The Civil War
A monumental series that explores the most important conflict in our nation's history.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/42061/images/mezzanine_207.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1861: “The Cause”
S1 Ep1 | 1h 40m 58s
Find out what caused the war, examining slavery and questions of union and states’ rights.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/186109/images/mezzanine_311.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1862: “A Very Bloody Affair”/”Forever Free”
S1 Ep2 | 2h 21m 25s
Lincoln’s war to preserve the Union transforms to a war to emancipate the slaves.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/186112/images/mezzanine_159.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1863: “Simply Murder”/”The Universe of Battle”
S1 Ep3 | 2h 34m 49s
Follow the Battle of Gettysburg, draft riots, and the first African-American troops.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/186116/images/mezzanine_917.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1864: “Valley of the Shadow of Death”/”Most Hallowed Ground”
S1 Ep4 | 2h 18m 35s
While causalities mount, Lincoln’s re-election chances dim.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/186119/images/mezzanine_915.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1865: “War Is All Hell”/”The Better Angels of Our Nature”
S1 Ep5 | 2h 14m 38s
Richmond falls to Grant's army, Lee surrenders, Lincoln is assassinated, and the war ends.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/184546/images/mezzanine_500.JPG.crop.780x439.jpg)
Making The Civil War: 25 Years Later
28m 19s
Ken Burns, Ric Burns, Buddy Squires, and Allen Moore discuss the making of The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/184686/images/mezzanine_940.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Restoring The Civil War
13m 57s
Learn how The Civil War series has been completely restored to Ultra HD – 4K resolution.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/29310/images/Mezzanine_019.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
All Night Forever
4m 30s
Conditions were dire for slaves on the plantation. Only 4 out of 100 lived to be 60.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/29288/images/Mezzanine_996.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
The Gettysburg Address
5m 50s
Lincoln spoke only 269 words during his address and gave history a speech for the ages.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/42040/images/Mezzanine_830.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Ken Burns Interview | Shelby Foote
3m 36s
Ken Burns discusses interviewing Shelby Foote during The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183938/images/mezzanine_155.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Team Reaction
1m 38s
Ken Burns shares how his team reacted to the idea of an eleven-hour-long documentary.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183940/images/mezzanine_593.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Collaboration Process
2m 35s
Ken Burns talks about how he, Geoff, and Ric created The Civil War film.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183943/images/mezzanine_663.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Working with Celebrities
3m 21s
Ken Burns shares how he gets A-list actors to narrate his films.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183944/images/mezzanine_221.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Realization of Magnitude
3m 16s
Ken Burns recalls when he first realized the magnitude of his film, The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183945/images/mezzanine_219.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: The Moment Lincoln Was Shot
3m 11s
Ken Burns shares the moment he and his team captured Lincoln’s death in the film.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183946/images/mezzanine_568.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: The Civil War in 4K
3m 4s
Ken Burns talks about the benefits of restoring The Civil War series in 4K.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183949/images/mezzanine_927.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Series Longevity
1m 25s
Ken Burns shares his thoughts on the continued success of his film, The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183950/images/mezzanine_355.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Using Photography
2m 35s
Ken Burns shares how his passion for photography influenced the creation of The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183952/images/mezzanine_418.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Bringing the Past to Life
1m 7s
Ken Burns explains how he brought the personal stories in The Civil War series to life.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183953/images/mezzanine_386.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: The Sullivan Ballou Letter
3m 20s
Ken Burns explains how he first discovered the letter by Ballou and realized its impact.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183958/images/mezzanine_570.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: The Civil War Today
2m 36s
Ken Burns shares his thoughts on the state of our country since the Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183959/images/mezzanine_307.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Q & A: Soldier Reunions
2m 43s
Ken Burns talks about the emotional moments during reunions among soldiers.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183966/images/mezzanine_850.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Secessionitis
3m 20s
The feeling among the Southern members for dissolution of the Union becomes more general.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/183986/images/mezzanine_583.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Appomattox
11m 7s
April 7, 1865, Grant writes to Lee. April 9, 1865. Lee sends word that he will surrender.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/184378/images/mezzanine_734.JPG.crop.780x439.jpg)
In the classroom with The Civil War
4m 45s
Educator Eden McCauslin explains how she uses The Civil War series with her students.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/188524/images/mezzanine_620.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Honorable Manhood
3m 25s
A week before the battle of Bull Run, Sullivan Ballou wrote a letter to his wife.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/civil-war/188531/images/mezzanine_813.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
Lincoln’s Troubled Re-Election
4m 46s
Long after Lincoln was nominated, politicians in his own party still hoped to reconvene.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/ken-burns/79209/images/Mezzanine_999.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
“A Very Bloody Affair: 1862″/”Forever Free: 1862” | Preview
S1 Ep2 | 30s
Preview episodes two and three of Ken Burns' The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/ken-burns/79376/images/Mezzanine_400.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1863: “Simply Murder”/”The Universe of Battle” | Preview
S1 Ep3 | 30s
Preview episodes four and five of Ken Burns' The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/ken-burns/78845/images/Mezzanine_978.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1864: “Valley of the Shadow of Death”/”Most Hallowed Ground”
S1 Ep4 | 30s
Preview episodes six and seven of Ken Burns' The Civil War.
![The Civil War Image](https://image.pbs.org/video-assets/pbs/ken-burns/79292/images/Mezzanine_118.jpg.crop.780x439.jpg)
1865: “War Is All Hell”/”The Better Angels of Our Nature”
S1 Ep5 | 30s
Preview the final two episodes of Ken Burns' The Civil War.
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