- Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky and grew up in a relatively poor family, eventually moving to Indiana and then Illinois. He worked various jobs and eventually became a lawyer.
- He entered the world of politics and served as a legislator in both local and national assemblies, dealing with issues such as states' rights vs federal government, executive powers of the president, and the issue of slavery.
- The 1800s saw the North and South of America develop along different lines, with the North industrializing rapidly and the South relying on labor-intensive crops and slaves.
- The Missouri Compromise and the addition of new states and territories threatened the delicate balance between free and slave states in the union.
- The tension grew as the North and South had different cultural identities and conflicting views on slavery, leading to increased mistrust and fear from both sides.
- In 1854, the formation of the Republican party and the emergence of Abraham Lincoln as a leading figure in the party further increased tensions, as many viewed the Republican party as radical and abolitionist.
- The issue of slavery led to violent confrontations, such as the Bleeding Kansas conflict, where settlers clashed over the issue of slavery in the territories.
- Key events and figures, such as the Dred Scott Case, Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin", and the formation of the Republican party, further heightened the divide between the North and South.
- The election of Abraham Lincoln as president in 1860 led to the Southern states seceding from the Union, forming the Confederate States of America.
- The beginning of the Civil War was marked by the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, leading to both sides calling for men to join the fight.
- Lincoln struggled with older, cautious generals and faced the challenge of quelling the secession while also dealing with the divide between the North and South.
- Lincoln crossed the Delaware into New Jersey and considered himself the greatest president in the history of the nation.
- Lincoln's generals came up with a multi-pronged strategy including a blockade, taking control of the Mississippi River, and a main union force in the East moving South to end the war.
- Spies in DC sent a coded message to the Confederates, warning them of the invasion.
- The narrator promotes Nord VPN.
- The Union army encountered a large Confederate force at Manassas, leading to the first major battle of the Civil War.
- The Union forces initially had success but were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Bull Run.
- Lincoln faced criticism for his handling of the war and was accused of being a tyrant for suppressing the free media and arresting Southern sympathizers.
- Abolitionists pressured Lincoln to make the war about emancipation, but he fought only for the preservation of the union.
- Escaped slaves from the Confederacy were held as enemy contraband and put to work for the Union.
- General George McClellan's cautious approach and lack of action frustrated Lincoln.
- General Ulysses S. Grant scored key victories, including the Battle of Shiloh, despite facing criticism for his leadership and alleged drinking habits.
- Politics and personal tragedy, including the death of Lincoln's young son, Willie, added to the challenging circumstances.
- Lincoln decided to take control and ordered McClellan to move South towards Richmond.
- McClellan's cautious and defensive approach led to defeat at the hands of General Robert E. Lee, and the failure of the Peninsula campaign.
- The UK was considering diplomatic intervention on the side of the Confederates, prompting Lincoln to consider making the war about ending slavery.
- The North discovered General Lee's battle plans, leading to the Battle of Antietam, where the North emerged victorious.
- Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, officially freeing all slaves held in the Confederate states and giving the war a new meaning.