browse videos in civil war

Causes of War: April 12, 1861 (0:27)

When Southern rebels fired on the Union's Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, the Civil War officially began.

Causes of War: A Virginian Family (2:35)

Families with ties to both the North and South were split in half.

Causes of War: The War Begins (0:58)

After a day and a half of bombardment by the CSA forces, the Union Fort Sumter surrendered. Virginia seceded, and by June 1861, three more states had joined the Confederacy.

American Civil War: Uniforms (0:46)

The housing, training, and dress of army volunteers is discussed.

American Civil War: Entertainment (1:08)

During the long periods between battles, soldiers wrote and read letters, sang songs, and played cards.

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The Causes of War: The Causes of the War Quiz (3:01)

This clip presents a quiz on the causes of the Civil War.

The Causes of War: The Preamble to the US Constitution (0:46)

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution outlines the basis for our judicial philosophy and the principles of individual rights by which the country exists.

The Causes of War: An Introduction to the Civil War (1:19)

During the years of the Civil War, between 1861 and 1865, nearly 750,000 Americans died.

American History: Slavery and the Battle for Equality (56:00)

In this video, investigate the United States' early history of slavery and the legacy of the battle for equal rights.

Abolishing Slavery in America: Amistad Revolt (36:01)

This video investigates the revolt on the slave-trading ship Amistad and the outcome of the mutiny in the United States.

Urban Growth in America: The First American Gangsters (35:11)

This video examines the role of gangsters in America, from early street gangs to Al Capone and Prohibition.

The Civil War: Plots Against the President (33:36)

Abraham Lincoln was the victim of several assassination attempts. This video examines several of the plots against his life.

Assignment Discovery: Holding Vicksburg (1:48)

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln believed that a Union victory at Vicksburg was crucial to winning the Civil War. The side that controlled the city controlled the Mississippi River. Confederates held the city for most of the war.

Abolishing Slavery in America: Uncle Tom's Cabin (3:02)

Learn more about Harriet Beecher Stowe's life and how "Uncle Tom's Cabin" incited tensions between the North and South over the issue of slavery.

Abolishing Slavery in America: The Underground Railroad (3:46)

This video examines what the Underground Railroad was and how it worked.