The American Future: A History American War
In American War, Simon reveals how different the American attitude to war is from what outsiders assume it to be. Two of the founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, disagreed about whether America should even have a professional army - a division still evident when Simon visits America's premier military academy at West Point. From the Civil War right through to Mark Twain's denunciation of President Teddy Roosevelt's imperial adventure in the Phillipines, American wars have inspired profound debate. And nowhere more so in the 2008 election than San Antonio, Texas, nicknamed Military City because of its high population of veterans and serving soldiers, where Simon finds feelings about the war are deeply divided. As with the great war elections of the past, it's a debate which forces America to dig deep and rediscover what it stands for.
Simon Schama travels through America to dig deep into the conflicts of its history as a way to understand the country's contemporary political situation.
Primary Title
- The American Future: A History
Episode Title
- American War
Date Broadcast
- Monday 10 August 2009
Start Time
- 03 : 30
Finish Time
- 04 : 30
Duration
- 60:00
Episode
- 2
Channel
- Documentary Channel
Broadcaster
- Sky Network Television
Programme Description
- Simon Schama travels through America to dig deep into the conflicts of its history as a way to understand the country's contemporary political situation.
Episode Description
- In American War, Simon reveals how different the American attitude to war is from what outsiders assume it to be. Two of the founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, disagreed about whether America should even have a professional army - a division still evident when Simon visits America's premier military academy at West Point. From the Civil War right through to Mark Twain's denunciation of President Teddy Roosevelt's imperial adventure in the Phillipines, American wars have inspired profound debate. And nowhere more so in the 2008 election than San Antonio, Texas, nicknamed Military City because of its high population of veterans and serving soldiers, where Simon finds feelings about the war are deeply divided. As with the great war elections of the past, it's a debate which forces America to dig deep and rediscover what it stands for.
Classification
- PGR
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Subjects
- United States--History--21st century
- United States--Politics and government--2001-2009
- Optimism--United States
- Documentary television programs
Genres
- Documentary
Hosts
- Simon Schama (Host)
Contributors
- Sam Hobkinson (Director)
- Ricardo Pollack (Director)
- Simon Schama (Writer)
Subjects
- United States--History--21st century
- United States--Politics and government--2001-2009
- Optimism--United States
- Documentary television programs