Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode of Scholar Talks, Tony Williams, Senior Fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute, is joined by Bennett Parten, historian and professor at Georgia Southern University, to explore themes from his book Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman's March and the Story of America's Largest Emancipation.
This conversation examines the impact of Sherman’s March to the Sea on emancipation during the Civil War, highlighting the complex relationship between military strategy and the liberation of enslaved people. Parten delves into the decisions enslaved individuals faced, the challenges of self-emancipation, and the broader implications for Reconstruction.
00:00 - 00:31 Introduction
00:32 - 01:59 The Impact of Sherman’s March
02:00 - 03:26 Military Strategy and Emancipation
03:27 - 07:05 The Evolution of Emancipation Policy
07:06 - 09:29 Enslaved People’s Fight for Freedom
09:30 - 11:29 African Americans as Union Allies
11:30 - 12:51 Hardships and Confederate Resistance
12:52 - 16:34 Arrival in Savannah & the Port Royal Experiment
16:35 - 18:02 The Ongoing Struggle for Freedom
18:03 - 20:15 The Legacy of Sherman’s March
20:16 - 21:03: Outro
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About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: @billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: @brinstitute
Instagram: @brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
In this episode of Scholar Talks, Tony Williams, Senior Fellow at the Bill of Rights Institute, is joined by Bennett Parten, historian and professor at Georgia Southern University, to explore themes from his book Somewhere Toward Freedom: Sherman's March and the Story of America's Largest Emancipation.
This conversation examines the impact of Sherman’s March to the Sea on emancipation during the Civil War, highlighting the complex relationship between military strategy and the liberation of enslaved people. Parten delves into the decisions enslaved individuals faced, the challenges of self-emancipation, and the broader implications for Reconstruction.
00:00 - 00:31 Introduction
00:32 - 01:59 The Impact of Sherman’s March
02:00 - 03:26 Military Strategy and Emancipation
03:27 - 07:05 The Evolution of Emancipation Policy
07:06 - 09:29 Enslaved People’s Fight for Freedom
09:30 - 11:29 African Americans as Union Allies
11:30 - 12:51 Hardships and Confederate Resistance
12:52 - 16:34 Arrival in Savannah & the Port Royal Experiment
16:35 - 18:02 The Ongoing Struggle for Freedom
18:03 - 20:15 The Legacy of Sherman’s March
20:16 - 21:03: Outro
----
About the Bill of Rights Institute:
Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom and opportunity that exist in a free society. The Institute develops educational resources and programs for a network of more than 50,000 educators and 70,000 students nationwide.
Official Site: billofrightsinstitute.org
Facebook: @billofrightsinstitute
Twitter: @brinstitute
Instagram: @brinstitute
BRI Educator Newsletter Sign Up Page: https://billofrightsinstitute.org/new...
