history books tell us that the American Civil War began when the first shots were fired in 1861.

But many say that the war truly began years before when the first blood was spilled during

the battle over slavery in our country.

The war began in 1859, some say, when a radical abolitionist named John Brown took

over a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia in an attempt to start a slave rebellion in the south.

But others believe that it started two decades earlier in 1837 when a newspaper publisher

named Elijah Lovejoy became the first man to die standing up in the fight for freedom. Lovejoy of course died here in Alton, Illinois,

and his death echoed through the decades. Lingering on not only is a ghost story, but placing

Alton on the front lines of the 19th century's bloody battle

between North and South, slave states and free.

And from violence, terror and death comes tales of hauntings. Oh, Welcome to the latest episode of American Hauntings, the podcast dedicated to the history,

hauntings, legends, and lore of America's past. hosted by Cody Beck and Troy Taylor,

our first season explores the hauntings of Alton, Illinois, one of the most haunted small

towns in America. Without question the Civil War was a turning point in American history. It is a war that some say is

still being fought in many ways today. Depending on who you ask, there were many

reasons as to why the war was fought in the first place from the economy

to states rights, but, well, overall, I think it boils down to what a much more eloquent

writer than I called the Sleeping Serpent.

Slavery.

It was, he said, on everyone's mind, though not always on their tongues.

Americans have been buying slaves for more than 200 years before the Civil War began.

Traders began bringing over black captains from Africa in 1619,

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