How railroads were built, operated, and ultimately, contributed to the start and prosecution of the American Civil War.
In the two decades before the start of the Civil War, the railroads of the United States underwent a period of amazing growth and technological development. Nonetheless, railroads were still in their infancy at the start of the war. While the modern viewer would recognize the civil war era railroad and its primary components, many differences, some obvious and some subtle, exist between then and now.
In this course, we will learn how railroads were built and operated, as well as how they contributed to the start of the war, and affected its prosecution.
What to Expect: Understanding of the importance of railroads in the civil war. Better appreciation of the role technology plays in warfare. Insight into how political, economic and demographic factors contributed to the start of the war and its progress.
Bernie will illustrate using his model of a civil war era railroad set in 1863 Virginia.
1 session | Wednesday | May 7 | 1:30 – 3pm | HYBRID (choose to participate in person, through Zoom, or wait for the recording) | $30
