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

October 30, 2021
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston

Civil War historians Doug Crenshaw and Robert Dunkerly talked about Confederate General Joseph Johnston. He served with…
January 14, 2023
National Museum of the Civil War Soldier - Battle of Cedar Creek

Historian Jeffry Wert discussed how U.S. Maj. Gen. Philip Sheridan utterly defeated Confederates at the Civil War…
December 3, 2022
National Museum of the Civil War Soldier, Part 2 - Brice's Crossroads

Historian Stewart Bennett discussed the Civil War Battle of Brice’s Crossroads, a significant victory for Confederate…

January 7, 2023
National Museum of the Civil War Soldier - Battle of Atlanta

Historian Gary Ecelbarger discussed the Civil War Battle of Atlanta which precipitated the downfall of the Confederacy.…
November 25, 2021
Civil War Naval Leadership

U. S. Naval Academy professor emeritus Craig Symonds talked about Civil War naval leadership, which included Union…
October 15, 2022
Civil War POWs & Libby Prison

Lynn University Professor Robert Watson discussed the Confederacy’s infamous Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, site…