In 1863 life forever changed for African American slaves when the Emancipation Proclamation was announced. An interesting video clip shows two actors reading excerpts from the Emancipation Proclamation and a letter by a slave named Annie...

Scholars learn about the history of Mount Rushmore, the artist behind the vision, and the preservation of the monument in a series of video clips. The interesting resource also explores how Mount Rushmore impacts tourism and the economy...

A brief video equipped with eye-catching graphics and sound effects explains the ins and outs of the national holiday, Presidents Day. 

While Abraham Lincoln is remembered for the Emancipation Proclamation, the document didn't actually free any peoples. Listening to scholars, learners explore its military purpose and how it helped turn the tide of the Civil War. They...

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...

An eye-catching video details the national holiday, Juneteenth. Find out how and why fellow Americans honor the end of slavery on June 19.

While the end of the Civil War marked the end of slavery with the Thirteenth Amendment, the questions of the Reconstruction remain unanswered today. Slavery first became a matter of debate at the Constitutional Convention. Today, we...

Though not as well known as other battles of the Civil War, the Battle of Franklin resulted in substantial Union gains and enormous Confederate casualties. Learn more about an important battle of 1864 with an animated map video.

The preservation of Civil War era battlefields is an ongoing argument between cities, corporations, and groups like the Civil War Trust. After watching a brief animated analysis of the Battle of Cedar Creek, a video from the Civil War...

After the Battle of Fredericksburg, Major General Ambrose Burnside's heavy losses and strategic defeat seemed to spell the end for the Union. See how the battle unfolded with an animated map resource that demonstrates the way General...

Fort Sumter is a lasting emblem of the duration of the Civil War, and the American flag on its pole is a symbol of the Union's hard-fought victory. A short, informative video takes learners through the military strategies of the battle,...

Ulysses S. Grant, having been elevated to general-in-chief to the Armies of the United States, began the 1864 Overland Campaign that brought the Civil War to northern Virginia. High schoolers watch an informative video...

Many consider the 1862 siege at Vicksburg to be the turning point of the American Civil War. Learn more about the necessity of Vicksburg for both the Confederacy and the Union — and the importance of its conquest on July 4, 1862 —...

The four years of the Civil War resulted in 620,000 American deaths, which was 2% of the population in 1865 — the equivalent of which would be 6.5 million people in 2016. If you're interested in the Civil War and have 27 minutes to...

President Abraham Lincoln may not be the first name that comes up when discussing scientific advancement in the last two centuries, but Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson believes that Lincoln's efforts during the Civil War...

What qualities made Abraham Lincoln a successful president? Invite young historians to learn about the personal and political background of one of the greatest presidents in United States history. 

"History can teach us much more than just the facts. It's full of examples of how to live better." One of the greatest benefits of studying history is the inspiration we can draw from those who have worked to make a difference in the...

A quiet, serene town in Pennsylvania became the setting for an integral battle in the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg, Lee's second invasion of the North, failed to secure ground for the Confederacy. This video, part two in a series,...

What caused the American Civil War? Who were the major figures during this time? Focusing specifically on slavery and the attack on Fort Sumter, this resource provides a quick overview of some of the conflicts faced at this time.

It's April 3, 1865, and Robert E. Lee's troops are all but surrounded. After four years of fighting, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant sit down together to discuss terms of surrender. This resource, part three of three, glances over the...

"A house divided against itself cannot stand," Abraham Lincoln famously said. This video series is aged and the sound cracks occasionally, but it does provide accurate information and visual imagery. This is part one of three.

The American Civil War tore the country in two. What made tension grow between the North and the South? How did the war finally begin? What artillery was used? Answer some of these basic questions using this resource. Consider choosing a...

In what ways did the Civil War challenge traditional religious beliefs? Video segment examines the slaughter of the Civil War and the toll it took on Lincoln. [6:32]

Historians examine Lincoln's early views on slavery at the outbreak of the Civil War. [2:49]