SHAPING AMERICA FINAL SCRIPT

Transcription

1 SHAPING AMERICA FINAL SCRIPT TITLE: Lesson 21: "The Union Collapses PREPARED FOR: Dallas TeleLearning WRITER: Gretchen Dyer PRODUCER: Julia Dyer DRAFT: Final DATE: 31 January, 2001

2 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 1 FADE IN: INTRODUCTION (1 min.) Title graphics; music up 1. Map of U.S. (see maps from lesson 22), layered with distinctly northern and southern images (i.e., southern cotton fields, northern manufacturing) In the late 1850 s, the United States was one country, divided in two. 2. Layer in image of conflict Secessionists of the South and disunionists of the North believed that to live together as one nation had become impossible. 3. Layer in actor profile ACTOR (VO): Sen. James Hammond No two nations on earth are or ever were more distinctly separate and hostile than we are. 4. newspaper headlines re secession; images of southern fire-eaters (e.g., Yancey, Ruffin) As calls for secession mounted, the question that demanded an answer was this: Was the United States one indivisible nation, or was it a compact between sovereign states which could be unmade by any state that chose to secede? 5. image of Lincoln circa 1858 For one man, who was just beginning to emerge on the national political scene, the answer was certain. The Union was perpetual.

3 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 2 Segment One music up MR. LINCOLN 6. image of Lincoln circa 1858, tilt or pan to accentuate ACTOR (VO): Sidney George Fisher, [Philadelphia lawyer and diarist] He is uneducated, his manners are uncouth, he wants dignity and reserve befitting his station, and has a vile habit of telling dirty stories 7. drawings and illustrations of Lincoln s life from books, biographies, etc. Abraham Lincoln was a far cry from the typical politician of his day. Raised on a farm, Lincoln spent his twenties wandering and working at a series of odd jobs. But he took an early interest in politics. And in order to pursue a political career, he took up the law. 8. portrait/photo of Lincoln the Congressman After serving several terms in the Illinois state legislature, in 1846 Lincoln was elected to the U.S House of Representatives. Over the next few years, his views on slavery would take shape.

4 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ Howard Jones on camera HOWARD JONES He had developed early in his life the belief that when you work hard, you deserve what you get. So it s a fruit of your labor and kind of the feeling that this is a free labor society, that if you work hard, you get what you deserve. 10. image of Lincoln as a lawyer Following a single term in Congress, Lincoln returned to Springfield, Illinois. There he pursued a successful career as a lawyer. 11. documents/newspaper headlines re K-N Act But in 1854 he was drawn back into active politics by the Kansas-Nebraska Act. 12. Howard Jones on camera HOWARD JONES He was torn deeply by the passage of this law because to him it upset everything the founding fathers had brought together in Philadelphia back in the 1780 s. He believed that these founding fathers had set forth a series of principles based upon natural rights to the point that somewhere down the line slavery would come to an end. But the Kansas- Nebraska Act had opened the idea of popular sovereignty which meant theoretically slavery could

5 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 4 go anywhere. And to him that was just, it was blasphemy. 13. James McPherson on camera; images of early Republican party meetings, tracts, etc. JAMES McPHERSON Because the Republican party was now the vehicle for preventing the expansion of slavery into the territories, Lincoln in 1855 made the decision to become a Republican, and by 1856 had emerged as the leading Republican in the state of Illinois. 14. newspaper headlines announcing nominations In 1858, Lincoln was nominated by the Illinois state Republican convention as the Republican candidate for the Senate. His Democratic opponent was the incumbent senator, Stephen Douglas. 15. copy of printed House Divided speech The speech Lincoln gave upon his acceptance of the nomination was a watershed. He directly challenged the prevailing attitude of political moderates and conservatives that the country s division over slavery could go on indefinitely.

6 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ image of Abraham Lincoln; image from illustrated Bible ACTOR (VO): Abraham Lincoln A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall. But I do expect that it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. 17. Michael Johnson on camera MICHAEL JOHNSON Stephen A. Douglas is perhaps the most important and famous politician in Illinois at the time and he has been responsible for the Kansas-Nebraska Act. So the House Divided speech is a speech in which Lincoln kind of steps forward as the person who is going to be the point man for opposing Douglas position on slavery, which is the position of popular sovereignty. Comment: Cut. To increase the visibility and momentum of his campaign, Lincoln called his opponent out.

7 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ Howard Jones on camera HOWARD JONES Lincoln was known in certain areas, but certainly not that well-known, not as much as Douglas. And so what you do is you challenge a person like Douglas to a series of debates, and of course, the debates were focused on a number of issues, but in particular on slavery. 19. image of Stephen Douglas ACTOR (VO): Stephen Douglas Those of you who believe that the negro is your equal of course will vote for Mr. Lincoln. 20. image of Lincoln, intercut with images of free blacks and slaves ACTOR (VO): Abraham Lincoln I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races but in the right to eat the bread which his own hand earns, he is my equal and the equal of Judge Douglas, and the equal of every living man. 21. headline of Freeport newspaper At Freeport, Illinois, Lincoln baited a trap for Douglas, arguing that his doctrine of popular sovereignty was illegal in light of the Dred Scott decision.

8 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ Johannsen on camera ROBERT JOHANNSEN (5:19:23:26) In that decision in 1857 the Supreme Court said there was no power in the country that could keep slavery out of the territories, slavery was Constitutional. It was in the Constitution and people had every right to take their slaves into the territories wherever they might be. Well, that is a slap at Douglas popular sovereignty because Douglas is arguing the people who live there are the ones who should make the decision. So Lincoln had people urging him to catch Douglas up here, drive him into a corner. 23. highlight corresponding printed text of debate ACTOR (VO): Abraham Lincoln Judge Douglas, can the people of United States Territory, in any lawful way exclude slavery from its limits prior to the formation of a State Constitution? 24. Johannsen on camera ROBERT JOHANNSEN (5:20:59:22) Douglas had been asked that before. He didn t hesitate whatsoever. He says it didn t matter what the supreme court might rule now or in the future. The people in the territories have the right and have the power to keep slavery out of their territories

9 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 8 simply by passing unfriendly legislation with respect to slaveholding. They could tax it outrageously so that no slaveholder could afford to have slavery. There are a number of ways they could keep it out. 25. Southern newspaper headlines/text : This answer became known as the Freeport Doctrine. And in the South, as the Freeport Heresy. Comment: Cut. 26. Howard Jones on camera HOWARD JONES I think this was probably one of the most politically ingenious steps that Lincoln had carried out at this time because what it did was to force a deep split within the Democratic party. It forced the Southerners to leave Douglas, and the Northerners in the Democratic party to stay with him, and opened the way to Lincoln s own election. 27. newspaper headlines announcing Douglas victory Stephen Douglas defeated Lincoln to win re-election to the Senate that year. But in the long run, Lincoln had achieved something more important. 28. James McPherson on camera JAMES McPHERSON And these debates, because Stephen Douglas was the Number One Mr. Democrat in the North,

10 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 9 catapulted Lincoln into the national press. And because he made such a good showing against Douglas, debated him on an equal plane, people in Massachusetts, in New York and elsewhere in the country began to ask, Who is this prairie lawyer, Abraham Lincoln, who is challenging Stephen Douglas and holding his own against him? 29. Republican meeting notices announcing A. Lincoln as speaker When several Midwestern papers suggested him as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election, Lincoln demurred. But his popularity was growing, as was his ambition. 30. Michael Johnson on camera MICHAEL JOHNSON The turning point in Lincoln s interest in becoming president is when he is invited to give a speech at the Cooper Union in New York. What s the big deal about giving a speech in New York? The big deal is, the leading candidate to become President is William Seward, who is an important New York politician, former Governor of New York, now a Senator. And so, in effect, Lincoln was invited to Seward s backyard to give a talk about the current crisis of the Nation. And Lincoln labored over this

11 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 10 speech and it was a huge hit and it put him on a national map as many people s second choice to be the Republican nominee. 31. image of Lincoln ACTOR (VO): Abraham Lincoln Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by menaces of destruction to the Government. Let us have faith that right makes might; and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it. 32. banners/headlines of New York Tribune, etc. The Cooper Union speech was reprinted in the New York papers the next day and received glowing praise from all quarters. 33. image of Horace Greeley, publisher of NY Tribune ACTOR (VO): Horace Greeley Mr. Lincoln is one of Nature s orators, using his rare powers to elucidate and to convince, though their inevitable effect is to delight and electrify as well. 34. newspaper headlines, etc. Up to this point, Lincoln had been uncertain whether

12 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 11 he would seek the Republican presidential nomination, and had little confidence that he could win it if he sought it. But after the reception he received in New York, and at other stops in New England, he was encouraged. 35. image of Lincoln writing at his desk ACTOR (VO): Abraham Lincoln I will be entirely frank. The taste is in my mouth a little. SHORT-TAKE music up MATHEW BRADY 36. Ext. of Brady s studio in NY if it still exists, or period photo of Brady s studio On the day that Abraham Lincoln spoke at Cooper Union, he presented himself at a photographer s studio to have what he called his shadow made. 37. portrait photo of Mathew Brady and sitters, incl. Webster, Clay, Seward, Douglas, Stowe Mathew Brady was a fashionable portrait photographer of the era whose sitters included Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, William Seward, Stephen Douglas and Harriet Beecher Stowe. 38. period camera Using the latest technological developments in photography, Brady took striking photos that revealed his subjects in more detail and depth than the old-fashioned daguerrotypes.

13 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ Brady s 1860 portrait photo of Lincoln His photograph of Lincoln was the work of a master. 40. CU, slow pan across photo Before taking the picture, Brady adjusted Lincoln s collar to conceal his long neck. Afterward, he retouched the negative, correcting Lincoln s left eye, which appeared to be roving upward, and softening the harsh lines in his face. 41. zoom out to full photo In the final image, Lincoln looked statesmanlike, and almost handsome. 42. copy of photo as distributed in 1860 It was a work of art which Lincoln would later credit with making him President. SEGMENT TWO music up HARPERS FERRY 43. image of John Brown ACTOR (VO): John Brown Talk! talk! talk! That will never free the slaves. What is needed is action action. 44. images of abolitionists meetings, notices of meetings, etc. The abolitionist movement of the 1850 s was filled with editors and orators who spoke out passionately against slavery at every opportunity. 45. image of John Brown But John Brown believed actions spoke louder than words.

14 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 13 And, following no one s conscience but his own, he took actions that would eventually eclipse all the words of all the abolitionists in America. 46. image of John Brown ACTOR (VO): John Brown Without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. 47. images of slaves working on southern plantations, in southern cities; a John Brown pike on display at Harpers Ferry For many years John Brown had been developing a plan he believed would destroy slavery once and for all. Brown would invade the South and by arming the slaves, ignite a rebellion. 48. Paul Finkelman on camera; shot of farm or ext. of landscape near Harpers Ferry river, etc. PAUL FINKELMAN After raising money and gathering some men to join him in 1859, John Brown goes to Maryland, sets up a campsite, and in October of 1859, he and 19 other men seize the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry. 49. Int John Brown fort And their plan is the slaves will come to them and then they will go off into the mountains and fight the guerilla war. Slaves don t come to them. In part,

15 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 14 because the slaves don t know that he s there, and in part because the slaves aren t stupid. They can see that John Brown is totally outnumbered. John Brown managed to get himself surrounded. He lets a train go through at one period. Harpers Ferry is a railroad stop, and so the train goes through and informs people that they re under attack. And eventually, the United States Marines show up under the command of an Army Colonel, Robert E. Lee, who will later, of course, become Confederate General. 50. illustrations of Brown and incident at Harpers Ferry; images of U.S. soldiers/marines circa 1859; image of Robt. E. Lee When Brown refused to surrender, the troops stormed the engine house. 51. Paul Finkelman on camera PAUL FINKELMAN Brown is captured. He s tried; the trial is something of a sham. Brown is suffering from wounds that he d received during the battle. He asks for a delay of a couple of days so his lawyer from Ohio can arrive and the judge refuses to delay the trial. 52. illustrations of John Brown s trial Weakened by his wounds, Brown appeared in court

16 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 15 every day on a cot. Knowing the conclusion was foregone, he listened, but said little. 53. shot of jailhouse in Charlestown; newspaper headlines re sentencing John Brown was sentenced to death by hanging. 54. Paul Finkelman on camera PAUL FINKELMAN In the month between the time he s convicted and the time he s hanged, Brown writes hundreds of letters across the country and essentially creates himself into an almost Christ-like martyr for northern opponents of slavery. 55. image of John Brown in jail cell; or original letters written by Brown from jail ACTOR (VO): John Brown I ve been whipped, but I am sure I can recover all the lost capital occasioned by that disaster by only hanging a few moments by the neck; and I feel quite determined to make the utmost possible out of a defeat." 56. Victor Hugo s illustration of Brown s hanging; images of or headlines re mourning in the North John Brown was hanged on Dec. 2, Across the North meetings, prayer vigils and church services were held to observe his death. 57. Southern newspaper headlines These public displays of mourning outraged the

17 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 16 South. 58. cont d ACTOR (VO): from DeBow s Review The North has sanctioned and applauded theft, murder, treason 59. Paul Finkelman on camera PAUL FINKELMAN The South believes its own propaganda about John Brown. Southerners say all Northerners are like John Brown. In other words, they create John Brown to be in their mind the personification of the North. He s not. He s about as far out on the fringe as you could possibly get, but Southerners believe in their own minds that Brown is really the North. They refer to the John Brown Republicans. 60. images of Southerners in military uniform, carrying weapons Threatened southerners joined military companies and southern states appropriated funds to purchase arms. 61. newspaper headlines in South and North Yankees were tarred and feathered or run out of town on a rail. A few were lynched. The support for secession reached a critical mass.

18 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ Slides/pictures On his way to the gallows, John Brown handed a final note to his jailer. 63. CU image of John Brown ACTOR (VO): John Brown I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with Blood. SEGMENT THREE music up ELECTION AND SECESSION 64. Newspaper headlines re Democratic convention In the tense and fateful spring of 1860, the presidential election got underway. Comment: Rewrite opening sentence segment must be able to stand alone. 65. shots of Charleston Just four months after the execution of John Brown, the Democratic convention met in the overheated political atmosphere of Charleston, South Carolina. 66. James Roark on camera JAMES ROARK By 1860, finally what in fact had occurred gradually over the 1850 s came to a head. It became clear that the Democratic party was no longer a national party, that there were Northern Democrats and that there were Southern Democrats. And Stephen

19 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 18 Douglas candidacy for the Democratic nomination finally brought it to a head. 67. illustrations of convention; newpaper headlines re walkout, Richmond convention Douglas platform advocating popular sovereignty to settle the question of slavery in the territories infuriated southerners. When it was passed, most of the delegates from Alabama and seven other southern states walked out of the convention. The Democratic party had split in two. After months of wrangling, the Northern Democrats would give Stephen Douglas the nomination, and the Southern Democrats would nominate their own candidate, John C. Breckenridge. 68. shots of Chicago In May, the Republican convention took place in Chicago, Illinois--Abraham Lincoln s home state. 69. Michael Johnson on camera MICHAEL JOHNSON The Republican party in 1860 is running a candidate for president only for the second time in American history. In the previous election in 1856, they failed to carry five key northern states; and they knew that if they could carry those states, they could win, and they needed in order to carry those states,

20 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 19 somebody who was a moderate. 70. image of Horace Greeley, publisher of NY Tribune ACTOR (VO): Horace Greeley An Anti-Slavery man per se cannot be elected, but a tariff, River-and-Harbor, Pacific Railroad, Free-Homestead man may succeed although he is Anti-Slavery. 71. images of candidates: Seward, Chase, Bates, Cameron and Lincoln Five candidates competed for the nomination at the Republican convention. On the first ballot William Seward led by a strong margin. Lincoln ran second. 72. illustrations of Republican convention On the second ballot Lincoln drew to within several votes of Seward. 73. posters, banners, etc. of various state delegations On the third ballot, Lincoln took the lead, coming within one and a half votes of the number needed to win the nomination. In the breathless silence, the chairman from Ohio stood on a chair and announced the change of four more votes to Lincoln. 74. illustration of convention or int. shot of Wigwam ACTOR (VO): Convention delegate

21 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 20 There was a rush of great wind in the van of a storm and in another breath, the storm was there, thousands cheering with the energy of insanity. 75. newspaper headlines re Black Republicans etc. The increasing likelihood that Lincoln would be elected provoked a kind of hysteria in the South. 76. cont d The Republican party represented an unacceptable threat to slavery and the southern way of life. 77. illustrations of Wide-Awakes on the march, Republican campaign materials In the North, Lincoln and the Republican party represented the only hope of resisting southern domination. 78. images of Northerners for Lincoln ACTOR (VO): Ex-Whig voter I will vote the Republican ticket next Tuesday. The only alternative is everlasting submission to the South. I want to be able to remember that I voted right at this grave crisis. The North must assert its rights now, and take the consequences. 79. Map of U.S. showing distribution of electoral votes The election results reflected the almost complete separation of North and South.

22 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 21 Lincoln swept the North, receiving not a single electoral vote in the South. Breckinridge won all of the states of the Deep South. John Bell of the Constitutional Union Party took the border states of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. And Stephen Douglas, Lincoln s longtime rival, won only Missouri, and half of New Jersey. But the electoral votes masked the more complex results of the popular vote. 80. Robert Johannsen on camera ROBERT JOHANNSEN Bear in mind, in the final results Lincoln only carried thirty-nine percent of those who voted. He was very 81. images of Southern Home Guards and state militias much one of the most minority candidate presidents we ve ever had. Lincoln s election triggered an immediate reaction in the South. Comment: Can you summarize this info in brief narration without detailed vote counts something like, Lincoln swept the north etc. States began to arm themselves. Thousands joined Southern Home Guards and state militias. 82. copy of proclamation On Dec. 13 th a caucus of southern states met and

23 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 22 issued a proclamation: 83. illustration of caucus or copy of proclamation ACTOR (VO): The argument is exhausted. All hope of relief in the Union, through the agencies of committees, Congressional legislation, or constitutional amendments, is extinguished. 84. Newspaper headline re secession of SC Seven days later the first state seceded. 85. copy of SC ordinance of secession ACTOR (VO): We, the people of the State of South Carolina, do declare and ordain that the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States under the name of the The United States of America is hereby dissolved. 86. MAP 21-1, of U.S. highlighting states that seceded; intercut with newspaper headlines in various states announcing secession Over the next two months, South Carolina was followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. 87. (?) But not all the citizens living in the South supported secession.

24 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ images of antebellum Georgia ACTOR (VO): Herschel Johnson And so the Rubicon was crossed and the State of Georgia was launched upon a dark, uncertain and dangerous sea. The secessionists were jubilant. I never felt so sad before. 89. images of state capitol circa 1861; Sam Houston When Sam Houston, the Governor of Texas refused to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy, he was evicted from the Governor s office. 90. image of Sam Houston ACTOR (VO): Sam Houston The die has been cast by your secession leaders, and you must ere long reap the fearful harvest of conspiracy and revolution. 91. shots of Montgomery, AL; newspaper headlines re establishment of Confederacy On February 8 th, 1861 in Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from the seceded states founded a new nation. It was called the Confederate States of America. 92. image of Jefferson Davis Its elected president was Jefferson Davis. ACTOR (VO): Jefferson Davis

25 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 24 The time for compromise has now passed. The South is determined to maintain her position, and make all who oppose her smell Southern powder and feel Southern steel. : The Vice-President of the Confederacy was Alexander Stephens. 93. image of Alexander Stephens ACTOR (VO): Alexander Stephens Our new government rests upon the great truth that the Negro is not equal to the white man. This government is the first in the history of the world, based on this great physical and moral truth. 94. newspaper headlines, illustrations of confederacy convention, etc. ACTOR (VO): Lucius Quintus Lamar, MI Thank God we have a country at last, to live for, to pray for, and, if need be, to die for. 95. images of Lincoln s home in Springfield, Davis home in Mississippi Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis left their respective homes on the same day; Davis departing for Montgomery, and Lincoln for Washington, D.C.

26 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/ illustration or photo of Lincoln s farewell speech at Springfield For Lincoln, the departure was bittersweet. More than half his life had been spent in the town of Springfield, Illinois. He did not know when or if he would see it again. 97. illustration/photo of Lincoln s inaugural Threatened with assassination, Lincoln slipped into Washington under the cloak of night. On March 4, 1861, he was inaugurated as the 16 th president of the United States. 98. original copy of First Inaugural Address ACTOR (VO): Abraham Lincoln I hold that, in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the Union of these States is perpetual. I therefore consider that the Union is unbroken. 99. Michael Johnson on camera MICHAEL JOHNSON Lincoln never recognized that secession had actually occurred. He always maintained that he was the president of Alabama and Georgia and Mississippi. : His inaugural address was intended as much for

27 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 26 Southern as for Northern ears CU on Lincoln; newspaper headlines re Lincoln s inaugural address ACTOR (VO): Abraham Lincoln Though passion may have strained, it must not break, our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of their nature Southern newspaper headlines/intercut with images of a Southern belle ACTOR (VO): Emma Holmes, southern diarist Old Abe Lincoln was inaugurated today. His speech was just what was expected from him, stupid, ambiguous, vulgar, and insolent, and is everywhere considered a virtual declaration of war.

28 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 27 SUMMARY ANALYSIS (2 mins.) music up THE STAGE FOR WAR By 1861, all efforts at compromise had failed. It seemed as though the unthinkable had now become unavoidable James McPherson on camera JAMES McPHERSON I don t think that the Civil War we know, the war from 1861 to 1865 that killed 620,000 soldiers was inevitable. But in 1858, Senator William H. Seward of New York, a leading Republican, had given a famous speech in which he said there was an irrepressible conflict between a free labor society in the North and a slave labor society in the South. And I do think that s right, that some kind of conflict between these two societies over the future of America was inevitable Robert Johannsen on camera ROBERT JOHANNSEN The way I would put it is, at what point in the sectional conflict did the people themselves begin to think, begin to feel that a Civil War was inevitable? And I think 1858 is a good candidate for that date.

29 Lesson 21: The Union Collapses Editing Script ES /08/00 28 Lincoln s House Divided speech was a speech in the direction of the inevitability of the conflict. More and more, people were thinking in terms of warfare, separation in 1858 and it only grew in the next two years Howard Jones on camera HOWARD JONES And in this case you had the Union versus the South. You had two diametrically opposed views: Lincoln believing like Daniel Webster that the Union is now and forever inseparable, one and for all, and the South arguing that secession was a right that they had. You had each side believing that it was absolutely morally correct, that it was absolutely legally correct, and when you had this, you had the stage for war images of slavery ACTOR (VO): George Mason, Southerner As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world, they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins, by national calamities.