Podcast #2

     I believe, after listening to this podcast and after reading all of the class materials, that sectionalism really grew along the border and made the civil war possible. The increasingly radicalized parts of the border who looked towards different economic systems to support themselves grew increasingly tense as the issue was forced to the forefront of national politics. There had never really been an increase in the territory of slavery before like there could have been, and the Republicans made the issue become a hot topic. Ayers notes that families and towns along the border that had once been close together and had friendly relationships now looked at each other with animosity. I find this profoundly intriguing, as they have been able to tolerate slavery for so long, but just then when states begin to secede do they have hostilities towards each other.
     My reaction to this podcast is quite interesting and mixed. When I was able to stay awake for it, it made me think how his students are even able to stand listening to him, as there are no points at which he makes a concise point. At other times, especially right before he was about to end, I was left in awe of how he was able to ramble on for so long with so many seeminlgly unconnected points and then finally tie them back together.
     I am left with a couple of questions about the Civil War, however. More specifically, how was it that the Union kept up its morale to preserve itself when times got tough? I would like to know more about the inner workings of the government at that time, which is why I am going to begin to read "Team of Rivals".