Edward Ayers on the Civil War and Emancipation (HD)

[@IndyRickHikes]

I’m a new fan of Ed Ayers. His explanations of real, contemporaneous attitudes and motivation have a ring of authenticity. In my own reading into the contemporaneous original materials (and with ancestors on many sides - northern soldiers, northern copperheads, southern soldiers, southern slave owners, etc) I’ve pondered the complexity of individual emotions, attitudes, economics, understanding, etc immediately prior to and during the conflict. Dr. Ayers deals with these complexities with original materials, and helps me clarify my own internal struggles. Looking forward to reading the newest book.

[@Rymsha1]

Less than 2000 views!!! Ed Ayers is one of the most interesting and knowledgable people out there on the Civil War.

[@safedrivered]

Appreciate Dr. Ayers's work, always. Just listened to the latest episode of Backstory where he discussed his book and how to better understand the Civil War. His work helps me tremendously as a high school teacher.

[@pateakin283]

His books are a must read for anyone wanting to understand what the Civil War was all about. "In The Presence of Mine Enemies" won the "Bancroft Prize" from Columbia University.

[@jeffmrochinski]

Wow! So many layers to unpack here. Ayers does a fine job with a very complex piece of US history.

[@nitinh2499]

Interesting insights from Ed Ayers 👍🏼 But I was surprised by this question from the audience at 56:24 : “How was the Civil War perceived throughout the world, i.e. in Europe”. Why would an educated person think Europe was “the world”, whether he was referring to the 1860s or now, the 21st century. There were many significant powers across the world back then that had dealings with the United States, and there are certainly many major powers in “the world” now beyond a few major countries in Europe. How can someone have such a blinkered, Eurocentric view of the world in this day and age?

[@brucepeek3923]

This really gets down to two points of view why did the Confederates fight, the answer of which is clear and simple. Confederates fought to preserve slavery which was a form of gangster Capitalism. Union soldiers up until after the start of Grants Mississippi valley campaign, to preserve an electoral form of government. This was because democracy was dwindling worldwide like in Europe where Oligarchs not unlike our present day Corporate bloodsuckers, controlled, bought and sold politicians. Ayers is flat out wrong about the fight to preserve representative government NOT being a noble crusade. My right to have a say in who and how my government is run is a noble ideal. Ayers entirely misses that point because he's probably not very smart. A lot of academics tend to stay in their silos and miss the point.. After Union troops were exposed to the absolutely depraved nature of large scale commercial slavery, they became more and more abolitionist in their sentiments. You only have to read the letters of Union troops to their relatives back home in which they take pride in their fighting to wipe out slavery.. Ayers needs to go study Gary Gallagher or talk to African American Union Army re-enacters especially, or a few other Union Army re-enacters. I would say to Ayers wake up dude. Best Bruce Peek

[@jnananinja7436]

Im just starting this video, so I can’t speak to it directly. But I also just finished a fascinating talk by Ayers about the full complexities and causes of the civil war. I’ll link it as it may change your opinion of the depth of his intelligence and knowledge. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHism6uqqbt2nNk

[@amosbatto3051]

Bruce, I don't see much evidence to support the view that "democracy was dwindling worldwide". In Great Britain, the country was becoming progressively more democratic with more people gaining the right to vote. The agreements made by European governments after 1815 and 1848 were efforts to suppress democracy, but I generally see the 19th century as becoming more democratic over time, and that was certainly the case for the Latin American republics. I'm guessing that your argument is that the spread of colonialism worldwide was destroying democracy and the kind of capitalism being practiced was destroying democracy, but there is the counter argument that Asia and Africa weren't practicing democracy before European colonialism and increasing percentages of the population were able to vote over time. By the way, most people who fought in the Confederacy thought that they were fighting to preserve democracy as they knew it. Ayers had a pretty sophisticated understanding of why people behaved as they did and what they were thinking at the time, and it is worth looking at the evidence that he presents. .

[@ImperialGit]

Whenever someone uses "clear and simple" in a comment regarding the American Civil War, I get apprehensive. Greetings from a Dutch U.S. history hobbyist :)

[@tarlas83]

this is the most retarded take i have ever seen

[@JoseFernandez-qt8hm]

northern abolitionists lived off Slavery as much as southern planters. northern bankers made loans, northern insurance companies underwrote activities, northern textile mills bought slave cotton, northerners ate slave sugar and smoked slave Tabacco and before 1808, slave ships built and crewed by northerners transported slaves into the United States. Maybe the war happened because the guilty feeling of northern abolitionists and indignation of southern slavers at the hypocrisy of the abolitionists. And, what's crazy is that most people today are decedents of post-bellum immigrants who had nothing to do with slavery and just want to get on with life.

[@jeffkujawa803]

You lay a beautiful and insightful foundation upon which I’m quite Grateful and I (almost want to use the word apologetic )but I’m not sure if that’s right ?? Long as our history holds up for us (interesting )and our eyesight will read it Someone might speak it and someone might hear it …and if they’re right or if they’re wrong …. We have a watchful eye and he is the one upon whom we rely …and that you go with this morning at this lighthouse 18 a northern White House either way we hope they have good eyes and they are 2020 we don’t want to miss an iceberg if we can keep from it )I don’t really know where this is going but I hope I am bringing to light at least something and not darkness…. again with the ancestry and the relationships reaching back into the past and good Lord I thank you for giving us one and you Jose… That’s right I mention your name because that’s an interesting ,concrete , and insightful statement… it’s not always 2020 (eyesight can falter as we know )so-there’s like ?to decide you have a minute and you have a lifetime?and our reach we have extended even more thanks to these kind of observations I have sympathy yes and no …answer yes and no …scales tend to sway back-and-forth like you say you think Like a man and I am talking with you like a man I am one man and you are one man we are in our life and we are all agreed …there might be the rub… to do all we can

[@avenaoat]

New York City was in very strong connection with the slavery system with financialy. During the Civil War New York state was strong Unionist, but New York City did revolt against Union Army after Gettysburg. Meade had to give soldiers to stop the New York City revolt instead to win against Lee in 1863!

[@avenaoat]

BTW in 1840 France became the biggest sugar exporter in the World FROM SUGAR BEET! Sugar beet was produced by free French farmers not slaves as the sugar cane!

[@JPW3]

The war happened because southern planters wanted to create a slave empire. As for northern abolitionists living off slavery, Frederick Douglass and William Still would like a word.

[@mossycreektennessee6528]

I change the channel when so called Historians tell half the story and a lot of untruths

[@pateakin283]

Who are the "so called historians" that you don't like?

[@TM-vq1bf]

Go listen to a lost cause lecture . There’s plenty out there

[@TM-vq1bf]

Name the untruths

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Holy moly. Go wave your confederate flag.

[@playsauce]

Trumpflake triggered. Owned!

[@dafrasier1]

Ed Ayers Civil War Buffs not Slavery Buffs; if your spin continues you are just a liar. WWII Buffs, plenty of them. WWII was not about Jews. 75 Million People died. It is disgusting you forget about 71 Million. mcg-truth blogspot

[@TM-vq1bf]

You seem angry

[@GRJ-uz7kf]

Holy moly. Bigotry is alive and well.

[@playsauce]

Trumpflake triggered? Libs own you.

[@jeffkujawa803]

We’ll figure it out today and tomorrow or so we like to think; And that let’s do because when I get to a million and one ….I am thinking if I am correct… about 28 million of those were Russians ….Of which the Poles were stuck right in the middle…. I don’t care how bad or whatever you think anything is … we can forget about the buffs and we can forget about the bigotry and be safe this moment (for I am)and then be thankful some more …like the man said ….and thankful again and again and then reach up your hands with Hope and not hate nor unlike abrupt things that can happen …like were in a chapel something like Michelangelo chaperoned with the truth and Hope the fight as Art because of the lasting luck the luckiest Artist a man has ever been And just remember remember this because that’s okay with me we never had to suffer at Stalingrad and that is one battle turning point ?probably …but there were many and like the man said Count to 1 million and then start at one