In which we head back north of the Mason-Dixon Line to see what was going on with Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois and with the powers-that-be in Washington, D.C. during the steady escalation of the secession crisis.

In which we continue the biographical sketch of Jefferson Davis's life in order to bring him up to speed with where we are on the podcast timeline, the year 1861. We end this episode by taking a look at the formation of the Confederate cabinet.

In which we use a special two-part biography of Jefferson Davis to bring his life up to speed with where we currently are on the podcast timeline, the year 1861.

In which we take a look at some of the major differences between North & South on the eve of the Civil War.

In which we discuss the birth of the Confederate States of America at Montgomery, Alabama in February 1861.

In which we continue our discussion by asking if the southern states had a right to secede, or if secession was rebellion. Then, we look at the message the secession commissioners spread throughout the South in late 1860/early 1861. Our book recommendation for this episode is "Apostles of Disunion" by Charles B. Dew.

In which we look at how seven southern states withdrew from the Union between Abraham Lincoln's election and his inauguration.  We answer the question: What was behind the secession of these states?

In which we discuss the reasons behind the collapse of the Democratic Party, the resulting four-way contest for the presidency, and Abraham Lincoln's victory on Election Day, November 6, 1860.

In which we take a look at the important February 1860 speech in New York City that helped catapult Abraham Lincoln to the White House.

In which we look at John Brown's assault on Harper's Ferry in October 1859.