150 years after Confederate troops fired upon Fort Sumter, igniting the most shattering conflict in American history, the repercussions of the Civil War remain palpable. The "War Between the States" raged from 1861-1865, providing a terrifying preview of the "total war" that erupted all across the world during the 20th century. Here, for the first time, "ironclad" ships fought for control of the seas; and deadly trench warfare entered the military playbook - all in the service of a war fought for ideals, rather than mere territory. This comprehensive 10-DVD set is the last word on the American Union's most desperate crisis. Volume 1: The American Civil War creates a vivid portrait of America's greatest internal crisis, from the first antislavery protests to Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Along the way, this series examines the moral, political, and strategic forces that set brother against brother for more than four years, in what is generally understood to be the first modern war. Cr.