Channel 4 - The Divided Union - American Civil War 1861-1865 (1987) Part 1 Forward to Sumter

A powerful, exciting and comprehensive account of the American Civil War, with large-scale re-enactments of battles, superb contemporary photographs and haunting period music. The Divided Union is a gripping account of the bloodshed and horror of the American Civil War, the birth of democracy and the beginning of modern day America. Together with lavish infantry and calvalry battle re-enactments, the series includes a fascinating collection of photographs from the Civil War and from the twentieth century.

Part 1: Forward to Sumter

What caused the American Civil War? This episode traces the evolution of two distinct societies, leading up to that fateful first shot on Fort Sumter. Along the way, the program traces the rise of the Republican Party, the emergence of Abraham Lincoln, industrialization in the North, the impact of the cotton gin on the economy of the South, and the origins and spread of slavery in North America.