The Civil War

A nine-part series that explores the most important conflict in our nation's history.

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Episodes

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    1865: "War Is All Hell"/"The Better Angels of Our Nature"

    S1 Ep5 |
    Richmond falls to Grant's army, Lee surrenders, Lincoln is assassinated, and the war ends.
  • 1864: "Valley of the Shadow of Death"/"Most Hallowed Ground": asset-mezzanine-16x9
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    1864: "Valley of the Shadow of Death"/"Most Hallowed Ground"

    S1 Ep4 |
    While causalities mount, Lincoln’s re-election chances dim.
  • 1863: "Simply Murder"/"The Universe of Battle": asset-mezzanine-16x9
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    1863: "Simply Murder"/"The Universe of Battle"

    S1 Ep3 |
    Follow the Battle of Gettysburg, draft riots, and the first African-American troops.
  • 1862: "A Very Bloody Affair"/"Forever Free": asset-mezzanine-16x9
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    1862: "A Very Bloody Affair"/"Forever Free"

    S1 Ep2 |
    Lincoln’s war to preserve the Union transforms to a war to emancipate the slaves.
  • 1861: "The Cause": asset-mezzanine-16x9
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    1861: "The Cause"

    S1 Ep1 |
    Find out what caused the war, examining slavery and questions of union and states’ rights.

Specials

  • Making The Civil War: 25 Years Later: asset-mezzanine-16x9
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    Making The Civil War: 25 Years Later

    Ken Burns, Ric Burns, Buddy Squires, and Allen Moore discuss the making of The Civil War.
  • Restoring The Civil War: asset-mezzanine-16x9
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    Restoring The Civil War

    Learn how The Civil War series has been completely restored to Ultra HD – 4K resolution.

About The Civil War

Between 1861 and 1865, Americans made war on each other and killed each other in great numbers if only to become the kind of country that could no longer conceive of how that was possible. What began as a bitter dispute over Union and States' Rights, ended as a struggle over the meaning of freedom in America.

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Extras

Ken Burns Timeline