Cheap Civil War Episode 1:The Cause (Video) Price

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Customer Reviews of Civil War Episode 1:The Cause

The start of the bloodiest conflict in American History
This first episode in Ken Burns' celebrated Civil War documentary is unforgettable for the concluding section on "Honorable Manhood" which includes the letter written by Major Sullivan Ballou of the 2nd Rhode Island to his wife Sarah back home in Smithfield, a week before the first battle of Manassas. The letter is as emotionally powerful as it is poetic, and once you hear it you will not be surprised that it was included on the CD. "The Cause 1861" introduces us to the players in this most tragic of American dramas, from Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass to William Lloyd Garrison and Robert E. Lee. The narrative brings us up to the aftermath of the First Battle of Manassas/Bull Run and George B. McClellan being placed in charge of the Federal Army. The use of hundreds of still photographs, contemporary film shots of locales, David McCullough's fine narration, the recognizable voices of noted actors, and the simple but evocative music are powerfully woven together. Ken Burns has also effectively redefined our expectations of the documentary in terms of how they look and sound. The sections on the background of the Civil War are somewhat sparse, focusing more on the precipitating events without getting into the Missouri Compromise or the Dredd Scott decision, and are not as useful to teachers of American History as one might hope, but should certainly be enough to capture the interest of your students. The important thing is that if you use ANY section of "The Civil War" in your class, you show them "Honorable Manhood."