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13th Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States in 1865. But it was just the beginning of a long fight for equality and civil rights.
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Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, escalating tensions that led to the Civil War.
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The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 transferred 55% of Mexican territory to the U.S., and ignited a fierce debate over slavery in these new lands.
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Treaty of Ghent
The War of 1812, between the United States and Great Britain, ended with the Treaty of Ghent. This historic agreement, negotiated in Belgium over five months, proved that the U.S. could achieve its aims through diplomacy.
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The Treaty of Paris
In 1783, the Treaty of Paris formally ended the American Revolution. This historic document secured American independence but failed to address important issues that would lead to future divisions.
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Susan B. Anthony
At a time when women in the United States did not have the right to vote, Susan B. Anthony played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement.
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Harriet Tubman
Discover the remarkable story of Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery in 1849 and went to become a conductor on the Underground Railroad and a leading exponent of abolition and women’s rights.
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Who Was James Madison?
James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution”. In this video for US students grades 3-5, we learn about Madison’s remarkable life, career and legacy.
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Slavery in the United States: 1619-1820
Between 1619 and 1820, slavery shaped America, driving economic growth while deepening divisions between North and South, highlighting a stark contradiction in the nation’s ideals.
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Slavery in the Colonies
Liberty is a founding principle of the United States, but many of the people who helped build the North American colonies were not free. The resilience of enslaved people and their contributions to what would become the United States...
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The Slave Trade
The Triangular Trade was a complex system of human trafficking spanning three continents. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, it saw millions of Africans transported to the Americas.
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English Explorers
Explorers like John Cabot, Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake played pivotal roles in England's exploration of North America, laying the foundations for settlements that would ultimately dispossess countless Indigenous Peoples.
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The Southern Colonies
What was life like in the Southern Colonies? Explore this region’s unique history, from the founding of Jamestown to their complex social, political and economic legacy.
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Economies of the 13 British Colonies
The 13 British colonies used their diverse regions and resources for trade, leading to prosperity, but ultimately tensions with Britain contributed to the American quest for independence.
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Jamestown
In 1607, settlers founded Jamestown, the first English colony in North America. Its emphasis on democracy influenced the founding principles of the United States.
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Colonial Williamsburg
A restored and reconstructed 18th century city, Colonial Williamsburg recreates many of the sights, sounds, and smells of colonial life. But what was its significance in revolutionary Virginia?
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Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott's fight for freedom led to a Supreme Court decision that denied citizenship to Black Americans, fuelling tensions that contributed to the Civil War.
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Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was designed to maintain a delicate balance of power in Congress between slave states and free states. But how did it come about, what did it mean and how did it contribute to the US Civil War?
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The Raid on Harpers Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown viewed the fight against slavery as a holy endeavor that could only be won through violence. His raid on Harpers Ferry was an attempt to spark a mass uprising of enslaved people across the South.
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The Assassination of President Lincoln
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth was part of a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government. Lincoln’s death united the nation in grief and set the stage for a tumultuous Reconstruction era.
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The Impact of the Civil War
On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, South Carolina, marking the explosive start of the Civil War. The conflict led to short-lived progress and long-term struggles for true racial equality.
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Enslaved African Americans in the Revolution
At the time of the American Revolution, enslaved Africans made up a fifth of the population of the Thirteen Colonies. Though they were initially barred from taking part in the war, eventually thousands did. But what part did they play...
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Bacon's Rebellion
Bacon's Rebellion, a violent conflict between Virginia's poor working class and wealthy elite, had far-reaching consequences in North America.
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James Madison's Legacy
James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution” – but he was so much more than that. As author of the Virginia Plan and the Bill of Rights, his political genius proved vital in the founding of our nation.