This course, taught by Professor of American History and Director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University, traces the American Civil War from its antecedents in the 1840s to its effects in the late 1870s. Taking into account national, sectional, racial, constitutional, individual, social, intellectual, and moral meanings that the war has held for American politics and civic life, the course is a must for readers serious about understanding America's bloodiest war. Interested readers may like to begin by exploring the syllabus before delving into the 27 lectures of the course (under the Sessions tab). Each lecture features an introduction and an embedded video (complete with transcript), as well as Lecture Chapters that help divide the content into easily digestible pieces.