Introduction

North and South is the title of three American television miniseries broadcast on the ABC network in 1985, 1986, and 1994.

Set before, during, and immediately after the American Civil War, they are based on the 1980s trilogy of novels North and South by John Jakes.

Outline

17 September 1862 to spring 1864.

At the bloody battle of Antietam, Charles and Billy nearly kill each other, but each allows the other to escape. Charles’s friend Ambrose is killed in the battle by one of the poor-quality cannons made by Hazard Iron. Afterwards, President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation frees the slaves in the rebel Southern states. Most of the slaves leave the Main plantation in South Carolina, but Ezra and Semiramis decide to remain until they decide how to move forward with their newfound freedom. Ashton visits her family’s plantation, supposedly to see her recovering mother and sister Brett, but in reality to carry out Bent’s revenge against Orry. Ashton tells Madeline that she knows that Madeline’s mother was a high-priced, part-black prostitute in New Orleans, and that, unless Madeline leaves Orry with no explanation, she will reveal this secret and ruin Orry’s public reputation. Madeline flees to Charleston where she is befriended by a suave gambler Rafe Baudeen and begins working for the city’s poor and orphans who are suffering from the war. Following the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, Billy, sick of not having seen his wife Brett for nearly two years, goes AWOL from the US Army and makes his way to South Carolina, where he and Brett spend some time together. Ashton discovers Billy’s presence and goes to tell the local authorities, but Billy is saved when Brett threatens her sister with a pitchfork long enough for Billy to escape.

North and South Series

You can find a full index and overview of North and South here.

Production & Filming Details

• Release Date: 1986.
• Rating: 15.
• Running Time: 90 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)