Electing Lincoln

This is the incredible story of Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner who was mercilessly beaten on the floor of the US Senate by Congressman Preston Brooks of South Carolina. Sumner went on to survive the attack and became a leading voice calling for the abolition of slavery in the United States.

As the telegraph made its way across America it brought with it breaking news and rumors - all traveling at unprecedented speeds. This is the story of notorious editors like Charles Pryor of the Dallas Herald and James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald who helped drive the nation toward war.

In a highly disputed 4-way race this is how Abraham Lincoln a little-known political upstart from Illinois strategized to win the presidency in a heavily contested election.