The Century: America's Time (1999)
A 15-part series featuring Peter Jennings that documents the 20th century and the rise of the United States as a superpower. A broader and more chronologically arranged companion to Jennings' series The Century, which had just concluded its broadcast run on ABC.
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Episodes
- 1 1. The Beginning: Seeds of Change1999-04-12 · 45mHow did the 20th century change the ways Americans live? This program examines the early 1900s – when William McKinley was President, a loaf of bread cost only a few cents, horsepo
- 2 2. 1914-1919: Shell Shock1999-04-12 · 45mThe psychological damage inflicted by the stupefying bombardments of World War I was called shell shock, a term that aptly described the feeling of the post-war world. This program
- 3 3. 1920-1929: Boom to Bust1999-04-13 · 45mIn the aftermath of World War I, many modern-minded Americans, particularly women, were eager to do away with outdated traditions and claim new rights and freedoms. This program in
- 4 4. 1929-1936: Stormy Weather1999-04-14 · 45mAmerica – a nation that claimed ever-increasing wealth as a birthright – was rudely awakened by the Great Depression, which caused 25 percent unemployment, the closing of 9,000 ban
- 5 5. 1936-1941: Over the Edge1999-04-15 · 45mSafely watching Europe from across the Atlantic Ocean, many Americans observed the messianic popularity of Hitler and Mussolini and the subsequent outbreak of World War II with con
- 6 6. 1941-1945: Civilians at War1999-04-16 · 1h 8mWorld War II was the first war in history that killed more civilians than soldiers, as leaders on both sides accepted noncombatant casualties as inevitable – and, to some, even des
- 7 7. 1941-1945: Homefront1999-04-19 · 45mThe shock of Pearl Harbor awoke America from its dream of isolationism. As troops went overseas and industry ramped up to supply the urgent need for war materials, a new wave of So
- 8 8. 1946-1952: Best Years1999-04-20 · 45mDemobilization after World War II meant difficult changes as the U.S., geared up for war, resumed a peacetime existence. This program describes America's new status as a superpower
- 9 9. 1953-1960: Happy Days1999-04-21 · 45mThe post-war baby boom, suburban living, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis epitomizes the contentment of the Eisenhower years. But these were also years marked by rabid McCarthyism, violen
- 10 10. 1960-1964: Poisoned Dreams1999-04-22 · 44mBeset by both international and domestic pressures, America during the Camelot years was swiftly approaching a political-cultural meltdown. This program documents U.S.-Soviet confl
- 11 11. 1965-1970: Unpinned1999-04-23 · 45mRiots and protests intensified in the U.S. as the war in Vietnam dragged on, with anti-war and civil rights activists seeking violent ways to agitate for peace and equality. This p
- 12 12. 1971-1975: Approaching the Apocalypse1999-04-26 · 45mThe trauma of the war in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal left Americans exhausted, embittered, and disillusioned with politics and politicians. This program appraises the effects
- 13 13. 1976-1980: Starting Over1999-04-27 · 45mThe women's and civil rights movements, begun decades earlier and as controversial as ever, continue to evolve during the nation's Bicentennial period. This program focuses on the
- 14 14. 1981-1989: A New World1999-04-28 · 44mThe Reagan era witnessed the unexpected end of the Cold War and a welcome return to a booming domestic economy – but did events unfold too quickly to control? This program takes a
- 15 15. The '90s and Beyond: Then and Now1999-04-29 · 45mFifty years into the future, how will computer and communications technology reshape the way Americans work and play? What will be the benefits and consequences of biotechnology? W
Cast
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