Wonderscape
Benjamin Franklin: A Founding Father's Influence and Legacy
This video revisits the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin, highlighting his early beginnings, values, and significant contributions as a writer, printer, inventor, and Founding Father. It contrasts Franklin's influence with...
Wonderscape
The Third Amendment of the U.S. Constitution Explained
Discover the origins and significance of the Third Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which addresses the quartering of soldiers in private homes. Understand how this amendment was a reaction to the British Quartering Acts during the...
Wonderscape
Understanding the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
Delve into the Second Amendment, which grants citizens the right to bear arms. Understand the historical context that influenced the Founding Fathers to include this right, reflecting on the colonial era's militia system and the measures...
Wonderscape
The Bill of Rights and the First Amendment Explained
Explore the significance of the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment in American history. Understand why these amendments were necessary for protecting individual freedoms and limiting government power. Learn about the rights enshrined...
Curated Video
The Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury, inspired by its first secretary, Alexander Hamilton, is responsible for managing the production of money and maintaining the crucial systems underpinning the financial infrastructure of the United States.
Curated Video
What Caused the War of 1812?
The War of 1812 was a major conflict between the United States and Great Britain for control of the Northern Frontier. Often described as the second war of independence, in reality it was caused in large part by the ineffective foreign...
Curated Video
The Treaty of Ghent
After almost three years of bitter conflict, the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain came to an end with the ratification of the Treaty of Ghent, but was the war a waste of time and resources?
Curated Video
The Burning of Washington
During the War of 1812, British forces stormed into Washington, D.C. and set fire to the White House and other federal buildings. Rather than dent U.S. morale, the sacking of Washington served to galvanize the population against the...
Curated Video
The Battle of Fort McHenry
The War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain ultimately ended in stalemate, but in the aftermath of one U.S. victory, a poem was penned that would become the new nation’s national anthem.
Curated Video
Congressional Investigations
Congressional Investigations have uncovered some serious wrongdoing over the past 200 years. But where does Congress get the power to conduct investigations and how has it used that power throughout U.S. history?
Curated Video
Caretakers and Confidants: Presidential Valets
Presidential valets have been a mainstay at the White House since its earliest days. They not only perform vital tasks for the President, but act as confidantes and companions in the most trying of circumstances.
Curated Video
State Constitutions
"State Constitutions" shows the importance of a state constitution and how it works in conjunction with its national counterpart by breaking down the key branches.
Curated Video
What is the 4th of July?
Independence Day takes place every year on the 4th of July. It celebrates the day that the Founders of the United States declared their independence from Great Britain.
Curated Video
Marbury v. Madison: What is Judicial Review?
The U.S. Supreme Court decides if laws made in the United States violate the Constitution or not. It’s called judicial review and it’s a power that was granted to the Supreme Court by the Supreme Court itself – thanks to a landmark case...
Curated Video
What is the English Bill of Rights?
The English Bill of Rights curbed the power and influence of the English monarchy and gave more power to their subjects. It’s the basis for the rights and freedoms we enjoy today.
Curated Video
What is the Magna Carta?
It was written over 1,000 years ago, and commissioned by an English King – so what makes the Magna Carta one of the most important documents in US history?
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What are Unalienable Rights?
What are unalienable rights and why are they so important? In this video, we explore why Thomas Jefferson included them for the first time in the Declaration of Independence.
Curated Video
Why did the Colonies Declare Independence?
In the late 1770s, U.S. patriots banded together to declare independence from Great Britain. But why did they want their independence and what kind of country did they want the United States to be?
Curated Video
Branches of Government
The federal government of the United States of America is split into three separate and distinct branches. But what do the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary do and why are they necessary?
Curated Video
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
Benjamin Franklin wasn't just a founder of the United States, he was also a writer, inventor, scientist, statesman, and a huge celebrity in the thirteen colonies.
Curated Video
Mottos and Symbols
A motto is a saying that stands for what a person, an organization or a country believes in. The United States of America has had two mottos. Let’s learn what they are and what they mean.
Curated Video
What is the Mayflower Compact?
A short agreement by the Pilgrims and other colonists on board the Mayflower set in motion a system of government that inspired our country’s founding documents.
Curated Video
Who was George Washington?
The story of George Washington’s life and legacy as father of our country.
Curated Video
The Birth of American Democracy
We’re often taught that it was the ancient Greeks who invented our democracy. What they didn't mention is the group of Native Americans who helped showed us the way.