For the People

For the People is a strategic-level war game that spans the entire American Civil War, from Texas to Pennsylvania, from the first shot at Fort Sumter to the surrender at Appomattox. Each player takes the role of a president—Lincoln for the Union or Davis for the Confederacy—and commands armies, promotes or relieves generals, organizes amphibious assaults, leads cavalry raids, and wrestles with political intrigue inside their own cabinet. A deck of strategy cards introduces events, personalities and objectives that drive the campaign, while combat is resolved with a traditional ratio‑based results table supplemented by dice rolls. The point‑to‑point continental map allows movement of units representing 6,000 men per strength point, and the game progresses in four‑month turns.

The Confederate side can invest in ironclads, naval mines, submarines and even seek foreign intervention; the Union builds a naval blockade, an ironclad fleet, suppresses draft riots, secures the Border States and issues the Emancipation Proclamation. Components include 420 full‑color counters, a 22×34‑inch mounted map, 130 cards, and a 40‑page rulebook, plus player aid cards and two six‑sided dice. While more complex than earlier We the People titles, it retains a clean presentation, and the 2006 edition adds FAQs and variants that clear up river rules and other tricky sections. Perfect for players who love deep historical simulation and are ready to invest the six‑hour playtime and learning curve.