8. US Civil War: Why does a country go to war against itself?

Full Episode description

Paddington bear and President Lincoln have something in common: they both keep things under their hats. You’ll hear all about the US Civil War of 1861-1865, and you’ll find out what Lincoln kept under his top hat! And you’ll discover which type of swimming-pool dive soldiers like best!

Questions for after you’ve listened:

1. Did most farms (called ‘plantations’) in the southern United States have slaves?
2. What did President Abraham Lincoln keep under his top hat?
3. During the US Civil War of the 1850s more Americans were killed than were killed in which other two wars combined?
4. How did President Lincoln die?
5. What other countries have had civil wars (wars against themselves)?

And here’s a couple of tricky questions for big kids:

6. What was the “Emancipation Declaration”?
7. Why was the Gettysburg Address important?

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This episode was recorded at KGV Studios, Hong Kong

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

Instrumental music by Kevin MacLeod

Sound effects used under RemArc Licence. Copyright 2018 © BBC