The American Future: A History


The American Future: A History
DVD cover
Written bySimon Schama
Directed by
  • Sam Hobkinson
  • Ricardo Pollack
Presented bySimon Schama
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes4
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
Release10 October (2008-10-10) –
31 October 2008 (2008-10-31)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

The American Future: A History is a four-part documentary series written and presented by Simon Schama which aired on BBC Two in the UK during October 2008, in the run up to the 2008 US presidential election. The first episode was broadcast on BBC Two at 9:00pm on 10 October 2008, and it was shown over four consecutive Fridays.

The series saw Schama travelling through the United States as he investigated the conflicts from its past in order to understand the country's contemporary political situation.[1] Schama presents and discusses both presidential candidates, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, from a historical point of view, emphasizing strongly the former. The documentary takes the viewer on an epic journey through the history of the modern United States, but it also reveals why Schama personally believed Barack Obama would be the ideal choice as the next president of the United States.

  1. ^ "Challenges for changing America". BBC. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.