Unearthing Secret America
This edition of PBS Scientific American Frontiers delves into the secrets of America’s past—as archaeologists investigate three tremendous discoveries: unique finds that bring our history to life like never before. Unearthing Secret America show...
The Civil War: Episode 1—The Cause (1861)
Beginning with a searing indictment of slavery, this program dramatically evokes the causes of the war. Here are the burning questions of union and states’ rights, John Brown at Harper’s Ferry, the election of Abraham Lincoln, the firing on Fort...
The Civil War: Episode 3—Forever Free (1862)
This program charts the events that led to Lincoln’s decision to set the slaves free. Convinced by July 1862 that emancipation had become morally and militarily crucial to the future of the Union, Lincoln had to bide his time and wait for a victor...
The Civil War: Episode 5—The Universe of Battle (1863)
This program opens with an account of the turning point of war: the Battle of Gettysburg. For three days, 150,000 men fight to the death in the Pennsylvania countryside—an action that culminates in Pickett’s ill-fated charge. This extended episo...
The Terrible Transformation (1450–1750)
The brutal roots of the American slave trade are exposed in this program, focusing on the years 1450–1750 when Native Americans first encountered Europeans and when their world was transformed—and largely destroyed—by white settlers. Not only ...