TED-Ed
TED-Ed: History vs. Thomas Jefferson | Frank Cogliano
Thomas Jefferson, founding father of the United States and primary author of the Declaration of Independence, was part of America's fight for freedom and equality. But in his personal life, he held over 600 people in slavery. Are his...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: The exceptional life of Benjamin Banneker - Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua
Born in 1731 to freed slaves on a farm in Baltimore, Benjamin Banneker was obsessed with math and science. And his appetite for knowledge only grew as he taught himself astronomy, mathematics, engineering, and the study of the natural...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: Why are sloths so slow? - Kenny Coogan
Sloths spend most of their time eating, resting, or sleeping; in fact, they descend from their treetops canopies just once a week, for a bathroom break. How are these creatures so low energy? Kenny Coogan describes the physical and...
Be Smart
Thomas Jefferson and The Giant Moose
America's first great science battle wasn't the space race or the atom bomb, it was fought between Thomas Jefferson, a French nobleman, and in the middle a giant moose. Some people call Jefferson our only scientist-President, and T.J....
TED Talks
Marc Pachter: The art of the interview
Marc Pachter has conducted live interviews with some of the most intriguing characters in recent American history as part of a remarkable series created for the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. He reveals the secret to a great...
Crash Course
Thomas Jefferson & His Democracy Crash Course US History
In which John Green teaches you about founding father and third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson is a somewhat controversial figure in American history, largely because he, like pretty much all humans, was a...
TED-Ed
TED-ED: What you might not know about the Declaration of Independence - Kenneth C. Davis
In June 1776, a little over a year after the start of the American Revolutionary War, the US Continental Congress huddled together in a hot room in Philadelphia to talk independence. Kenneth C. Davis dives into some of the lesser known...
Crash Course
Judicial Review: Crash Course Government and Politics
Today, Craig Benzine is going to tell you about the Supreme Court's most important case, Marbury v. Madison, and how the court granted itself the power of judicial review. Judicial review is the power to examine and invalidate actions of...
Crash Course
Who Won the American Revolution Crash Course US History
In which John Green teaches you about the American Revolution. And the Revolutionary War. I know we've labored the point here, but they weren't the same thing. In any case, John will teach you about the major battles of the war, and...
Curated Video
Landmarks - Mount Rushmore
MOUNT RUSHMORE MOUNT RUSHMORE IN SOUTH DAKOTA IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATES' MOST FAMOUS MOUNTAINS, AND TO MANY IT S THE COUNTRY S MOST PRECIOUS. CARVED INTO THE ROCK ARE THE FACES OF FOUR U.S. PRESIDENTS: GEORGE WASHINGTON, THOMAS...
Bedtime History
Jefferson Davis For Kids
Learn about Jefferson Davis, the politician who became the controversial President of the Confederate States during the American Civil War.
Bedtime History
History of Mount Rushmore for Kids | Bedtime History
Learn about the ambitious and creative sculptor, Gutzon Borglum, and his son Lincoln, who managed the creation of the Mount Rushmore statues.
Wonderscape
How the Louisiana Purchase Was Negotiated
This video outlines the negotiations behind the Louisiana Purchase, focusing on James Monroe and Robert Livingston's efforts in Paris. It explains their surprise at Napoleon Bonaparte's offer to sell the entire Louisiana Territory for...
Wonderscape
The Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson’s Quest for New Orleans
This video explores the events leading up to the Louisiana Purchase and President Thomas Jefferson's concerns about New Orleans in the early 1800s. It covers Jefferson's efforts to secure access to the Mississippi River for American...
Weird History
Why Don't Americans Use the Metric System?
If you grew up in the United States, you probably learned the United States Customary System (USCS) for weights and measures. USCS terms like inches, feet, pounds, and miles are derived from the British Imperial System, steeped in a long...
Wonderscape
Understanding the 12th Amendment and the Electoral College
Delve into the history and mechanics of the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, focusing on its pivotal role in shaping the presidential election process through the establishment of the Electoral College. Explore how the amendment...
Curated Video
The Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle, symbolizing strength and freedom, reflects the spirit of the United States. Chosen as the country’s national bird in 1782, this powerful animal is unique to North America.
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 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.
PBS
Are you 'Black' or 'African American?'
Throughout American history people of the African Diaspora have been called so many things...all the things...but what does it truly mean, and how does it impact or affect the way we see ourselves.
Wonderscape
Exploring Anaphora: The Power of Repetition in Writing
This video focuses on anaphora, a literary technique involving the repetition of words or phrases at the start of successive clauses. It highlights its emotional impact, with examples from "A Tale of Two Cities," the Declaration of...
Curated Video
The History of Mac and Cheese
Weird History Food is serving you a big cheesy bowl of the history of Mac and Cheese. Macaroni and cheese goes back in history well beyond the Kraft Mac & Cheese that every kid in America grew up eating. From the 14th Century on, we'll...
Weird History
The Rivalry Between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton
The first—and perhaps the most important—political rivalry in U.S. history was between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. The two Founding Fathers clashed over political differences, each trying to sway President George Washington...