Curated Video
Lessons from the Past
Josia Ober, classicist and political scientist at Stanford Universtiy, talks about existing democracies with elite capture on the one hand and economic inequality turning into political inequality on the other hand and how we can use the...
Curated Video
Native American Reservations, Explained.
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...
Professor Dave Explains
Analytic Philosophy Part 1: Dewey, Russell, and Whitehead
Pivoting from the continental tradition, let's introduce the analytic tradition that also emerged at the beginning of contemporary philosophy. This involved figures such as John Dewey, Bertrand Russell, and Alfred Whitehead. What were...
Curated Video
Democratic Laws
Dr. Forrester reviews how a democratic government works. She discusses why laws are enacted and the process involved in passing a law.
Curated Video
William Penn
Dr. Forrester tells story of William Penn, the father of the city of Philadelphia and the founder of the state of Pennsylvania.
Curated Video
What is the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty is more than just a statue – it’s a collection of powerful symbols that represent the United States, its history and the ideals that it holds dear.
Curated Video
Protests at the White House
There is a rich history of protests and demonstrations at the White House and Lafayette Park, from the suffragists' silent pickets to a peace vigil that has spanned across decades.
Curated Video
Native Americans
Tracing the journey of Native Americans, this overview delves into their cultures, encounters with European settlers, enduring struggles, and ongoing efforts for rights and recognition.
Curated Video
Voting Rights Act of 1965
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 tackled voter suppression in the United States. While it significantly increased the registration of Black voters, it was not without controversy.
Curated Video
Constitution
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.
Curated Video
What is The Liberty Bell?
From its creation in 1701 to its role in American independence and beyond, the Liberty Bell embodies the United States’ enduring values of liberty, equality, democracy, and freedom for all.
Curated Video
What is the U.S. Flag?
Tracing its evolution from the Grand Union Flag to today's 50-star design, the U.S. flag represents the nation's journey, embodying values of liberty, equality, democracy, and freedom for all.
Curated Video
Speaker of the House
As the head of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House is one of the most important roles in the United States government.
Brainwaves Video Anthology
Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider - The Education Wars: A Citizen's Guide and Defense Manual
"The Education Wars: A Citizen's Guide and Defense Manual," authored by Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider, delves into the contentious nature of public education debates in the United States. The book aims to explain why there has...
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 the Different Forms of Government?
Every country on Earth is run by some form of government – but there are many different kinds, from autocracies and oligarchies to direct and representative democracies.
Curated Video
Who Founded the Republican Party?
In the United States’ two-party system, the Republican Party competes with the Democratic Party for political power. But when was it formed and how has it changed over the years?
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
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
Korematsu v. United States: Was Internment Legal?
Korematsu v. United States was a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision made in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It established that the U.S. government could intern Japanese Americans during WWII as a result of Executive...
Curated Video
What is Common Sense?
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?
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?
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.