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. Schama presents and discusses both presidential candidates, Democratic Barack Obama and Republican John McCain from a historical point of view, emphasizing strongly the former. The documentary takes viewer to an epic journey through the history of the modern United States, but it also why Schama personally believed Barack Obama would be the ideal choice as the next president of the United States.

　　此片有助于抵挡不绝于耳的煽动者的谎言和丑闻，与当下的现实同样严肃，可也无法冲淡竞选带来的激动人心的情绪。911，卡特里娜飓风，安然公司事件以及伊战之后，美国式的乐观情绪若想要重回主流，受到以下两方面因素的阻碍：军事上的受挫和国内的焦虑情绪。这是一场美国式的诠释，但它对于自身限制的认知却是非美国式的。本片通过回顾美国历史中美妙绝伦的时刻来解读现世，将诸如托马斯杰弗森、亨利福特、马克吐温、亚伯拉罕林肯之类的传奇人物，和如今的士兵、商人、卡车司机、教师以及（甚至）政客联系起来。这个系列片及时而生动地将重大历史时刻前的美国（过去和现在）展现在观众眼前。