C-SPAN
On This Day: U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act
In the weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T Act. This law—meant to protect the public—was controversial, as some felt it undermined civil liberties. Using video from President George W. Bush,...
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On This Day: The US Invasion of Grenada
The 1983 invasion of Grenada was one of the first major military actions after the Vietnam War. The invasion took place during the tensions of the Cold War, making the stakes higher than what might be expected. Using President Ronald...
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On This Day: The United Nations Charter
Established after the devastation of World War II, the United Nations was meant to uphold peace among nations—though the idea isn't without its critics. Using newsreel footage from its establishment and videos of politicians from Eleanor...
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On This Day: The British Surrender at Yorktown
Why was the Battle of Yorktown not as decisive in the American Revolution as many people believe? Young scholars consider the question while viewing video clips from historians who discuss the various factors that went into the American...
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On This Day: Cuban Missile Crisis
Just how close was the world to nuclear war in October 1962? Using White House audio tapes recording John F. Kennedy and his advisors, aerial footage, and newsreels, learners decide for themselves. Historians also weigh in on the Cuban...
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On This Day: OPEC Declares Oil Embargo
The memories of gas lines from the OPEC Oil Embargo linger in the memories of many Americans. A series of video clips—including those from experts on the subject of oil importation, Jimmy Carter addressing the country, and Congress...
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On This Day: Battle of the Bulge
The Normandy invasion was the beginning of the end for World War II. Using the series of video clips, pupils explore the role the Battle of the Bulge played in bringing World War II to an end. The interesting resource includes...
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On This Day: North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
While a Republican president envisioned NAFTA—and a Democratic administration enacted it—it does not enjoy universal support. A video resource collection, including clips from presidential speeches by George H.W. Bush to Donald J. Trump,...
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On This Day: Prohibition
Before Prohibition, America was literally awash in alcohol, according to one historian of the topic. When the Eighteenth Amendment was enacted, loopholes allowed Americans workarounds, such as the ability to make up to 250 gallons of...
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On This Day: Cuban Revolution
What was life like after the Cuban Revolution under the government of Fidel Castro? Historians consider the question by examining the firsthand accounts of people living there and old newsreels of the Batista regime ouster. A video from...
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On This Day: Ellis Island Opens
Immigration is a hot topic in the news, but it has been a part of the American story for centuries. Learners explore Ellis Island and its connection to the American immigration story with a video tour of Ellis Island, Congressional...
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On This Day: The Chicago Iroquois Theatre Fire of 1903
When sparks ignited a fire at the Iroquois Theatre in Chicago in 1903, it was one of the greatest public safety tragedies of the twentieth century. Even though the theater did not take basic safety precautions, no one was held...
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On This Day: Apollo 8
Apollo 8—the mission to orbit the moon—changed the trajectory of human history and space travel. A series of videos, including historians, the mission commander, and footage of the mission, allows pupils to watch the mission as it...
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On This Day: Sandy Hook Shooting
What causes someone to commit mass acts of violence? After their daughter was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, the parents of Avielle Richman created a foundation to study the dark corners of neurology to answer that question....
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On This Day: Boston Tea Party
Just how did loyal British citizens decide they would vandalize a shipment of tea coming into Boston Harbor in 1773? Using video clips that show the re-enactment of a debate about the Boston Tea Party and experts analyzing its historical...
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On This Day: The Ratification of The Bill of Rights
The cherished rights included in the first ten amendments to the Constitution almost didn't happen! Pupils tour via video a National Archives exhibit on the Bill of Rights, as well as listen to how a modern judge applies them. Once...
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On This Day: Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a short speech—only about two minutes in length—but its reach has been long. Video segments from a panel of scholars, an historian talking about the printing of the speech, a re-enactment of the speech, and a...
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On This Day: Mayflower Compact
Learners consider how the Mayflower Compact created a sense of order for the new residents of North America. Video clips include a scholar and a re-enactor playing Plymouth Gov. William Bradford, and others include Native American...
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On This Day: Kristallnacht
Krristallnacht—the night of broken glass—shattered lives in a watershed moment in Holocaust history. Learners listen to the testimony of survivors of the violent night that marked a pivotal moment of the early Holocaust. The three video...
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On This Day: Barack Obama Becomes the First African American to Win a Presidential Election
The election of Barack Obama in 2008 was a watershed moment in African American and American history. Using clips from the acceptance and concession speeches, as well as the words of outgoing president, George H. W. Bush, budding...
C-SPAN
On This Day: The Creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection Agency often doesn't register as a critical government function, but the EPA works to protect communities. Using video segments from Scott Pruitt's confirmation hearing, a Barack Obama speech on the agency's...
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On This Day: The Monroe Doctrine
The Monroe Doctrine is one of the longest-lasting presidential policies, and it still impacts foreign policy today. Using three clips from historians and archivists, scholars explore the world of James Monroe and his watershed statement....
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On This Day: Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks is considered a symbol of the American Civil Rights movement—but what about her story? A series of video clips examines her role in the movement, as well as her legacy. Scholars listen to historian Jeanne Theoharis discuss her...
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On This Day: Sand Creek Massacre
The Sand Creek Massacre refers to the killing of hundreds of native peoples at the hands of federal troops. Today, the site is marked as a sacred spot by the National Parks Service. Young people consider the impact of the atrocity and...