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America, Empire of Liberty Episodes

  1. A House Divided

    30/90 The debate about the place of slavery in the 'land of liberty' reaches a critical point.

  2. Slaves, Masters and the Slave Power

    29/90 Northerners fear the dominance of the slave-owning south.

  3. Paddies, Papists and Demon Drink

    28/90 Irish immigrants flock to America, where they are not always welcome.

  4. Gold, God and the Little Giant

    27/90 The gold rush and a compromise on the issue of slavery.

  5. The Arsenic of Mexico

    26/90 America and Mexico fight over territory in Texas, New Mexico and California.

  6. Let Us Conquer Space

    25/90 The building of the Erie Canal and the railway boom.

  7. Frontier Values

    24/90 The government sells off vast tracts of land and thousands of people migrate westward.

  8. The Indian Trail of Tears

    23/90 Indian tribes are forced to either assimilate or move west of the Mississippi.

  9. A Christian Republic?

    22/90 Religious revivals transform American society in the early 19th century.

  10. For Jackson and Democracy

    21/90 The growth of democracy and political parties in America.

  11. The Second War of Independence

    20/90 America declares war on Britain and Washington burns.

  12. Victims of Liberty

    19/90 Indian resistance and an increased demand for slave labour by the new western territories.

  13. Jefferson's Western Empire

    18/90 The settlement of America's vast interior.

  14. Remember the Ladies

    17/90 Remember the Ladies. The role of women in building the new Republic.

  15. War and Terror

    16/90 America becomes involved as Britain and France battle for global empire.

  16. Founding A Capital

    15/90 The fierce bargaining between north and south over where to locate the country's capital.

  17. Making the Republic Work

    14/90 George Washington becomes the country's first President and the Bill of Rights is ratified

  18. 'To Form a More Perfect Union'

    13/90 The Founding Fathers form a federal government under a new constitution.

  19. Winning Independence

    12/90 The battles against the British.

  20. Declaring Independence

    11/90 The Declaration of Independence is drafted. Its principal author is Thomas Jefferson.

  21. Taxes, Tea and Rights

    10/90 Colonists throw tea into Boston Harbour as a protest against a tax imposed by the British.

  22. The Battle for Empire

    9/90 North America becomes part of the conflict between Britain and France.

  23. Awakenings and Nightmares

    8/90 Religious revivals challenge the authority of the formal hierarchical churches.

  24. The Middle Colonies and the Melting Pot

    7/90 Dutch settlers in New York and Pennsylvania pioneered a spirit of religious tolerance.

  25. Faith and Freedom in New England

    6/90 The Puritan founders of New England sowed the seeds of modern democracy.

  26. Southern Planters and Black Slaves

    5/90 The English settled in Virginia and Maryland. Slaves from Africa were introduced.

  27. New France Astride America's Heartland

    4/90 The French moved from the north to the south, searching for the mouth of the Mississippi.

  28. Borderlands of the Spanish Superpower

    3/90 The lure of gold and silver attracted Spanish colonists from Central and South America.

  29. Columbus: Bearer of Death

    2/90 The first European explorers brought fatal diseases which reduced the native population.

  30. Lost Civilisations

    1/90 Who were America's first inhabitants?

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