Breaking Nation: A Civil War Podcast
When the political system of compromise that had served the United States for decades utterly and epically fails to deal with slavery at a national level, the mid-nineteenth century leaders of the nation and states must choose where their loyalties lie.
Will they save their way of life and solve the sins of cruel bondage before the land and its people are torn apart and shredded by violence and prejudice?
When Abraham Lincoln takes the oath of office as the sixteenth President on March 4, 1861, he faces a crisis unlike any other faced by his predecessors.
The country is on the brink of breaking as a nation…
Breaking Nation: A Civil War Podcast will take you on a revelatory and surprising journey through the years of the American Civil War, as if you had no idea how the events surrounding you would play out.
Recent Episodes
1
Nov. 13, 2025
S2E1 – Little Napoleons
The surrender of Fort Sumter immediately throws the nation into a crucible of decision-making and a desperate search for leadership, testing Thomas Carlyle’s “Great Man Theory.” Was the bombardment in Charleston Harbor a symbolic gesture or a spark leading to something far worse? Will leaders remain loyal to the Union or align with their home states? How far will President Lincoln go to secure the capital, risking accusations of dictatorship and facing a direct challenge from the Chief Justice o
Oct. 29, 2025
Interview with Chris Mowery
In this Breaking Nation interview, historian and YouTube host and creator Chris Mowery discusses how a childhood fascination with the Titanic and Civil War films sparked his lifelong love of history. He shares how that passion grew into Vlogging Through History , a YouTube channel with over half a million followers dedicated to exploring forgotten stories from the past. Mowery reflects on the challenge of predicting what resonates online, the joy of building a global history community, and his d
Aug. 29, 2025
Interview with Robert Tracy McKenzie
In this conversation, historian Robert Tracy McKenzie reflects on a career spent studying and teaching America’s past, from the Civil War to the broader story of democracy. He shares how his upbringing in Tennessee and the influence of family and mentors shaped his calling as a historian. McKenzie discusses the challenges of writing about divided communities like Knoxville during the Civil War, the importance of resisting presentism, and the misconceptions many Americans still hold about that co
6
Nov. 7, 2024
S1E6 – The Island in the Harbor
In early 1861, two men traveled east to become American presidents – Jefferson Davis of the Confederate States of America and Abraham Lincoln of the United States of America. Each was thrown into the fire of crisis. With secessionist fever spreading across the country, plots and conspiracies put the political and military leaders on high alert. Would there be an eleventh-hour proposal for peace? Would violence erupt in Baltimore and Washington? And what would happen to Fort Sumter? Would the ten
5
Sept. 27, 2024
S1E5 – Stars and Banners
The election of 1860 would alter the trajectory of the United States. First, the party conventions had to decide which candidates would run for the presidency, and second, Americans would make their choice. Easy, right? Not so fast. What happens when a national convention falls apart? What happens when not two, not three, but when four candidates are running for the highest office? And what does the lame duck President, who is counting the days until he can leave Washington, do when the governme
4
July 27, 2024
S1E4 – A Political Free-For-All
What happens when a political party implodes? One newspaperman in hindsight said, “The Whig party died of too much respectability and not enough people.” The decade before the Civil War saw politics as figurative and literal mayhem as parties splintered and fistfights broke out in Congress. Kansas became a battleground, the Supreme Court made the worst decision ever, and violence predicted the eve of full-out and open war. Was there a group or a person who could lead the country forward? Recomme
Join the email list!
Join other listeners of Breaking Nation and get updates on new episodes and content.
Listen On
Recent Blog Posts
June 23, 2026
The Seven Days Campaign: Lee's Rise and the Union's Missed Chance
The Seven Days Campaign, fought from June 25 to July 1, 1862, marked one of the most important turning points of the American Civil War. Even before the climactic Battle of Malvern Hill, the campaign fundamentally altered the strategic direction of …
June 16, 2026
Jeb Stuart’s Greatest Gamble—and Why It Worked
J.E.B. Stuart’s famous ride around Union Major General George B. McClellan’s army from June 12–15, 1862, was one of the most celebrated cavalry operations of the American Civil War. Conducted during the early stages of the Peninsul…
June 9, 2026
Why Cross Keys and Port Republic Matter More Than You Think
The twin battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic, fought on June 8–9, 1862, marked the dramatic conclusion of Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson’s celebrated Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Although neither battle ranks among the largest …
About the Host
Scott Holmgren