Instructional Video4:24
Wonderscape

The 13th Amendment: Ending Slavery in the U.S.

K - 5th
Explore the profound impact of the 13th Amendment on American society and its key role in shaping the nation's history. The 13th Amendment, pivotal among the Reconstruction Amendments, marks the abolition of slavery in the United States....
Instructional Video6:36
Wonderscape

The Sixteenth Amendment: A Milestone in American Taxation

K - 5th
Explore the history and significance of the Sixteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which granted Congress the power to levy income taxes. Learn about the context of its creation, its implications for government revenue,...
Instructional Video2:37
Wonderscape

Understanding the Judicial Branch in US State Government

K - 5th
Delve into the powers and responsibilities of the judicial branch in state government, including the role of the state supreme court and lower courts. Learn how the judiciary interprets laws and ensures they align with the state...
Instructional Video2:28
Wonderscape

Understanding US State Government Structure

K - 5th
Gain insight into the structure of state governments, including their resemblance to the federal system and the roles of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Learn about the significance of state constitutions in organizing...
Instructional Video4:45
Wonderscape

Understanding the Role of US State Governments

K - 5th
Explore the significance of state governments in shaping daily life and enacting laws that affect citizens. Learn about the historical context of state powers, from the Constitutional Convention to the adoption of the Bill of Rights....
Instructional Video4:20
Wonderscape

Understanding the Twentieth Amendment: The "Lame Duck" Amendment

K - 5th
Explore the significance of the Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1933. Also known as the "Lame Duck" Amendment, it addresses the transition of power between elections and inaugurals, setting specific...
Instructional Video4:03
Wonderscape

The Prohibition Era: Understanding the Eighteenth Amendment

K - 5th
Explore the history and impact of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, known as the Prohibition Amendment, which prohibited the manufacturing, transportation, and sale of intoxicating liquors. Learn about the...
Instructional Video4:19
Wonderscape

Understanding the Seventeenth Amendment: Direct Election of Senators

K - 5th
Learn about the Seventeenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1913, which transformed the process of selecting senators to represent states in Congress. Explore the historical context, challenges with the previous...
Instructional Video5:38
Wonderscape

The Foundational Presidency of George Washington

K - 5th
Dive into George Washington's presidency, highlighting his involvement in the Constitutional Convention, his unanimous election, and his precedent-setting actions as the first President of the United States. Learn about his contributions...
Instructional Video10:34
Curated Video

Native American Reservations, Explained.

9th - Higher Ed
How did Native Americans end up on Reservations? We explore the complicated relationship between the Indian Nations and the United States of America. Watch Tai Leclaire breakdown all you need to know about the Reservation system and why...
Instructional Video4:51
Curated Video

Democratic Laws

3rd - 8th
Dr. Forrester reviews how a democratic government works. She discusses why laws are enacted and the process involved in passing a law.
Instructional Video5:43
Curated Video

How the Thirteen Colonies Became Fifty States

3rd - 8th
Dr. Forrester tells the history of the thirteen colonies and how those original colonies became states. She tells the story of Jamestown, the first English settlement in the New World.
Instructional Video4:44
Curated Video

US Citizen

3rd - 8th
Dr. Forrester gives a brief history and overview of the United States Constitution.
Instructional Video2:04
Curated Video

Supreme Court

9th - Higher Ed
Sitting at the pinnacle of the judicial branch of government, the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. Its landmark rulings have had an enduring impact on American life and law.
Instructional Video2:35
Curated Video

Federal and State Powers

9th - Higher Ed
The U.S. Constitution divides power between the federal government and states, granting specific national powers and reserving others to states via the 10th Amendment, with federal laws generally overriding state laws.
Instructional Video2:29
Curated Video

Constitution

9th - Higher Ed
The U.S. Constitution, drafted in 1787, established a strong federal government, outlining legislative, executive, and judicial branches, and remains the nation's supreme governing document.
Instructional Video2:21
Curated Video

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

9th - Higher Ed
The top ranking officer of the US federal judiciary, the Chief Justice presides over the US Supreme Court. But how did the role come into being and what are his or her roles and responsibilities?
Instructional Video2:14
Curated Video

Mapp v. Ohio: Illegal Search and Seizure

9th - Higher Ed
Mapp v. Ohio was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that safeguarded the Fourth Amendment right to privacy after a Cleveland woman was wrongly convicted following an illegal search of her home.
Instructional Video2:36
Curated Video

Marbury v. Madison: What is Judicial Review?

9th - Higher Ed
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...
Instructional Video2:06
Curated Video

What is the English Bill of Rights?

9th - Higher Ed
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.
Instructional Video2:31
Curated Video

Branches of Government

9th - Higher Ed
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?
Instructional Video2:24
Curated Video

What is Common Sense?

9th - Higher Ed
It’s one of the most important documents in US history, but how did Thomas Paine’s 47-page pamphlet, Common Sense, turn the tide of the American Revolutionary War?
Instructional Video2:13
Curated Video

What is the Magna Carta?

9th - Higher Ed
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?
Instructional Video2:11
Curated Video

Who was Benjamin Franklin?

9th - Higher Ed
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.