Civil War 150th: Why They Fought [rebroadcast]




BackStory show

Summary: 150 years ago, the Battle of Gettysburg – the bloodiest of the Civil War – was about to be fought. Thousands would lose their lives in that battle, northerners and southerners, joining the hundreds of thousands who had already laid down their lives in the course of the war. But why were so many prepared to take up arms in the first place? When most southerners were not slaveholders, and most northerners were not abolitionists, how had a war infused with the question of slavery even begun? In this second part of our special series on the Civil War, the American History Guys and their guests examine the inner conflicts and mixed motivations of most Americans, as they contemplated war against each other. For more on the guests and stories featured in this episode, and for an array of Civil War-related resources, check out our website: http://backstoryradio.org/shows/civil-war-150th-why-they-fought-rebroadcast/