Civil War and Reconstruction

A nine-part documentary series which examines the American Civil War through photographs, readings from documents and diaries and historical materials. Contents: Disc 1. Episode one: The Cause (1861) ; DVD special features -- Disc 2. Episode two: A very bloody affair ; Episode three: Forever free (1862) -- Disc 3. Episode four: Simply murder ; Episode five: The universe of battle (1863) -- Disc 4. Episode six: Valley of the shadow of death (1864) ; Episode seven: Most hallowed ground (1864) -- Disc 5. Episode eight: War is all hell (1865) ; Episode nine: The better angels of our nature (1865).

The story of Frederick Douglass, escaped slave and abolitionist orator.

A biography of statesman Jefferson Davis, examining his public, private and family life.

The story of the tumultuous years after the Civil War during which America grappled with how to rebuild itself, how to successfully bring the South back into the Union and, at the same time, how former slaves could be brought into the life of the country.