In which we take a look at some pro-slavery arguments to see why Seward's "Higher Law" speech in March 1850 made Southerners so very very angry.

In which we look at the Presidential Election of 1848, the crisis over the admission of California as a free state, & how Henry Clay laid the groundwork for Stephen Douglas to sweep in and save the day with the Compromise of 1850.

In which we follow along as Winfield Scott marches on Mexico City & captures it in September 1847.  We continue spotlighting some of the American officers, almost all West Point graduates, who fight in Mexico and then go on to some measure of fame in the Civil War.

In which we continue our discussion of America's war with Mexico. We talk about the military action in California & New Mexico, then cover a battle in Congress over something called the Wilmot Proviso. Finally, we move back down to the Rio Grande, where Zachary Taylor captures Monterrey and then wins the hard-fought Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847.

In which we look at how tensions rose along the U.S.'s southern border, and then discuss how hostilities with Mexico commenced in April 1846.

In which we discuss the Tariff of Abominations, the Nullification Crisis of 1832/33, and we wonder who had the pre-Civil War era's most impressive head of hair: John C Calhoun or Andrew Jackson. Plus, Manifest Destiny beckons & we set the stage for the war with Mexico in 1846. 

In which we take a look at the crisis surrounding Missouri's admission into the Union as a slave state, and Henry Clay's pivotal role in brokering the ensuing compromise in 1820. 

In which we take a look back at American history to see how slavery, even from the colonial period, played a major role in shaping & defining the country's political landscape. 

In which we give an introduction to the podcast, share a bit about ourselves, & discuss why we think the Civil War is still deserving of attention & study today.