Curated Video
U.S. Army confirms Arlington cemetery worker 'pushed aside' by Trump staff
The U.S. Army has confirmed claims that a member of Donald Trump's campaign 'pushed aside' a worker at Arlington National Cemetery who attempted to enforce rules against political activities there.
Curated Video
Abraham Lincoln's Childhood & Rise to the Presidency for Kids
Discover how Abraham Lincoln rose from humble beginnings to become the 16th President of the United States. This video explores Lincoln’s early life, his work as a lawyer in Illinois, and his growing passion for politics. Learn about his...
Makematic
Secession and Confederacy
In 1860, tensions over slavery pushed the United States to the brink of collapse, leading to secession of 11 states and the creation of the Confederacy.
Makematic
The Election of 1860
The 1860 presidential election, pivotal in U.S. history, catapulted Abraham Lincoln to power, intensified national divisions over slavery, and led directly to the Civil War.
Makematic
Bleeding Kansas
In the 1850s, the newly established territory of Kansas descended into chaos – as pro and anti-slavery activists attempted to influence its admittance to the Union. Bleeding Kansas was a precursor to the Civil War.
Wonderscape
Robert Smalls: A Legacy of Leadership and Advocacy
Explore the post-war achievements of Robert Smalls, from serving the Freedmen's Bureau to shaping political change during Reconstruction. Learn about his contributions to public transportation integration, his role in founding the South...
Wonderscape
The Presidential Election Process: Caucuses and Primaries
Discover how presidential candidates campaign to win the support of their political party in caucuses and primary elections. Learn how the candidates are narrowed down to one from each of the two major political parties—Democratic and...
Wonderscape
The Election of 1860 and the Start of the Civil War
This video discusses the election of 1860, which resulted in Abraham Lincoln's victory and the secession of Southern states from the Union. It highlights the growing tensions over slavery and the events that led to the start of the Civil...
Brainwaves Video Anthology
Tim Alberta - American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump
Tim Alberta, a staff writer for The Atlantic magazine and author of "American Carnage," discusses the transformation of the Republican Party during the transition from George W. Bush to Donald Trump. He highlights how various societal,...
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
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
Who Founded the Democratic Party?
It’s the oldest political party in the United States, but how was the Democratic Party formed and what contributions has it made to U.S. society since?
Curated Video
Gerald Ford: The Unelected President
Gerald Ford holds a unique place in the history of U.S. politics – as the only American to hold the office of Vice President and President without ever winning a national election. Who was he, and what was his presidency like?
Curated Video
Who was Deep Throat?
Codenamed Deep Throat, FBI chief William Mark Felt, Sr., displayed immense courage to expose abuses of power at the heart of government during the infamous Watergate investigation.
Curated Video
The Federal Election Commission
How do you know that the politicians you vote for will represent your interests in office – and not those of powerful corporations? Well, there’s a law for that, and an independent regulatory agency: the Federal Election Commission.
Curated Video
Election of 1948: The Underdog
The suspenseful 1948 presidential election exposed the consequences of flawed polls, as Truman's astonishing victory upended expectations and forever changed how pollsters make predictions.
Curated Video
Election of 1912: Third Party
In 1912, Theodore Roosevelt's bold creation of a new political party, the Bull Moose Party, challenged rivals Taft and Wilson, forever altering the political landscape of the United States.
Curated Video
Election of 1876: Testing the Constitution
The Presidential Election of 1876 was considered a foregone conclusion, with Democrat Samuel J. Tilden sure to defeat Republican Rutherford B. Hayes, but disputed Southern electoral votes led to an outcome that nobody predicted.
Curated Video
Election of 1860: A Nation, Torn
The Presidential Election of 1860 proved the most divisive in U.S. history, with the election of Abraham Lincoln triggering the secession of Southern states. But how did it play out at the polls?
Mr. Beat
Why did the American Political Parties Switch?
Mr. Beat finally tackles the complicated story of the Southern Strategy and the Party Switch...aka The Big Switch...aka The Big Lie. Wait, the Big Lie? Some people think it's made up? Really?
Mr. Beat
The American Urban/Rural Political Divide
Mr. Beat explains why rural voters tend to lean more to the right politically and why urban voters tend to lean more to the left politically.
Mr. Beat
The Terrible President Who Saved Millions of Lives
Mr. Beat tells the story of Herbert Hoover, a horrible President partially blamed for the Great Depression, but also a really great guy who was directly responsible for feeding millions of people.
Brainwaves Video Anthology
Nancy MacLean -Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America
Nancy MacLean is an award-winning scholar of the twentieth-century U.S., whose most recent book, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America, has been described by Publishers Weekly as “a...
Curated Video
The Unusual Presidency of William Taft
One-term Presidents are often overlooked – but what makes William Taft’s time in office memorable is the fact that it was defined by a series of unusual firsts.