[Podcast] The American Civil War: A Sword in One Hand and the Book of Freedom in the Other (Pt. 4) Video Featured Class struggle in the USA Image: public domain The freeing of the American slaves was accomplished by the mass action and heroism of the slaves themselves, hundreds of thousands of whom risked their lives by fleeing to join the Union Army, sabotage the Southern economy, and radicalise public opinion in the North in favour of abolition. The fourth episode of our US comrades' series on the American Civil War will deal with the Emancipation Proclamation up to the end of the conflict. Listen to episodes one, two and three.