Learning the past to shape the future.
Our mission is to revolutionize how students and adults learn about early American history so they can apply past lessons to live issues facing our nation today.
Welcome to Road to the Civil War
The American Civil War of 1861-65 is Greek tragedy writ large. A heroic symbol in the form of an idealistic new nation. A fatal flaw in its wanton embrace of chattel slavery and racism. Then bloody warfare, 750,000 deaths, economic ruin, and a precarious future. Road to the Civil War will provide three books that will help you better understand this outcome.
Learning Transformed
Between fast forward lifestyles and advances in technology, learning about history has shifted away from traditional textbooks in favor of shorter “content bursts” delivered on pc’s, phones and other devices. Thus the website and social media postings we offer are compact, fact-based, presented in unbiased fashion, and taken from scholarly sources (not AI). They create engagement through story-telling techniques and often unpublished images from a unique private collection of 19th century photographs. Additional interest lies in connecting events from the 1619-1865 era to issues and challenges facing America today.
Books
In addition to the foundational Prelude book, the website currently offers Life in America’s 1800, an ethnographic study of the people, lifestyles and culture of the era.
During 2026-7, a series of 11 additional books will be published on the website, as follows:
1. America’s Four Political Systems
2. Our First 16 Presidents
3. The Legislative Branch
4. The Supreme Court
5. Statistical Tables: 1650-1860
6. Early American Wars
7. The U.S. Civil War
8. Three Days at Gettysburg
9. Other Global Military Conflicts
10. The Life of Abraham Lincoln
11. Lincoln’s Journey to Racial Equality
Our Photo Collection
See our Photo Collection
Welcome to the author’s private collection of over 3,000 original albumen photographs, some of which have never been published before. All have survived for over 150 years, most often in family albums. They were taken by men like Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner, George Cook, Timothy O’Sullivan and others who were dedicated to visually capturing the world around them between 1845 and 1885.
Roughly half focus on everyday people, places and events marking the American landscape. The rest bring the cataclysm of the Civil War itself back to life, in images of the Union and Confederate warriors who fought and the battles themselves. All photos are appropriately watermarked but may be copied as shown.
To navigate the collection, simply tap on the topics below you wish to explore.
Causal Factors
This section is intended to help visitors understand the underlying Causes leading to the Civil War by seamlessly connecting them online to four key explanatory elements captured visually in the “wheel” above:
Turning Point Events
Each of these Causes evolves over time, impacted by historical events. For example, the practice of slavery expands and then contracts during the Colonial Timeframe, then expands again as new land opens up to the west during the Manifest Destiny years, before the further spread is banned by the Republican Party victory in the 1860 presidential election.
These historical events are known as “Turning Points” and below is a list of 172 we’ve identified in total and their connection to the various Causes.
Source Documents
In writing the Prelude book, the author relied on verbatim quotes from many of these key Source Documents to capture the events from 1607 to 1861. Following is a roadmap of what’s included:
Supporting Teaching
Our goal is to help teachers deliver the classroom lectures they need over 10-12 weeks to cover the 1607-1861 era in a way that excites student interest and engagement with the history. This begins by identifying “47 Landmark Lectures” that capture the main events over the timeframe. It then offers a series of aids to develop each lecture. These include Bell Ringers and provocative questions to begin each class along with DBQ’s (Document Based Questions and source materials), insightful Maps and explanatory InfoGraphics. Access to the website’s collection of 3,000 original 19th century photographs will also breathe further life into these lectures.
Lesson Topics
the 47 Landmark Lesson TopicsI would propose. Hopefully they correspond well with most state standards and help teachers decide which events to emphasize.
Learn More
Bell Ringers
Document Based Questions provide students with a chance to view original source documents that shaped American history and answer questions on each posed by their teachers.
DBQ Resources
Document Based Questions provide students with a chance to view original source documents that shaped American history and answer questions on each posed by their teachers.
Historical Maps
Maps provide an excellent way for students to visualize what and where key historical events have taken place. They also help address common gaps in understanding basic geography.
InfoGraphics
InfoGraphics are another visualization device that help students internalize historical events and facts by combining engaging visual elements with relevant explanatory data.
The Past as Present
The notion of past as present is readily apparent in today’s headlines, which mirror those leading up to the Civil War: federalism vs. states’ rights; election controversies; political party upheavals; government spending; inflation; a growing national debt; conflicts over immigration; the first and second amendments; racial tensions; domestic and international threats. In seeking lessons learned on each from our history, it’s hoped that America can avoid a repeat of that prior tragic conflict.
1833: President Raises Tariffs
South threatens to secede. Compromise?
In response to the jump in tariff rates affecting cotton from 25% in 1825 to 35% in 1830, the South Carolina legislature, lead by John C. Calhoun, passes a bill ordering customs agents to stop collecting the levies. When word of this reaches Washington, President Andrew Jackson responds with a Force Bill giving him permission to send in U.S. military troops to arrest anyone violating federal law. After this Nullification Crisis engenders talk of secession, both sides back off. Led by Kentucky Senator Henry Clay, the Compromise Tariff of 1833 promises a gradual reduction in the tariff rates in exchange for South Carolina’s agreement to comply with the law.
Read More
1803: High Court lacks a Mission
A new Chief Justice in town Power shift?
See our Photo Collection
Welcome to the author’s private collection of over 3,000 original albumen photographs, some of which have never been published before. All have survived for over 150 years, most often in family albums. They were taken by men like Mathew Brady, Alexander Gardner, George Cook, Timothy O’Sullivan and others who were dedicated to visually capturing the world around them between 1845 and 1885.
Roughly half focus on everyday people, places and events marking the American landscape. The rest bring the cataclysm of the Civil War itself back to life, in images of the Union and Confederate warriors who fought and the battles themselves. All photos are appropriately watermarked but may be copied as shown.
To navigate the collection, simply tap on the topics below you wish to explore.
1845: Turmoil across Europe
Immigrants flood into America?
Document Based Questions provide students with a chance to view original source documents that shaped American history and answer questions on each posed by their teachers.
1829: Debt keeps accelerating
An ex-General mounts up Outcome?
In the first year of Andrew Jackson’s presidency, America owes $59.4 Billion to various foreign and domestic lenders. In his Inaugural Address he calls debt “the greatest of dangers” and declares “I shall engage my earliest attention to its liquidation. As in all things, he pursues this goal with military precision, opposing almost all increases in government spending while issuing a record of 12 vetoes. As of 1833 he has brought the total down to $7.0 Billion, and by 1837, he approaches zero, helped by windfall revenue from public land sales. But the progress fails to survive and by the end of the Mexican War in 1847 it is back up to $47.0 Billion.
About the Author
Robert. E. DraneAfter earning an MA Degree in Literature from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Bob Drane embarked on a 35 year corporate career between Quaker Oats and Oscar Mayer. He became a recognized leader in new product development, leading the team that invented the Lunchables © brand and teaching Innovation for over a decade in the UW Graduate School of Business. After retiring his interest turned to studying and writing about early American history and also collecting original 19th century photographs.
About the Contributors
Upon retiring from forty years in corporate America and teaching stints at UW-Madison Graduate School of Business, the author found a new chapter in life around 2003 in studying and writing about early American history.
This led to the first manifestation of this website which appeared in 2016 as the “Antebellum Museum,” including the foundational Prelude book text along with the early collection of original 19th Century photographs. The author was accompanied in this journey by two longtime colleagues: Janet Christopher, who managed the photos and worked programming miracles with the primitive Go-Daddy software; and designer Yolanda Launder, who created the aesthetics.
Then in 2019, came a visit from Peter Dunn, who worked side by side with the author in the development and launch of the Lunchables© brand in 1978. Peter volunteered to bring his talents as a strategist and corporate CEO to bear on updating the existing site. He reached out to IT master David Girot, who linked us to Cayce Williams and Drew Morrical. Together they have transported us successfully into the brave new worlds of website development and social media.
In 2023 we registered as a 5013C Educational Non-Profit (Roadtothecivilwar.org) and the website achieved “top of page 1 billing on Google” for coverage of the causes and events leading to the Civil War.
But we would not have gotten this far without several additions to our initial Core Team. Included here are IT expert Maricar Aldaba who lives in Manila; our Marketing Research leader, Sharon Seidler; and our Librarian Shauna Quick. Three keys to victory: The Team, The Team and The Team!
Dedication: To our cheerleader, Susie Drane, an accomplished leader in Eldercare in her own right, who has lived with an obsessive husband for 62 years and has provided the daily joys and support to carry him on.
Robert E. Drane
Author
Janet Christopher
Editor
Peter Dunn
Maintainer
Sharon Seidler
CIO
Susie Drane
Avid Supporter
Cayce Williams
Website Dev (codeparachute.com)
Drew Morrical
Content Manager/Website Dev
David Girot
Mastermind
Maricar Aldaba
Content Manager
Yolanda Launder
Designer
Mark Kuehn
Designer