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Slavery and the Making of America

  • Watchlist
  • 2005-2005
  • 1 Season
  • PBS
  • Documentary
  • TV-PG
  • Watchlist

A documentary of the history of American slavery from its beginnings in the British colonies through the years of post-Civil War Reconstruction, this series examines the integral role slavery played in shaping the new country and challenges the long held notion that it was exclusively a Southern enterprise. Remarkable stories of individual slaves offer fresh perspectives on the slave experience.

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Cast & Crew See All

Morgan Freeman
Narrator
Jordan Brown
Petitioner
Justin Jackson
Reenactor

Season 1 Episode Guide See All

Episode 1

The Downward Spiral

Wed, Feb 9, 200557 mins

The Downward Spiral is the first hour of the four part series, Slavery and The Making of America. Through the lives of Anthony Portuguese, John Punch, Emmanuel Driggus, Frances Driggus, and several others, this hour tells the complicated story of the establishment of slavery in America, the transition from indentured servitude and 'half freedom' to African and African-American enslavement for life, the brief but bloody Stono Rebellion of 1739 in South Carolina, and the establishment of the 'Black Codes,' regulating virtually every aspect of slave life.

Where to Watch

Awards

  • 2006 - Emmy - Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Writing - nominated
  • 2006 - Emmy - Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Research - nominated
  • 2006 - Emmy - Outstanding Historical Programming - Long Form - winner

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