National Constitution Center
14th Amendment with Jeffrey Rosen
What makes the Fourteenth Amendment relevant to today's America? Jeffrey Rosen, president of the National Constitution Center, attempts to answer the question by walking through the clauses of the Reconstruction-era amendment. Due...
National Constitution Center
Classroom Discussion Starter: Freedom from Excessive Punishment
You are the governor of your state. A man has been sentenced to die for first degree murder, but you've been asked to commute the sentence. What do you do? Scholars consider the difficult question using a conversation starter video that...
PBS
The Fourteenth Amendment - Part II
How did the Supreme Court and its interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment contribute to Jim Crow laws? Find out just how much Supreme Court interpretations can affect society by using an informative resource. Learners watch a video,...
PBS
The Fourteenth Amendment - Part I
A history resource includes direct instruction about the Fourteenth Amendment and an instructional video. It also includes ideas for discussion questions and additional reading to learn more.
TED-Ed
How You Could Get Away with Murder in Yellowstone’s “Zone of Death"
Looking for loopholes in the Constitution? Watch a video that describes how one could get away with a crime in the "Zone of Death." Because Yellowstone National Park is considered to be federal land, and it is technically in three...
TED-Ed
Why Is the US Constitution so Hard to Amend?
Over 11,000 amendments have been proposed for the US Constitution, yet only 27 have peen ratified. This short video explains why.
Crash Course
Women's Suffrage
Discover why some term the period between 1890 and 1920 in the United States a "women's era," a period in which women saw greater economic and political opportunities and an overall shift in gender roles. This video details women's...
Curated OER
The Bill of Rights
Why was the Bill of Rights necessary after the Founding Fathers spent so much time drafting the Constitution? Watch an informative video that explains what the Bill of Rights is and why it is important.
Curated OER
Constitution Lecture 5: Federalism vs. Nationalism
What is the difference between federalism and nationalism and how did those differences shape the US Constitution? This is the focus of lecture five in a series on understanding the US Constitution. Centralized powers, the role of the...
Curated OER
US Government Review Part 1 - 3 Branches of Government
A fun and interesting teacher describes the three branches of the US government. His lecture style and ability to explain with good examples could be a really big help to older students needing a tutorial or extra support in...
TED-Ed
A 3-Minute Guide to the Bill of Rights
If you don't have the time to spend an entire class on the Bill of Rights, or you are looking for a simple overview, this video provides clear and illustrated descriptions of each of the first ten amendments to the Constitution. You may...
Curated OER
American Civil War, 1861-1865
The American Civil War tore the country in two. What made tension grow between the North and the South? How did the war finally begin? What artillery was used? Answer some of these basic questions using this resource. Consider choosing a...
Curated OER
Constitution Lecture 4: Democracy or Republic?
Part four defines oligarchy, monarchy, republic, and democracy. Each type of government is defined in terms of its linguistic and historical origins and how rights are granted in each form of government. Give your upper graders a clear...
Other
The Center on Congress: Amendments
Video looking at how and why Amendments are continuously added to the Constitution. [0:55]
Other
The Center on Congress: The Bill of Rights
Explains how the Bill of Rights came into being and some of the rights that are enshrined in it. [1:00]
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Amendments and Judicial Review Part 6: Fundamental Changes
Today we learn about some important constitutional amendments that go to the core of our constitutional system.
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Ten Thousand Proposed Amendments
Since 1789, over ten thousand constitutional amendments have been proposed, while just a small number have actually been ratified.
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Amendments: The Bill of Rights
Discusses the amendments that became the Bill of Rights.
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments
The Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments made critical changes to the Constitution, such as the abolition of slavery, that addressed issues not settled at the Constitutional Convention or by the Civil War.
Center For Civic Education
60 Second Civics: Expanding Suffrage
There were a number of constitutional amendments that expanded the right to vote.