Watch Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy

Name: Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy
Genre: History
Released: 2009-01-01

2009
1 Season

Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy is a historical documentary from A&E that explores the life of the 16th President of the United States. Narrated by Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, the show provides a comprehensive look at Lincoln's life, examining both his personal and political accomplishments and struggles.

The documentary is divided into several chapters that highlight key moments in Lincoln's life, from his humble beginnings in a Kentucky log cabin to his eventual rise to the presidency. Each chapter features interviews with experts in the field, including historians and scholars who provide context and analysis of Lincoln's impact on American history.

The first chapter, titled "Lost in the Wilderness," explores Lincoln's childhood and early life in Indiana and Illinois. It delves into his relationship with his parents and examines the impact of his mother's death on his upbringing. The chapter also covers Lincoln's first experiences with politics, including his election to the Illinois state legislature and his early debates with rival Stephen Douglas.

The second chapter, "A Man Divided," focuses on Lincoln's personal struggles, including his battles with depression and his strained marriage to Mary Todd. It also examines his evolving views on slavery, from his early opposition to its expansion in the West to his eventual support for abolition during the Civil War.

The third chapter, "Election of Duty," covers Lincoln's presidency and the challenges he faced in leading the country through one of its darkest periods. It explores his efforts to preserve the Union and his eventual decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be freed.

The fourth chapter, "Victory and Tragedy," follows Lincoln through the final years of his presidency and his eventual assassination by John Wilkes Booth. It examines the impact of his death on the nation and his legacy as one of its greatest leaders.

Throughout each chapter, Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy provides a detailed and engaging portrait of Lincoln's life and accomplishments. The show combines archive footage with expert analysis to create a comprehensive and educational viewing experience. The narration by F. Murray Abraham adds a powerful emotional element to the story, bringing Lincoln's struggles and triumphs to life for viewers.

Overall, Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy is an insightful and enlightening documentary that sheds new light on one of America's greatest presidents. It provides a nuanced view of Lincoln's life and achievements, exploring both his personal demons and his extraordinary leadership in times of crisis. Whether you are a history buff or simply curious about one of America's most iconic figures, this documentary is a must-see.

Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (8 episodes). The series first aired on January 1, 2009.

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Seasons

8. High Tech Lincoln

January 1, 2009

For years, Hollywood special-effects wizards worked with historians and museum specialists to create a new way to experience history. Join us for an unforgettable tour of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. The facility spreads over 200,000 square-feet and houses the Illinois State Historical Library's 12-million items, such as the Gettysburg Address, Emancipation Proclamation, and Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Speech. Historical archives are presented alongside state-of-the-art technology, including a holographic "Ghost of Lincoln"; a Special Effects Theater, where six historical figures present their views on the 16th President; stunningly lifelike figures of Abe and family; and recreations of Lincoln's log cabin and the White House. Features comments from author Gore Vidal and museum director Richard Norton Smith, who has said, "In size, in scope and, above all, in imagination, this institution dwarfs anything that exists."

7. The Hunt for John Wilkes Booth

January 1, 2009

It was the largest manhunt in history - ten thousand federal troops, detectives and police hunted those responsible for the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The conspiracy was vast - an effort to decapitate the United States government at the end of the Civil War. The manhunt was intense - ending 12 days later in a fiery showdown with the man who pulled the trigger - John Wilkes Booth.

6. Lincoln Assassination

January 1, 2009

April 14, 1865--Actor John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln in the back of the head at a Washington theater. Days later, Wilkes died in a standoff, and eventually, eight Southern sympathizers were tried for conspiracy. This much we know to be true. But many conspiracy theories arose--pointing to the Confederacy, the Union, and even the Catholic Church! Once again, new theories have sprung up, based on recently found documents and forensic technology. Historian Edward Steers Jr. connects Booth to the Confederate Secret Service in Montreal, which indirectly links him to Jefferson Davis and the Confederate government; while biographer Charles Higham places Booth in a larger conspiracy. Historians, biographers, and researchers, who take issue with Steers and Higham, counter their arguments here.

5. Lincoln and the Flying Spying Machine

January 1, 2009

May 31st, 1862: President Abraham Lincoln is pressing for a swift end to the Civil War. As his army bears down on the confederate capitol, Lincoln has a radical new machine above the battle--a hydrogen filled spy balloon, equipped with a telegraph that can instantly report on enemy troop movements. As the Union army comes under intense rebel fire, commanders on the ground use the information from the reconnaissance balloon to turn the tide against the Confederates.

4. Sherman's March

January 1, 2009

Known affectionately as "Uncle Billy" by Union soldiers, but reviled in the South as a brutal war criminal, General William Tecumseh Sherman is one of the truly enigmatic and complex figures in the American pantheon. His legacy was built during a five-week campaign of terror and destruction that would become known as "total war". Sherman ordered his troops to burn crops, kill livestock, destroy railroads, pilfer food supplies and to make sure the South's civilian infrastructure was shattered. Although the concept had been around for centuries, this is the first time in modern warfare that total war was used to such an extensive degree. First Savannah was captured, and then he marched from Georgia through South Carolina and burned the capital to the ground. On the heels of Sherman's destructive onslaughts, the Confederacy officially conceded victory to the Union on April 9, 1865.

3. Lincoln: Man or Myth

January 1, 2009

Abraham Lincoln remains our country's most beloved president--but nearly 200 years after his birth, we're still trying to piece together a true picture of this man who never fails to fascinate, surprise, and enlighten us. Scholars and historians examine how Lincoln became a myth. Was he really the Great Emancipator who deeply wanted to free slaves or a racist and white supremacist? Did the writings that inspired a nation truly come from his pen? Do we really even know what he looked like?

2. Lincoln, Pt. 2

January 1, 2009

Was Abraham Lincoln's lifelong anguish the driving force behind his ultimate transcendence to America's most beloved President? Award-winning director Vikram Jayanti takes a look through Lincoln's eyes on his last day as Lincoln is wracked by memory, premonition, and regret. His entire life was a continuing battle to contain and overcome his depressions, suicidal urges, unsettled sexuality, tragic family life, and a history of political opportunism--a battle he fought with his powerful innate wit and charm and his developing idealism. Yet today, controversy continues to rage over his ambiguous psychology and sexuality. In this 3-hour special, we are joined by leading Lincoln biographers Gore Vidal, Jan Morris, and Harold Holzer, among others, as well as with Andrew Solomon, author of The Noonday Demon, for a fresh look.

1. Lincoln, Pt. 1

January 1, 2009

Description

Where to Watch Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy

Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy is available for streaming on the A&E website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Abraham Lincoln: His Life and Legacy on demand at History Vault and Apple TV.