The Secessionist Witch Hunt
![Introduction to the Civil War](https://cdn.mises.org/styles/responsive_4_3_650w/s3/static-page/img/Historical%20Controversies%20Podcast_750x516_Season3_20180412.jpg.webp?itok=j8_pNl4Q 650w,https://cdn.mises.org/styles/responsive_4_3_870w/s3/static-page/img/Historical%20Controversies%20Podcast_750x516_Season3_20180412.jpg.webp?itok=eyw8LgyS 870w,/s3/files/styles/responsive_4_3_1090w/s3/static-page/img/Historical%20Controversies%20Podcast_750x516_Season3_20180412.jpg.webp?itok=XAB1YXMA 1090w,/s3/files/styles/responsive_4_3_1310w/s3/static-page/img/Historical%20Controversies%20Podcast_750x516_Season3_20180412.jpg.webp?itok=Iis6MZEs 1310w,/s3/files/styles/responsive_4_3_1530w/s3/static-page/img/Historical%20Controversies%20Podcast_750x516_Season3_20180412.jpg.webp?itok=ezPgjl5T 1530w)
Season 3, Episode 28. The Union defeat at Ball’s Bluff would prove to be the final straw for the Congressional Republicans, who had been growing increasingly distressed by the Union failures at the outset of the war. Their response was to form a committee tasked with investigating the war—which really meant a political witch hunt determined to find alleged secessionist sympathizers and military scapegoats upon whom the politicians could place the blame for the Union failures.
Chris Calton recounts the controversial history of the Civil War. This is the 28th episode in the third season of Historical Controversies. You may support this podcast financially at Mises.org/SupportHC.