Crash Course
The Quakers, the Dutch, and the Ladies Crash Course US History
In which John Green teaches you about some of the colonies that were not in Virginia or Massachussetts. Old New York was once New Amsterdam. Why they changed it, I can say; ENGLISH people just liked it better that way, and when the...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: What really happened during the Salem Witch Trials
You’ve been accused of a crime you did not commit. It’s impossible to prove your innocence. If you insist that you’re innocent anyway, you’ll likely be found guilty and executed. But if you confess, apologize, and implicate others,...
Makematic
The Thirteen Colonies: 1607 - 1763
Over 200 years, British settlers successfully founded the Thirteen Colonies, driven by desires for religious freedom, self-governance, and economic opportunities.
Makematic
The Seven Years' War: the First Global War
In 1756, Great Britain and France went to war for control of land, resources and global influence. The Seven Years’ War was the first truly global conflict, marked by major events across five continents.
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The California Missions
The California Missions are a long-lasting legacy of Spanish colonization in the Americans. Built to spread Catholicism among Indigenous communities, they still exist today.
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Pilgrims
English settlers known as the Pilgrims founded the first permanent English settlement in North America, the Plymouth Colony.
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The French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a bloody struggle between Britain and France for control over North America. It created the conditions for the American Revolution.
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Coming to the Colonies
Have you ever dreamed of moving to a new place? What might make you want to go? In this video, learn about what motivated settlers to travel to North America centuries ago.
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Common Sense
Published in 1776, Thomas Paine's 47-page pamphlet, "Common Sense", sold hundreds of thousands of copies across the colonies. By employing relatable language and Biblical references, it rallied many to the cause of American independence.
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The Coercive Acts
Learn how Britain's Coercive Acts, aimed at punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, encouraged rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies.
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The Mayflower Compact
In September 1620, a group of colonists left England to make a new life. By the time they reached North America, they had written the Mayflower Compact: a document that would lay the groundwork for democracy in the U.S.
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The Navigation Acts
The Navigation Acts were a series of trade laws passed by the British Parliament in the 1600s. Learn about how they fuelled discontent in the Thirteen Colonies, setting the stage for the American Revolution.
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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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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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The First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening revived Christianity across the American colonies, introducing a new era of religious practice and community involvement.
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Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of the most well-known American holidays. But how did it come about? And how is it perceived by different communities today?
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How is History Constructed?
Historians are always finding new information from the past, in primary sources like letters, diaries, and government documents, which can change our understanding of historic events.
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Massachusetts Bay Colony
In 1630, around 1,000 Puritans left England behind for a new start in the New World. Against all odds, they managed to make a success of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. But how did they do it and what impact did it have on our nation?
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The Albany Plan
Learn about Benjamin Franklin's revolutionary proposal for colonial unity, the Albany Plan of Union, and its lasting influence on the creation of the United States.
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The Sons and Daughters of Liberty
In 1765, two secretive groups formed in Boston, Massachusetts to resist rising British taxes. The Sons and Daughters of Liberty forced the repeal of the Stamp Act and lit the spark of colonial independence.
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John Adams
Explore the life and legacy of John Adams, second President of the United States, and learn how he journeyed from the courtrooms of Boston to the highest office in the land.
Wonderscape
Tituba’s Confession: The Turning Point in the Salem Witch Trials
This video explores the pivotal role of Tituba's confession in the Salem Witch Trials. Learn how pressure from Reverend Samuel Parris and fear of punishment led to Tituba's detailed accounts of witchcraft, which fueled the hysteria in...
Wonderscape
Tituba: The Enigmatic Figure Behind the Salem Witch Trials
This video explores the mysterious background of Tituba, the first woman accused in the Salem Witch Trials. Learn about her origins, her life as an enslaved woman, her connection to Reverend Samuel Parris’s family, and the events that...