American Civil War Courses and Certifications

Lincoln, Leadership, and Race - Emancipation as Policy

Explore Lincoln's evolving views on slavery, the Battle of Antietam's impact, and the Emancipation Proclamation's significance in shaping the Civil War's meaning and outcome.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

John Brown's Holy War - Terrorist or Heroic Revolutionary?

Explore John Brown's controversial legacy, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the Dred Scott decision's impact on pre-Civil War America in this Yale lecture on pivotal events leading to the conflict.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Days of Jubilee: The Meanings of Emancipation and Total War - Lecture 16

Explore the impact of the Emancipation Proclamation, its effects on the Civil War, and the complex process of emancipation across the South. Gain insights into freed slaves' experiences and the transformation of the Union Army.

• YouTube
• 49 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Military and Political Turning Points in 1863 - Never Call Retreat

Explore key military events of 1862-1863, including Union victories, the rise of Grant and Lee, and pivotal battles that shaped the Civil War's trajectory and outcome.

• YouTube
• 50 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

A Northern World View: Yankee Society, Antislavery Ideology and the Abolition Movement - Lecture 4

Explores the Market Revolution's impact on antebellum Northern society, including economic changes, cultural shifts, and the intensification of North-South divides, setting the stage for reform movements.

• YouTube
• 51 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Why the Union Won and the Confederacy Lost in the Civil War - Lecture 18

Exploración profunda de las razones de la victoria de la Unión en la Guerra Civil: recursos, liderazgo, diplomacia y batallas decisivas como Gettysburg y Vicksburg. Análisis de teorías sobre la derrota confederada.

• YouTube
• 51 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Antebellum Yale and the Coming of the Civil War - Class 7

Explore Yale's role in antebellum America and its connection to the Civil War. Examine slavery's impact on institutions and the challenges to democracy, pluralism, and constitutional rule.

• YouTube
• 55 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

The Civil War and its Legacies at Yale - Class 8

Explore the Civil War's impact on American institutions and Yale's connections to slavery, examining enduring legacies and their influence on modern society and governance.

• YouTube
• 57 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

John Brown's Holy War, 1860 Election, and the Secession Crisis - Class 12

Explore the pivotal events leading to the Civil War: John Brown's raid, the 1860 election, and the secession crisis. Gain insights into slavery's impact on American history and its enduring legacies.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

No Rights: Dred Scott, Bleeding Kansas, and the Impending Crisis of the Union - Class 11

Explore the pivotal events of Dred Scott, Bleeding Kansas, and the impending crisis leading to the Civil War. Gain insights into slavery's impact on American institutions and its enduring legacies.

• YouTube
• 58 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Causes of the American Civil War: Slavery, States' Rights, and the Irrepressible Conflict - Class 13

Explore the complex historical debate over Civil War causation, examining the roles of slavery, states' rights, and political tensions in shaping America's deadliest conflict.

• YouTube
• 1 hour
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Why Does the Civil War and Reconstruction Have a Hold on American Historical Imagination? - Class 1

Exploring the enduring impact of the Civil War and Reconstruction on American society, examining slavery's legacy, and analyzing how this era shapes current political and social divisions.

• YouTube
• 53 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Never Call Retreat: Military Turning Points and Why the North Won the Civil War - Class 15

Explore the pivotal military turning points of the Civil War and analyze the strategic factors that led to the Union's victory, examining the war's lasting impact on American society.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 4 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Terrible Swift Sword: Confederate Ascendency and Ultimate Defeat - Class 14

Explore the pivotal moments of Confederate military success and eventual downfall during the Civil War, examining their lasting impact on American society and constitutional framework.

• YouTube
• 57 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Days of Jubilee: The Process of Emancipation and Union Victory - Class 18

Explore the complex process of emancipation during the Civil War, examining how Union victory transformed American society and left enduring legacies that continue to shape racial, political, and social dynamics.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 1 minute
• On-Demand
• Free Video