43: Honest Abe, the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, & John Brown’s Raid on Harpers Ferry

History That Doesn't Suck

ProfGregJackson

Education, History, Society & Culture

4.5 • 5.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 July 2019

⏱️ 66 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“Any man who took Lincoln for a simple-minded man would wind up with his back in a ditch.” This is the story of America on the eve of the Civil War. Kentucky-born farmboy Abraham Lincoln has an interesting early life. Between losing his mom as a child, suffering from chronic depression, and receiving little formal education, you might not think he’d become one of the youngest state legislators in Illinois, a successful lawyer, and a US Congressman. But that’s Lincoln. He’s a man who beats the odds, and he’s hoping to continue that streak as he challenges Stephen Douglas for his US Senate seat. Can he take down the “Little Giant?” It’s a political throw down that produces one of the most famous debates in US history as the two go head-to-head in over 20 hours of back-and-forth over the future of slavery. Speaking of slavery--John Brown’s looking to start a slave rebellion across the state of Virginia and not afraid to take over a US armory to do it! It’s a full-on battle and the body count’s adding up fast … especially if we include the executions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	History that doesn't suck is a bi-weekly podcast delivering a legit, seriously researched
0:04.3	hard-hitting survey of American history through entertaining stories.
0:07.8	If you'd like to support HTTDS or enjoy some perks like ad-free early episodes for
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0:19.7	To keep up with HTTDS News, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
0:30.0	Welcome to History that doesn't suck.
0:37.0	I'm your professor, Greg Jackson, and I'd like to tell you a story.
0:42.6	John Brown's situation looks grim.
0:45.9	Hold up in a roughly 35 by 24-foot brick fire engine house with only four other healthy
0:52.3	companions, there are literally hundreds of Virginia and Maryland militiamen, as well
0:57.1	as armed civilians outside who want him captured, if not dead.
1:01.9	Oh by the way, many of those armed civilians are both pissed off and drunk.
1:07.1	Not exactly a winning combination for would-be vigilantes wielding firearms.
1:12.5	In short, John has a five versus several hundred situation.
1:17.3	Maybe I'm just not enough of an optimist, but I trust you can see why I'm calling his
1:22.1	situation grim.
1:24.1	Okay, a little background.
1:26.8	Just over 24 hours ago, on the evening of October 16th, 1859, John led his own small army of
1:33.3	18 men in Lane Seizh to the town of Harper's Ferry, Virginia.
1:37.5	Well, future West Virginia, but for now it's still Virginia.
1:41.5	And yes, once upon a time there was a ferry here, but don't get caught up on that.
1:46.0	In 1859, Harper's Ferry's claim to fame is being home to a federal armory.
	...

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