Unraveling the End of the Civil War with Michael Vorenberg

Hey guys, welcome back to the Why Wars Happened History Podcast, where you learn about the causes of wars and things like, why did it happen? Was it inevitable? Who was involved?

Sometimes I go back hundreds of years just so we can understand what happened in our narrative episodes covering the long course of a war and the background of the war. And if you want to talk more about war, we also have authors, historians, war generals, royalty, actors, filmmakers, a whole bunch of people come on as guests and we talk about everything about before, during, and after war. So let's go!

The Why Wars Happened History Podcast covers The American Revolution, World War I, World War II, Medieval Wars in England, The Habsburg Empire, The War in Iraq, Scottish wars, The War of the Roses, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Cold War, The Thirty Years War, The Hundred Years War, The American Civil War, and many others.

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INTERVIEW: Unraveling the End of the Civil War with Michael Vorenberg

In this episode of Why Wars Happened, host Emily Ross sits down with historian and award-winning author Michael Vorenberg to explore the complexities of ending the Civil War. They dive into his book, Lincoln's Peace: The Struggle to End the American War, discussing key events like the Hampton Roads Conference, the Confederacy’s push for international recognition, and the surrender agreements at Appomattox and in North Carolina. Vorenberg also unpacks the global impact of the war, the role of honor in post-war negotiations, and his upcoming book on military prisons. A must-listen for anyone fascinated by the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and military history.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 – Welcome to Why Wars Happened

00:46 – Meet Michael Vorenberg

01:02 – Lincoln’s Peace and the Fight to End the War

01:32 – The Challenges of Declaring Peace

02:39 – The Hampton Roads Conference

07:35 – The Confederacy’s Diplomatic Efforts Abroad

11:04 – Confederate Ties to the Mexican Civil War

17:00 – Economics and the War’s End

18:14 – Post-War Reflections & Debates

18:41 – Defining the End of the Civil War

20:14 – The Appomattox Surrender and Its Impact

22:04 – Sherman’s Controversial Surrender Terms

25:20 – Comparing Military Strategies Across History

29:06 – How Lincoln’s Assassination Changed Everything

31:46 – Michael Vorenberg’s Upcoming Book on Military Prisons

35:08 – Closing Thoughts

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