A look at the people and events that shaped the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Covering American History C-SPAN style: with event coverage, eyewitness accounts, and discussions with authors, historians and teachers. Every weekend from 8am ET Saturday to 8am ET Monday on C-SPAN3.

In January, 2011, C-SPAN expanded its programming offerings with a new history-based service airing weekends on C-SPAN3. American History TV (AHTV) features programming geared toward history lovers with 48 hours every weekend of people and events that document the American story.

C-SPAN began C-SPAN3 operations in January 2001 as a digital service. C-SPAN3 is currently available in 49 million digital cable TV households and is streamed live online at C-SPAN.org.

At the time of the launch of American History TV, C-SPAN co-president Susan Swain said: "We’re hoping American History TV does for history enthusiasts what Book TV has done for non-fiction book lovers."

Most Recent The Civil War Videos

February 26, 2022
Union General Meade at Gettysburg

Kent Masterson Brown talked about his book, Meade at Gettysburg: A Study in Command, which examines the leadership of…
February 20, 2022
Fallen Leaders - Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart

Civil War author and historian Gordon Rhea talked about Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s mortal wounding in May 1864…
January 29, 2022
Union General Fitz John Porter

Civil War author Kevin Pawlak recounted the career of Union General Fitz John Porter. General Porter was court-martialed after the Battle…

November 13, 2021
Loudoun County, Virginia, During the Civil War

Local historians shared stories about Loudoun County, Virginia, during the Civil War. This program was part of a series sponsored…
September 4, 2021
Former Friends - Union General Hancock and Confederate General Armistead

Author Tom McMillan told the story of how the Civil War divided two former friends, Union General Winfield Scott…
October 2, 2021
Fallen Leaders - Confederate Officer John Pelham

Sarah Kay Bierle, managing editor of the “Emerging Civil War” blog, talked about Confederate artillery officer John Pelham…