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."

James O. Horton of George Washington University discusses the abolitionist views and activities of free blacks in the antebellum U.S., including reactions to the Fugitive Slave Law and participation in the Underground Railroad.

To view this clip, select "Free Blacks in the Antebellum North" under "African-American Experience Video."

James O. Horton of George Washington University highlights the development of slavery into a regional issue, which came to divide the North and the South increasingly in the years prior to the Civil War.

To view this clip, select "Slavery and the Sectional Crisis of 1850" under "African-American Experience Video."

James O. Horton of George Washington University contrasts the Eastern radical abolitionist views of slavery, epitomized by those of William Lloyd Garrison, with the more conservative views on race relations held in Illinois—from which Abraham Lincoln developed his own views.

To listen to this clip, select "Abolitionism in Antebellum Illinois" under "African-American Experience Video."

Julie Roy Jeffrey of Goucher College discusses women's increasing involvement in politics in the antebellum U.S., focusing on their involvement in circulating and supporting anti-slavery petitions and publications and arranging events to support abolitionism.

Julie Roy Jeffrey of Goucher College discusses the formation of abolitionist societies in the antebellum U.S., focusing particularly on the formation of such societies by women.

To view this clip, scroll to "The Formation of Anti-slavery Societies in the Antebellum North" under "African-American Experience Video."

Michael Johnson of the John Hopkins University discusses the lives and origins of free African Americans in the North prior to the Civil War, looking particularly at the Northern reaction to the Fugitive Slave Law.

To view this clip, scroll to "Free Blacks in the Antebellum North" under "African-American Experience Video."

Produced by Jeffrey Chown of the Northern Illinois University Department of Communication, this documentary chronicles the Black Hawk War of 1832, looking also at the events that led up to it and its repercussions. It focuses on the roles of Sauk war chief Black Hawk and a young Abraham Lincoln. The documentary is divided into 18 short downloadable videos.

To view this documentary, scroll to the set of 18 links separated from the main Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video selections, and choose a section to view.

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum outlines Lincoln's experiences as a captain in the Black Hawk War and the general ineffectiveness of militia in Lincoln's day.

To view this clip, select "Abraham Lincoln's Militia Service in the Black Hawk War" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."

Gerald Prokopowicz of the Lincoln Museum looks at Abraham Lincoln's views on slavery, contrasting them with those expressed by Stephen Douglas in the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

To listen to this clip, select "Abraham Lincoln's Attitudes Toward Race and Slavery" under "Abraham Lincoln's Biography Video."