Instructional Video2:30
Makematic

Plessy v. Ferguson

K - 8th
In 1892, Homer Plessy's arrest for sitting in a train car reserved for White passengers led to a Supreme Court decision that endorsed racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.
Instructional Video2:33
Makematic

The 14th Amendment

K - 8th
The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, redefined American liberty by ensuring citizenship rights, due process, and equal protection under the law, marking a pivotal shift during Reconstruction.
Instructional Video2:25
Makematic

The Civil Rights Act of 1875

K - 8th
The Civil Rights Act of 1875 aimed to protect the rights of African Americans, but was struck down in 1883, paving the way for racial segregation across the South.
Instructional Video2:17
Makematic

Dred Scott v. Sandford

K - 8th
Dred Scott's fight for freedom led to a Supreme Court decision that denied citizenship to Black Americans, fuelling tensions that contributed to the Civil War.
Instructional Video2:35
Makematic

The Fugitive Slave Act

K - 8th
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 gave the federal government new powers to capture and return escaped enslaved people, but its failures intensified divisions between Northern and Southern states.
Instructional Video3:59
Wonderscape

The Early History of the U.S. Supreme Court

K - 5th
This video explores the creation and development of the U.S. Supreme Court, from its establishment in 1787 to the Judiciary Act of 1869, which set the number of justices at nine. Learn about the court's early challenges, its evolving...
Instructional Video2:04
Curated Video

Supreme Court

9th - Higher Ed
Sitting at the pinnacle of the judicial branch of government, the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. Its landmark rulings have had an enduring impact on American life and law.
Instructional Video2:22
Curated Video

Voting Rights Act of 1965

9th - Higher Ed
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.
Instructional Video2:27
Curated Video

The Pentagon Papers: Explained

9th - Higher Ed
The Pentagon Papers revealed how the U.S. government had lied to the public about its involvement in the Vietnam War. Leaked by the New York Times, this opened the door for future whistleblowers to expose the truth.
Instructional Video2:32
Curated Video

Susan Clark Holley: Breaking Barriers in Education

9th - Higher Ed
Facing racial barriers in 19th-century Iowa, Susan Clark Holley’s legal battle pioneered school desegregation, laying early groundwork for the monumental Brown v. Board of Education case.
Instructional Video2:23
Curated Video

Social Security

9th - Higher Ed
When times get tough, Social Security provides a vital financial lifeline for U.S. citizens in need. But how did this revolutionary legislation come into being and what benefits does it provide?
Instructional Video2:18
Curated Video

Rule of Law

9th - Higher Ed
U.S. Citizens are required to follow the rule of law, a practice that was tested by former president Richard Nixon.
Instructional Video2:22
Curated Video

Integrity: Schechter Brothers

9th - Higher Ed
In the 1930s, Jewish butchers the Schechter brothers showed integrity when they fought what they felt were unjust regulations, in order to uphold their faith and customer trust.
Instructional Video2:35
Curated Video

Injustice: Roger Taney

9th - Higher Ed
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney's unjust majority opinion in Dred Scott v. Sandford shockingly declared Black individuals weren't citizens, solidifying slavery's grip and pushing the nation closer to Civil War.
Instructional Video2:39
Curated Video

Courage: Elizabeth Eckford

9th - Higher Ed
Elizabeth Eckford's lone walk to Little Rock High School, amid fierce protests, became a symbol of courage in the fight against racial segregation.
Instructional Video0:29
The March of Time

MOT 1951: Supreme Court Justice William O Douglas

12th - Higher Ed
WS US Supreme Court. Article 'Justice Douglas on Iran' Supreme Court Justice William O Douglas (1898-1980) SOT saying oil crisis result of breaking colonialism no one can stop it but we must guide it along democratic lines.
Instructional Video4:26
Encyclopaedia Britannica

EB Insights: Supreme Court

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Learn more about the U.S. Supreme Court, including how a new justice is seated.
Instructional Video3:26
Encyclopaedia Britannica

Did You Know? The Dred Scott Decision

Pre-K - Higher Ed
Learn more about the Dred Scott decision and why it is considered the worst U.S. Supreme Court ruling in history.
Instructional Video19:59
Wonderscape

History Kids: All About the Supreme Court

K - 5th
This video provides an overview of the Supreme Court, its history, role, and powers. It explains how the Supreme Court ensures that laws are constitutional and examines the process for filling vacancies on the Court. The video also...
Instructional Video
National Cable Satellite Corporation

C Span: The Supreme Court: Home to America's Highest Court, 2009 Edition

9th - 10th
An unprecedented look at the traditions and history of the home to America's highest court. [01:27:35]
Instructional Video
National Cable Satellite Corporation

C Span: America and the Courts

9th - 10th
This is a collection of videos from C-SPAN's series American Courts. They include discussions by many of past and present Supreme Court Justices. Includes a clip from an interview with Justice Scalia concerning his portrait which would...
Instructional Video
Other

Our Courts: Judicial Branch

9th - 10th
The judicial branch of government is explained at the federal and state levels, as well as what happens at each court level within these. The video makes it come alive for students.
Instructional Video
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Stare Decisis and Precedent in the Supreme Court

9th - 10th
This video lesson from Khan Academy discusses stare decisis and precedent in the Supreme Court. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the AP Government...
Instructional Video
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Restraint

9th - 10th
This video lesson from Khan Academy uses Baker v. Carr to discuss judicial activism versus judicial restraint. This lesson is intended for students taking high school or college level American Government and Civics courses, including the...