the South,

that would be too much.

In the 1860 election,

Lincoln's name, didn't even appear on the ballot

in 10 Southern States, but much to their horror,

when the final results came in

Lincoln had won by an electoral college landside

Lincoln himself tried to calm their fear.

How many times do I have to tell you,

I'm not gonna take away your slaves?

Yeah, right honest Abe.

We've had enough of you northerners.

We're gonna go form our own country.

You can't do that.

Why not?

Well, if you had won the election,

would it be okay for us to leave?

Of course not.

Well, why not?

Because that's not how victim mentality works.

Many States felt that when they joined union

they always withheld the right to leave it

whenever they pleased.

Many people living in 19th century, America often

felt more loyalty to their state than to the nation.

And now with the South feeling like it had lost its voice

in the federal government, they were out of here.

South Carolina was the first to go.

And over a period of six months, one by one 11 slave States

officially succeeded from the union

with just four contested border States opting to remain.

The succeeding States issued a number

of official documents justifying their succession.

South Carolina proclaimed that it was Northern States

hostility to slavery that rendered

the federal government illegitimate.

Mississippi declared that their position

was thoroughly identified

with the institution of slavery and then a speech.

The Confederate vice-president stated

that the new Confederate government rested

upon what he called the great truth of racial inequality.

Revered American generals,

such as Robert E. Lee opted to side

with their States over the union.

And with all the chaos, one New York lawyer wrote

that rather than a bold Eagle America's national

bird should be a debilitated chicken.

And hey, I kind of like that.

One man watching the crisis unfold

knew it would be his job to solve it.

Lincoln was just about to hop on a train

and become the president of the United States of America.

Hey man, you're hella ugly

Grow a beard or something to hide that face.

Hmm, good idea.

Hmm.

Still ugly

With assassination plots already underway,

Lincoln had to travel to Washington DC,

under heavy disguise and protection.

All along the way he received stacks of threatening letters.

May the hand of the devil strike you down.

You are destroying this country.

Damn you every breath you take, love from, grandma?

At his inauguration speech Lincoln

once again, reiterated that,

no, I do not wanna take away anyone's slaves

but for Lincoln, he did want to preserve the union.

He declared succession to be nothing

but an illegitimate rebellion in your hands and not in mine.

He said is the momentous issue of civil war.

You can have no conflict without being yourselves

the aggressors, we are not enemies, but friends.

It was clear Lincoln was ready and willing to get freaky

and open up a can of Scatman John if he had to,

whether he had the support of the people,

however, was in question.

In the end it was the Confederates

that fired the first shot.

As they succeeded

the Confederate States began seizing federal us property

throughout the South.

Off the coast of Charleston South Carolina

was one such federal property,

Fort Sumpter, held by a measly under supplied US force.

The Confederate militia there demanded the Fort surrender,

a request, which was quickly denied

and any remaining hope for a peaceful solution

to the secession crisis probably then died

when the Confederates did this.

The battle of Fort Sumpter is considered to be the beginning

of the American Civil War.

Many of the Confederates there also considered it to

be the end of the American Civil War.

They hoped old Abe would just sign and say, okay, you win.

Unfortunately for them, Lincoln actually said

"You're about to get a roundhouse to the face."

Lincoln sent out the call for 75,000 volunteers

and men signed up in droves hopeful

for some adventure and good old fashioned F-U-N.

In the new Confederate Capitol at Richmond Virginia,

Confederate president Jefferson Davis

and his cheekbones had also sent out the call

for 100,000 men.

As ever both sides hope for a quick end to the war.

Is it over yet?

No, Jimmy it's been one week.

Is it over now?

No.

How about now?

If you ask that one more time

I swear I will turn this army around

and you'll all have to go back home

to your wives and children (troop cheering).

But in particular, the South

knew the conflict would pose a bit of a challenge.

How can we expect to win with a population

of only 5 million against 22 million in the North?

If you count us 4 million slaves

you'd have 9 million, great idea.

Hand these rifles to all the, hey, wait a minute,

you almost had me there.

The problem for Lincoln was that many

of his top generals were getting old

and were being a bit too cautious.

The commanding general was a man named Winfield, Scott

a veteran of the Mexican American war.

And by now he was too fat to even mount a horse.

Okay chaps,

we need to come up with a plan, hit me.

We could wait for the Confederates to come and apologize.

Maybe we should all sit

in a circle and discuss our feelings.

Crossing the Delaware into New Jersey worked for me.

Those are all terrible ideas and you, wrong video.

Hey, I'm the greatest president

in the history of this nation.

Yeah, we'll see about that Dingus.

Eventually Lincoln's generals came

up with a multi-pronged strategy.

First, a blockade would cut off

and starve the South of supplies by sea.

Secondly, taking control

of the great Mississippi river would sever the

South's economic artery while splitting it into two.

And finally a main union force in the East would move South

and take the Confederate Capitol ending the war,

bada-boom bada-bing.

Skirmishes began to break out

across the nation and the union army

in the East began to move South towards Richmond.

Everything seemed to be going well

until they reached Manassas

where they came upon a large Confederate force.

It's almost like they were waiting for us.

How did they know?

As it turned out, spies in DC had sent a coded message

to the Confederates warning of the invasion.

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Now, where were we?

Oh yeah, succession, fat man,

and the union invasion into Virginia.

The two sites encountered each other

at Manassas and both geared up

for the first major battle of the Civil War.

The first battle of Bull Run.

The Confederates rapidly brought in support by a rail

and the two sites were about equal in numbers.

However, they were also equally inexperienced.

A large number of civilians also wrote

out by carriage from DC to picnic

on the nearby hills and watch the excitement unfold.

Nobody seemed to quite understand how

destructive this war was going to be.

The union forces pulled a flanking maneuver to

hit the Confederates on their left

and the two sides fired on each other in rows.

Farm families living in the area

were forced to flee the fighting

including a man named Wilmer McLean.

Hurry up, Martha, there's a war out here.

The more you tell me to hurry up, the slower I will go.

The union foresaw initial success

pushing the Confederates back to Henry Hill.

But one as of yet, fairly unknown general

Thomas Jackson had arrived

and he took a defensive position standing

from like a Stonewall, holding the union army off

and finally sending them running back

to Washington DC with heavy casualties.

The sobering reality of war hit both sides hard

and the North having just lost the first

major battle had to face this serious prospect

that they may not actually win this war.

President Lincoln, General Jackson whipped us so hard,

the Confederates are calling him Stonewall Jackson.

Wait, that's why they're calling him that?

Not because he looks like

he ran face first into a Stonewall?

Apparently not.

Worse yet, the North had also lost the first major battle

out West giving away control of Southwest, Missouri.

All of this was terrible news for Abraham Lincoln.

Especially since many of his generals

in cabinet already didn't have much respect for him.

They felt he wasn't capable of running a war

because he seemed a bit like your friendly old grandpa.

He famously loved a long-winded story and a good pun.

I've been so busy.

My wife is missing me, but her aim is starting to improve.

But deep down do you realized he could also

be incredibly shrewd.

Oh Abe, you're so funny.

Funny how?

Funny, like I'm a clown?

Abe, I was just.

No, no funny how, like I'm here to amuse you?

During the war Lincoln committed acts that were viewed

by some as impeachable.

His administration suppressed the free media

from printing articles sympathetic towards the South.

Some Southern sympathizers were even arrested

without a trial.

Lincoln's criticizers began accusing him of being a tyrant

but to quote the man himself,

"Hey it's war, baby.

"What are you gonna do?"

By the end of 1861 with things already looking bad

for the North,

abolitionists such as Frederick Douglas couldn't believe

that the union army weren't enlisting black men.

He continued to put pressure on Lincoln to make the war

about emancipation.

Mr. President, it's time to make the war about emancipation.

I don't wanna ruffle any feathers.

The feathers are already ruffled.

But Lincoln hanging on to hope

for a quick end to the conflict,

continued to fight only for the preservation of the union.

It was decided, however, that escaped slaves

from the Confederacy could be held as enemy contraband.

And many of these men were put to work,

bolstering the unions, infrastructure and supply lines.

Hoping to get things moving,

Lincoln made young General George McClellan

the new commanding general and McClellan began to train

up his men.

He thought a lot of himself, however, and believed he

was going to be the nation's great savior.

Unlike many others, he didn't approve of the president's

handling of the war.

On one occasion, Lincoln went to McClellan's house to meet

with him, but McClellan was late returning home.

He kept the president waiting.

And when he finally got there,

he just straight up went to bed.

Now that's what I call disrespectful.

McClellan talked the talk, but could he walk the walk?

No, like Lincoln's other generals,

McClellan was maddeningly cautious.

Hey man, could you move South and attack the enemy?

What are you crazy?

What if they have a big, scary army down there?

They probably do.

What?

Oh my gosh.

McClellan worried that he did not have the numbers

he needed to fight effectively.

What if they have like 10,000 men?

Okay, no problem.

We'll get you 20,000 men.

Well, what if they have 30,000 men?

I'll need 40.

Okay, you can have 40.

Well, what if they have 50 I'll need 60.

Lincoln tried but it was all in vain.

McClellan would not make a move for the rest of the year.

The North's one saving grace for now,

was a General out west fighting Kentucky and Tennessee.

General Ulysses S. Grant cool, collected, methodical

and a big fan of whiskey.

His chief of staff took it upon himself to keep Grant sober.

One officer said that Grant habitually worn expression

as though he were determined to drive his head

through a brick wall and was about to do it.

And that determination led him to score a number

of key victories when others around him were failing.

At the battle of Fort Donaldson Grant was like,

why does Stonewall Jackson get a cool nickname and I don't?

I want a cool nickname.

Sir, the Confederate say they're ready to surrender

and wanna know your terms.

No terms.

Just unconditional surrender.

Hey, Unconditional Surrender Grant.

That's a pretty cool nickname, right guys, right?

Later in April, 1862, the Confederates launched

a sudden attack on Grant's army at Shiloh

but the determined Unconditional Surrender Grant

through his lines at the rebels and sent them running.

The battle resulted in the heaviest casualties

in US history so far.

And despite his victory, Grant found himself under fire.

You have to get rid of Grant.

Why?

Didn't he win?

Yes, but he just threw his men at the enemy.

Isn't that the point?

Also he's a loony drunk.

Well, what does he like to drink?

I believe whiskey, sir.

Then send him more.

Lincoln watched as his cabinet did nothing but bicker.

And his generals did nothing but then worst of all,

personal tragedy struck Lincoln's young son, Willie.

Very much loved by the president died of typhoid fever

at the age of 11.

Lincoln was a sensitive man

and was heavily effected by the loss.

His wife was inconsolable

but one of Lincoln's greatest traits,

what made him such a great leader was

in the darkest of times

with composure and determination, he kept moving forward.

He knew it was his responsibility to hold himself

and his family together.

And by doing so, he hoped to hold the nation together

and he had had it with McClellan's in action.

Lincoln decided he was gonna take control.

In March, 1862 Lincoln firmly ordered

McClellan to once again move South towards Richmond,

McClellan insisted instead they moved by sea

to the Virginia Peninsula

and attack Richmond from the South East.

Yes, said Lincoln.

Okay, anything.

Lincoln held onto some of McClellan's men to defend DC

from a nearby Stonewall Jackson wreaking havoc

in the Shenandoah Valley.

And he sent McClellan South.

McClellan landed on the Peninsula

and he began to move inland.

He came up against a small Confederate army

that had dug in at Yorktown.

McClellan vastly outnumbered the force

but it said that Confederate general Magruder

deceived McClellan

by cleverly maneuvering his smaller force

and making McClellan believe he faced a huge army.

No, you have way more men than them, move forward.

No.

McClellan settled in for a month long siege, giving time

for Johnston to move South from Manassas and Magruder

time to retreat.

When he finally entered the city and found it deserted

he declared it a victory calling his success brilliant.

Then after meeting some resistance at Williamsburg

McClellan moved to within just 20 miles of Richmond

his Army's able to hear the church bells ringing

in the enemy capital.

You still outnumber them.

Go give them hell.

No.

McClellan once again held back

moving slowly and defensively.

And with his army split in two, the Confederate

saw an opportunity to strike back.

McClellan's advance was halted, and now the Confederates

pulled an ace out of their sleep.

General Lee, you're up.

Do you think we should evacuate Richmond?

No. Mr. President, no need.

General. Robert E. Lee,

one of the most brilliant military commanders

of the time was now in charge.

One of his biggest strengths was his ability to

read the mind of his enemy and he knew McClellan was

cautious and weak after moving Stonewall Jackson South to

join him.

And even though he had a smaller army, Lee hit McClellan

in a series of fast paced, close combat battles

that had McClellan spook, McClellan retreated the union

army back again and again and again, escaping the Peninsula

and returning to DC.

Lee had defeated McClellan and the campaign had failed.

Well, that was a major success.

A success?

Tell me exactly what was successful about that.

Well, we successfully retreated.

You lost.

I didn't lose.

I merely failed to win.

Things just kept looking worse for the North.

At least their Navy had seen some success capturing a number

of key port cities, notably when they steamrolled

past Confederate forts to take New Orleans.

And speaking of the Navy

both sides have begun using ironclads.

So that's pretty cool.

But in the East, they still weren't having any luck.

After McClellan's disastrous campaign,

Lincoln briefly sent that one General John Pope

to attack Northern Virginia.

Hey man, just checking in.

How's it going?

Well, the Confederates kicked my butt at Cedar mountain.

Then they raided my camp and ran off

with my money and clothes.

Also, I appear to have been wedgied.

Lee defeated Pope at yet another battle

at Bull Run in which nearby farm families,

once again got caught up in the fighting.

Hurry up, Martha, there's another war out here.

I'm waiting for my hair to dry.

Wilmer McLean sick of war moved his family South

where he knew the war would definitely

absolutely never touch him again.

But Lincoln had yet another problem to contend with

European powers in particular the UK

we're looking increasingly

like they may intervene diplomatically

on the side of the Confederates.

They were missing their precious supply

of Southern cotton because of the union blockade.

And they wanted to see a swift conclusion to the war.

The tension between America and Great Britain

had been increasing especially after Confederate diplomats

were discovered on a British ship.

Now after McClellan's failure to take Richmond

the UK declared it impossible for the North to win.

Lincoln needed something to

prevent Europe from getting involved.

And after more petitioning from abolitionists

he decided maybe the time was finally right to make the war

about ending the institution he hated, slavery.

If the North had a noble cause to fight for,

Europe would be less likely to intervene

but Lincoln and his cabinet knew before they

could declare something as radical as emancipation,

they needed a victory, especially now

that the Confederates were about to go on the attack.

Aware that he had a limited number of men and supplies,

Lee now hoped that

if he could just threaten Washington DC militarily

he would gain Europe's recognition

and crush Northern morale in time

for the midterm elections, forcing the North to negotiate.

With confidence at an all-time high

for the first time Robert E. Lee invaded the North

but on September 13th, the North finally had some luck.

Oh boy, it's my lucky day.

That's a garner field.

Hey, what's this wrapped around it?

Oh my gosh.

That's right.

The North had discovered General Lee's battle plans

wrapped around some cigars

and in them they saw that Lee had split up his forces

McClellan headed out from DC and the two sides met

in the battle of Antietam.

A crucial battle that would decide the course of the war.

It saw the most vicious fighting to date and still

remains the single bloodiest day in American history.

But for once the North came out victorious

and Lee was forced to retreat.

He's on the run, chase him down and finish them off.

No.

You know what old buddy old pal, you're fired.

The North had won their crucial victory.

Lincoln breathed a huge sigh of relief.

And with that wind, he was prepared to take a huge step

on September 22nd, the emancipation proclamation was issued

in January.

All slaves held in the Confederate States would be as far

as the US government was concerned officially free.

Throughout the North free black men and women

rejoiced knowing that if the North were to win

their brothers and sisters would no longer

be held in bondage.

The proclamation also had the intended effect

on Europe who were not willing to oppose a pledge to

end slavery and outraged Confederacy knew that

Lincoln had given the war a new meaning.

It was no longer just about the preservation of the union.

Now, it was about creating a new union,

washed clean of its original sin,

a union without slavery.

(upbeat music)