Civil War Movie in 2024

[Jonathan Whatley]

Slavery only became a major issue in the North in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation.  Slavery was legal in the North through 1865.  A big cause was Lincoln's bitter rhetoric dividing people to win election - like Joe Biden's blood red speech when he descended into hell.  What did I get wrong?

Tell that to Henry Clay who spent the early century brokering compromises over slavery. Or to the national Christian denominations that split into separate Northern and Southern denominations over slavery in the 1840s. Or to the readers of the 1852 blockbuster Uncle Tom's Cabin. Or to anyone in Kansas in the 1850s. Or to Lincoln and Douglas at their Illinois U.S. Senate debate series of 1858…

Slavery was legal in the North through 1865.

That's like saying prostitution is legal in the United States in 2024. Technically true because of some counties in Nevada, but likely to misdirect a listener.

A big cause was Lincoln's bitter rhetoric dividing people to win the election.

Famously bitter Lincoln! What was it he said, "With malice against Southerners, with charity only for Northerners, let us strive on to salt the nation's wounds…" Or something like that.