The Five Forks intersection was critical to the Confederate defense of Petersburg and ultimately Richmond in the spring of 1865. In this podcast, listeners will learn about the decisive Civil War battle here on April 1. Designed as a five-stop driving tour, this podcast can also be listened to to gain a sense of the site's layout and history.

The Union attack here June 1, 1864, nearly resulted in a breakthrough. In this podcast, listeners will learn about the specifics of this Civil War attack. Designed as a seven-stop walking tour, this podcast can also be listened to to gain a sense of the site's layout and history.

In this podcast, listeners learn about one of the most dramatic events of the Civil War—the explosion of tons of gunpowder under part of the Confederate line at Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Designed as a seven-stop walking tour, this podcast can also be listened to to gain a sense of the site's layout and history.

This lecture, created by the Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project, follows the progression of political events from the end of the 18th century to Abraham Lincoln's election as president. It considers particularly the formation and dissolution of political parties and the rise of tensions between North and South.

Michael F. Holt of the University of Virginia looks at the development of a second two-party political system in antebellum U.S. and the role the system played in balancing and unifying the nation. Holt also looks at the dissolution of this second system through loss of public faith in the Democratic and Whig parties as they stood and in the development of the Republican and Know Nothing parties in response to new social forces (such as immigration and the rise of Roman Catholicism).

To view this clip, select "The Second Party System in American Politics" under "Political Development Video."

Edward L. Ayers of the University of Virginia looks at Northern and Southern responses to John Brown's Raid and John Brown's execution, focusing on the regional differences the responses brought to the fore and media manipulation of these responses.

To view this clip, select "John Brown's Raid and the American Sectional Crisis" under "Political Development Video."

Scholar James Lewis looks at the influence of Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his brother, the prophet Tenskwatawa, in encouraging Native American tribes to cooperate in resisting U.S. settlers and government control.

To view this clip, select "Tecumseh" under "Native American Relations Video."

Eric Foner of Columbia University examines the effect of the Dred Scott v. Sandford U.S. Supreme Court decision on the state of antebellum U.S. politics, focusing particularly on the divisive effects it had within the Democratic party.

To view this clip, select "The Dred Scott Decision and National Politics" under "African-American Experience Video."

Eric Foner of Columbia University discusses the implementation of the Fugitive Slave Law and Northern reactions to it. He also considers the contradiction between Southern support of the Fugitive Slave Law and of state rights, as well as Abraham Lincoln's own political (if not personal) support of the Fugitive Slave Law.

To view this clip, select "Fugitive Slaves and the Compromise of 1850" under "African-American Experience Video."

James O. Horton of George Washington University gives examples of incidences of recovery of fugitive slaves and kidnapping of free blacks in the North, following the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law; and discusses the contradiction between Southern support of the Fugitive Slave Law and Southern support of state rights.

To view this clip, select "The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850" under "African-American Experience Video."