TED Talks
Douglas Rushkoff: How to be "Team Human" in the digital future
Humans are no longer valued for our creativity, says media theorist Douglas Rushkoff -- in a world dominated by digital technology, we're now just valued for our data. In a passionate talk, Rushkoff urges us to stop using technology to...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: The dark history of Mount Rushmore | Ned Blackhawk and Jeffrey D. Means
Between 1927 and 1941, workers blasted 450,000 tons of rock from a mountainside using chisels, jackhammers, and dynamite. Gradually, they carved out Mount Rushmore. Today, the monument draws nearly 3 million people to South Dakota's...
TED Talks
Adam Davidson: What we learned from teetering on the fiscal cliff
At the end of 2012, the US political system was headed for the "fiscal cliff" -- a budget impasse that could only be solved with bipartisan agreement. Adam Davidson, cohost of "Planet Money," shares surprising data on how bipartisan we...
TED Talks
TED: How urban spaces can preserve history and build community | Walter Hood
Can public spaces both reclaim the past and embrace the future? Landscape architect Walter Hood has explored this question over the course of an iconic career, with projects ranging from Lafayette Square Park in San Francisco to the...
TED Talks
TED: How I'm discovering the secrets of ancient texts | Gregory Heyworth
Gregory Heyworth is a textual scientist; he and his lab work on new ways to read ancient manuscripts and maps using spectral imaging technology. In this fascinating talk, watch as Heyworth shines a light on lost history, deciphering...
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...
Crash Course
Where US Politics Came From Crash Course US History
In which John Green teaches you where American politicians come from. In the beginning, soon after the US constitution was adopted, politics were pretty non-existent. George Washington was elected president with no opposition, everything...
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
Biology Before Darwin: Crash Course History of Science
You’ve probably heard of Charles Darwin, but before we get to him, you really need to understand how different people, throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, tried to answer the same question: “what is life?”
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...
Bedtime History
Alexander Hamilton for Kids | Bedtime History
Learn about the Founding Father who fought in the American Revolution and as the Secretary of the Treasury helped put the United States on a strong financial foundation.
Wonderscape
The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Exploring the Unknown
This video follows the Lewis and Clark Expedition, initiated by President Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase. The mission aimed to explore the new territory, map trade routes, document plant and animal species, and build...
Wonderscape
Jefferson’s Dilemma: Reacting to the Louisiana Purchase
This video explores President Thomas Jefferson's reaction to the Louisiana Purchase, from his initial excitement over doubling the size of the United States to his concerns about constitutional authority. It details how Jefferson...
Wonderscape
The Causes of the War of 1812: Trade Disputes and Impressment
This video explores the key causes of the War of 1812, including British impressment of American sailors and conflicts over trade between the United States, Britain, and France. Learn about the Embargo Act, the Non-Intercourse Act, and...
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...
Curated Video
Every Style of French Fry Cut We Could Find
Weird History Food is serving you every hot style of French Fry cut out there that we could find. When you think about it, you might know Shoestring, Steak, or even Curly, but we will show you the 18 cuts you can do with a French Fry....
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
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore, carved into South Dakota's Black Hills, features Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. It symbolizes pivotal moments in American history and leadership.
Curated Video
Building The White House
The White House stands as a symbol of freedom, but the story behind its construction reveals some important contradictions.
Curated Video
Presidential Transportation
U.S. Presidential transportation has evolved over time, from George Washington's horse-drawn carriage to the modern "Air Force One" and "The Beast."
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
Charles Willson Peale: Artist of the Revolution
Charles Willson Peale was not just a painter; he was also a soldier, politician, and educator. His life and work offer us a vivid snapshot of Revolutionary America and its heroes.