The surrender of Fort Sumter immediately throws the nation into a crucible of decision-making and a desperate search for leadership, testing Thomas Carlyle’s “Great Man Theory.” Was the bombardment in Charleston Harbor a symbolic gesture or a spark leading to something far worse? Will leaders remain loyal to the Union or align with their home states? How far will President Lincoln go to secure the capital, risking accusations of dictatorship and facing a direct challenge from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? And as armies begin to converge, will the North and South each find a commander that can lead them to a quick and bloodless victory?

Season 2 Episode 1 – Little Napoleons

Breaking Nation: A Civil War Podcast is a production of Waveland Creative.
Host: Scott Holmgren
For a recommended booklist, check out our website at http://www.breakingnation.com

In this Breaking Nation interview, historian and YouTube host and creator Chris Mowery discusses how a childhood fascination with the Titanic and Civil War films sparked his lifelong love of history. He shares how that passion grew into Vlogging Through History, a YouTube channel with over half a million followers dedicated to exploring forgotten stories from the past. Mowery reflects on the challenge of predicting what resonates online, the joy of building a global history community, and his drive to highlight the human side of war. He also previews his upcoming book, Trumbull County Boys, about Ohio soldiers in the Civil War.

Check out our website at http://www.breakingnation.com

Breaking Nation: A Civil War Podcast is a production of Waveland Creative.

Host: Scott Holmgren

In this conversation, historian Robert Tracy McKenzie reflects on a career spent studying and teaching America’s past, from the Civil War to the broader story of democracy. He shares how his upbringing in Tennessee and the influence of family and mentors shaped his calling as a historian. McKenzie discusses the challenges of writing about divided communities like Knoxville during the Civil War, the importance of resisting presentism, and the misconceptions many Americans still hold about that conflict. Throughout, he emphasizes how history, rightly approached, is less about collecting facts than about cultivating wisdom for the present.

Check out our website at http://www.breakingnation.com

Breaking Nation: A Civil War Podcast is a production of Waveland Creative.
Host: Scott Holmgren