ANTEBELLUM

This was a period of transformation for the United States. It was the period where the country grew through war and settlement from a country whose center was still on the Eastern Seaboard, to a country who was continental with states on both coasts. It was a period of rapid technological growth. The Erie canal was built, the first railroads ran, and the telegraph began. Here the foundations of modern communications were started.

The name "Antebellum" literally means "before the war" in Latin. Despite all the accomplishments of the period it was a time where divisions between North and South became unbridgeable. The disputes surrounding the issues of tariffs and state rights were the first signs that serious trouble was on the horizon. Slavery itself became a significant issue during this period. Northern abolitionists became more active. With the introduction of the Underground Railroad, significant numbers of slaves began making there way to freedom. Finally, the additional territory obtained during the Mexican War and the compromise made to admit some of that territory to the Union made the Civil War all but inevitable.

The Main section of the program is a narrated chronology that covers the main event of the period. Almost every event has a more button where you can learn more about an event. Where applicable there are links to documents that refer to the event. In addition, a number of major events have multimedia presentation. They include the Carolina Tariff nullification, Texas Independence, the opening of the Oregon Trail, the Erie Railroad reaching the Great Lakes and The 1824 election debate in the House of Representatives.

There is a separate section on the Mexican American War. It has separate entries on the major battles of the war. Each entry has a multimedia presentation that often include animated maps on the battle.

The major political, military, cultural leaders of the United States during this period are presented in the biography section. Most of the entries include a photo or painting of the individual.

The program has a narrated section dedicated to Daily Life in America during the period.

Both the arts of America and the economics of the period are explored in two sections that cover those area.

The document section of program has five main sections. The first covers the major politcal and general documents of the period:

In addition there is a section that includes nearly 100 first-hand accounts from the participants of the Underground Railroad. There is also a section that contain the first hand accounts of Jesse Appelgate from the first group who opended the Oregon Trail.

Furthermore, there is the full text of the arguments of John Quincy Adams before the Supreme Court on behalf of the slaves on the Amistad. Finally, there is a first hand account of the campaing the US Army to capture New Mexico duriing the Mexican American War.