AllMovie

Biography of America is a series designed to present American history as a contiguous narrative, not a randomly associated stream of events, people, and places. Each episode is designed to present a facet of American history from a wide variety of viewpoints and perspectives. Intended for use in the classroom, this set functions well as a complete telecourse or as a library of information on specific topics within American historical dialogue. The intent of each episode is to show the human side of history and to force students to think critically about the past. Each episode is augmented with archival footage and other materials from the Library of Congress and the National Archives. This particular episode examines the bloodiest chapter in American history. Special attention is paid to the battle of Vicksburg, a vicious siege that foretold the coming bloodbath of World War I. Also included is a discussion of the Emancipation Proclamation and the political climate that finally allowed Lincoln to issue it.