Ep 19. Territory and Treason

The History of the United States, 2nd Edition is a comprehensive documentary series that traces the rich and complex history of the United States of America. Episode 19 of season 1, entitled "Territory and Treason," examines the tumultuous period leading up to the Civil War.

This episode begins with a discussion of the Missouri Compromise, a legislative agreement which had prevented the expansion of slavery into new U.S. territories. We are introduced to the key figures involved in the debate over slavery, including John Calhoun, a South Carolina senator who argued that slavery was a necessary and positive institution.

From there, the episode turns to the Mexican-American War, a conflict that began in 1846 and ended two years later with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty resulted in the acquisition of vast new territories, including California and New Mexico, but stirred up controversy over the issue of slavery. Many in the North opposed the extension of slavery into these new territories, and tensions continued to rise between Northern and Southern lawmakers.

The episode also examines the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required Northerners to return runaway slaves to their owners and intensified the abolitionist movement. We learn about the Underground Railroad, a network of safe houses and secret routes that helped slaves escape to freedom, and about the work of key abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman.

The final segment of the episode focuses on the events leading up to the Civil War. We see how the 1860 presidential election, which was won by anti-slavery candidate Abraham Lincoln, triggered the secession of Southern states. South Carolina was the first to secede, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. These states formed the Confederate States of America and elected Jefferson Davis as their president.

As the episode comes to a close, we are left with a sense of the deep divisions and tensions that had developed within the United States. The issue of slavery had become so polarizing that it seemed almost impossible to find a peaceful resolution. We see how both sides felt betrayed and threatened by the other, and how a nation that had once felt unified was now on the brink of war.

"Territory and Treason" is a fascinating and informative episode that provides a detailed look at an important period in American history. By exploring the events and personalities that led to the Civil War, it helps us to better understand the complex and often painful process of change that has shaped our nation from its earliest days.