Skip to main content

Reconstruction: America After the Civil War DVD

$29.99
Item #: WC1702
Reconstruction: America After the Civil War Renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. presents a vital, new four-hour documentary series - Reconstruction: America After the Civil War. This series explores the transformative years following the American Civil War, when the nation struggled to rebuild itself in the face of both profound destruction and revolutionary social change. Initially, African Americans enjoyed ... More
In Stock & Ready to Ship
Select Format:

Quantity:

Reconstruction: America After the Civil War Renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. presents a vital, new four-hour documentary series - Reconstruction: America After the Civil War. This series explores the transformative years following the American Civil War, when the nation struggled to rebuild itself in the face of both profound destruction and revolutionary social change.

Initially, African Americans enjoyed what W. E. B. Du Bois called a ""brief moment in the sun"", when they could build businesses, become educated, exercise their right to vote, and run for public office. The Constitution was even amended to grant them citizenship, and protect their freedoms. But many former Confederates were staunchly resistant to this new social order, and they unleashed a backlash in the form of rampant violence and a state-by-state rollback of voting rights.

This series tells the real story of Reconstruction, one of America's most overlooked, misunderstood, and misrepresented periods of history. It honors the struggle of the African Americans who fought their way out of slavery and challenged the nation to live up to the founding ideals of democracy, freedom, and equality.

Producer: Julia Marchesi, Rob Rapley, Cyndee Readdean, Stacey Holman
Executive Producer: Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Dyllan McGee
Production Company: McGee Media; Inkwell Films, Inc
Production Year: 2019
Copyright Year: 2019
Director: Rob Rapley, Cyndee Readdean, Stacey Holman, Julia Marchesi
Host: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Writers: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Discs: 2
Subtitles: Y
Subtitle Language: English (SDH)
Language track: English
Audio Format: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen

26 Reviews
F
FRED
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
09/12/23
One of the best films
Review by FRED on 09/12/23 review stating One of the best films
One of the best films I have seen that presents the historical view of how the nation moved forward. Truth is sometimes painful to communities who are identified as being less than helpful in their efforts to change their attitudes and beliefs about cultural norms that put people at risk. Would be a great high school class film.
J
JACK
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
06/08/23
History
Review by JACK on 06/08/23 review stating History
A very educational documentary. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Learned a lot.
W
Walter
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
04/19/23
Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
Review by Walter on 04/19/23 review stating Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
the film is good and explain the continue struggle that African Americans still face today.
B
BERND
Verified Buyer
4.0 star rating
02/14/23
Most complex narrative ever
Review by BERND on 02/14/23 review stating Most complex narrative ever
In my view. The Confederate States of America lost the battle, won the war and kept winning more. A sad truism, that violence and military action does nothing to resolve cultural and political conflict. Free labor is too tempting. But still there is hope, maybe.
S
Sherronda
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
02/06/23
The truth verses the narrative
Review by Sherronda on 02/06/23 review stating The truth verses the narrative
PBS keep true history alive by offering documentaries that doesnt appear to be white washed. If America embraced the true history, seen in this documentry, our country could heal and live up to its creed that all men are created eqal but thats not the case unfortunately. Maybe if we keep on living we will get there.
G
Gary
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
07/25/22
A Snapshot Of America After 1865
Review by Gary on 07/25/22 review stating A Snapshot Of America After 1865
DVD arrived promptly and in great(like NEW)...a must-watch for anyone who wants a snapshot of the vibe in America just after a gut-wrenching battle to unite the nation
R
Robert E.
Verified Buyer
4.0 star rating
07/12/22
Products are great, delivery is
Review by Robert E. on 07/12/22 review stating Products are great, delivery is
Products are great, delivery is too slow.
R
ROBERT
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
06/19/22
dvd order
Review by ROBERT on 06/19/22 review stating dvd order
good dvd showing out country the time after civil war
M
Michael
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
06/17/22
Superb content and review
Review by Michael on 06/17/22 review stating Superb content and review
Superb content and review
L
Lauren
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
05/30/22
Great
Review by Lauren on 05/30/22 review stating Great
Great
A
Annette
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
05/22/22
Excellent DVD
Review by Annette on 05/22/22 review stating Excellent DVD
I'm never disappointment with products I've purchased from PBS. Quality material is shown on this station. We need more programs like this on television. Keep up the FANTASTIC work!
E
EDWARD
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
04/20/22
The film was well done!
Review by EDWARD on 04/20/22 review stating The film was well done!
The film was well done! It shows when prejudice is really behind all their decisions, KKK, many people were really, two faced. The other message the movies demonstrates was a real vacuum of integration leadership. I believe if Lincoln had lived, things might have been different.
A
Ann
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
10/13/21
Well done !
Review by Ann on 10/13/21 review stating Well done !
Informative and interesting !
R
ROBERT
Verified Buyer
4.0 star rating
10/04/21
Reconstruction: America after the Civil War
Review by ROBERT on 10/04/21 review stating Reconstruction: America after the Civil War
Painfully edifying.
C
Carol P.
Verified Reviewer
5.0 star rating
10/04/21
Reconstruction still pending.
Review by Carol P. on 10/04/21 review stating Reconstruction still pending.
Dr Gates provides us a well-documented and interestingly-presented history that was omitted from my school studies. For 50 to 60 years after the Civil War we looked the other way while fellow Americans worked hard and struggled for their futures, and then we re attacked and destroyed if they were too successful. This is the real story of systemic racism in this country, the one we deny because everybody was supposed to be free. These are the chapters we were too ashamed to acknowledge but must sort out now if we are to maintain (finally establish?) American equality.
S
Sugar H.
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
10/04/21
Thank you, Dr. Gates. A Most DEFINING era in U.S. History
Review by Sugar H. on 10/04/21 review stating Thank you, Dr. Gates. A Most DEFINING era in U.S. History
Will show at After-Church gatherings; arrange for showing at neighborhood public library--with discussions afterward; buy and give as gifts to relatives.; invite family friends to my home to view it.
E
Estella
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
10/04/21
Needs to be shown in every history and social studies class
Review by Estella on 10/04/21 review stating Needs to be shown in every history and social studies class
I am sending this to a social studies teacher who has the confederate flag displayed in his classroom in hopes it will broaden his perspective and what he teaches his students and lastly take that flag down,
R
Rudolph
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
10/04/21
A must buy
Review by Rudolph on 10/04/21 review stating A must buy
The details of this book will make you think about education and criminal penalties in todays world...it started with the Confederates and continues with there descendants
J
Jenna
Anonymous User
5.0 star rating
10/04/21
Informative
Review by Jenna on 10/04/21 review stating Informative
I am considering using this in the classroom. I like that its current and has so much information that people may not be aware of in history.
D
Denise
Verified Buyer
5.0 star rating
07/26/21
See above.
Review by Denise on 07/26/21 review stating See above.
See above.

Highlighted Customer Reviews


C
Carrying O. reviewed Reconstruction: America After the Civil War DVD
5 star rating
I will show this over and over incredible!
Review by Carrying O. review stating I will show this over and over incredible!
https://shop.pbs.org/reconstruction-america-after-the-civil-war-dvd/product/HEGU601
eye-opening, mind-awakening
Review by Sam review stating eye-opening, mind-awakening
I have learned more from this program than all the history classes and books I have ever read. It makes me ashamed to be part of the human race. I wish more people could see it, so I decided to buy the DVD to share with friends.
B
Bellou reviewed Reconstruction: America After the Civil War DVD
5 star rating
Must see!!!
Review by Bellou review stating Must see!!!
This should be required viewing in all high schools. Such a sad history we have, that still lives on.

Virtual Catalog