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They all dying for? >> men like robert gould shaw and frederick douglass carry the burden of a nation while they wait on the president to give a new meaning to the war. >> son, we've waited for lincoln this long. we can wait a little >> it's been 100 days. th's plenty of time for lincoln to change his mind. >> word is leaked that the president is going to make a big announcement about emancipation. but frederick douglass isn't sure of that. he continues to doubt lincoln's resolve for the cause. ♪ ♪ >> mr. president, is anything the matter? >> i just need a moment. >> the emancipation procl...

>> mcclellan now holds key battle plans that can ensure his army's success and personal redemption. it's a victory that would allow lincoln to redefine the war, giving soldiers like robert gould shaw a reason to fight, and create the new america frederick douglass has hoped for. >> there is a great deal of excitement for the issuing of the emancipation proclamation. saving the union and emancipation are one. it's this game-changing event. but there was a belief that lincoln might not do it. >> father. what if lincoln doesn't sign the proclamation? >> then we keep fighting. haven't come this fa...

To over 3 million enslaved african-americans, and to lincoln himself. when lincoln takes office, he tries to prevent the looming civil war by reaffirming his belief in the south's constitutional right to own slaves. >> what about this part? "i have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists." >> no, that -- that's good. remind the south that your position on slavery has remained unchanging. >> william seward had been a political rival of abraham lincoln's, and yet he selected seward as his secretary of state. seward was certai...

And teachers from the north come to port royal to educate them. >> we did more than patrick henry... >> they seem to be taking to the letters real quick, general. >> once a man has knowledge, he'll not be satisfied unless he also hasreed. i want you to draft order ifhe predent is too timid to make a stand, then i will. >> eation s happening in the civil war well before the emancipation proclamation. generals in the south like david hunter actually issued their own emancipation proclamations in the territory they controlled. this panicked the white house and the lincoln administration. >> any n...

>> george's father was a white man. not by my choice. but it did enable him to pass as white, and he enlisted in the army. i hear he fought bravely. sir, the black man is willing to fight. and any man fighting for his freedom can bear the strength of 10 men. you just have to let him. >> lincoln is caught between his desire to end slavery and his need to keep anti-abolition northerners on his side. whatever step lincoln takes, it must be in accordance with the constitution if it's to have any chance of success. >> congress passes two very important pieces of legislation. one is the militia act ...