PBS
Founding Fathers (July 5, 2004)
Ray Suarez speaks with three historians, Richard Brookhiser, Ron Chernow and Jan Lewis, about what the founding fathers might have thought of America today.
Crash Course
Reconstruction Crash Course Black American History
At the end of the Civil War, the United States was still a very divided place. 700,000 people had died in a bitter fight over slavery. Reconstruction was the political process meant to bring the country back together. It was also the...
Crash Course
Constitutional Compromises: Crash Course Government and Politics
In which Craig Benzine teaches you about the compromises met in ratifying the U.S. Constitution. The United State’s didn’t always have its current system of government. Actually, this is it’s second attempt. Craig will delve into the...
Curated Video
Constitutional Convention for Kids
In the summer of 1787, some of the greatest minds in American history gathered in Philadelphia to create a new framework for government. The Constitutional Convention was filled with fierce debates, high-stakes compromises, and visionary...
Makematic
Constitutional Convention
From the Albany Congress to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, this timeline explores the critical events that shaped the creation of the United States Constitution.
Makematic
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation created the United States' first government. This foundational document paved the way for the development of a more unified and powerful federal system, under the U.S. Constitution.
Makematic
Who Was James Madison?
James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution”. In this video for US students grades 3-5, we learn about Madison’s remarkable life, career and legacy.
Makematic
Constitutional Foundations: Part One
In 1787, the Framers met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead crafted a new constitution, drawing on principles from ancient civilizations.
Makematic
Constitutional Compromise
In 1787, the United States government began a series of critical compromises that led to the creation of the U.S. Constitution, but also ensured African American enslavement for generations to come.
Makematic
The Early Legislative Branch
Established in 1787, the U.S. Congress created its constitutional foundation and developed legislative processes to enact laws that reflect America's evolving needs.
Makematic
Shays' Rebellion
In the summer of 1786, the first major armed uprising in the newly formed United States began. Shays' Rebellion was a conflict over debt and taxes that would shake the foundations of the U.S. government.
Makematic
James Madison's Legacy
James Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution” – but he was so much more than that. As author of the Virginia Plan and the Bill of Rights, his political genius proved vital in the founding of our nation.
Makematic
Constitutional Foundations: Part Two
The U.S. Constitution transformed Enlightenment ideas about government, power, and rights into the laws that shaped the foundation of the United States for generations.
Makematic
Framers of the Constitution
In 1787, during the Constitutional Convention, 55 men were in attendance as the U.S. Constitution was created. But who were they, what values did they share and what factors influenced the decisions they made?
Wonderscape
The Role and History of the Electoral College
Learn how the Electoral College works, where electors cast their votes based on the popular vote of their state. Discover how the 1787 Constitutional Convention created the system as a compromise, allowing both large and small states to...
Wonderscape
Understanding the Role of US State Governments
Explore the significance of state governments in shaping daily life and enacting laws that affect citizens. Learn about the historical context of state powers, from the Constitutional Convention to the adoption of the Bill of Rights....
Wonderscape
The Foundational Presidency of George Washington
Dive into George Washington's presidency, highlighting his involvement in the Constitutional Convention, his unanimous election, and his precedent-setting actions as the first President of the United States. Learn about his contributions...
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.
Wonderscape
Benjamin Franklin: Final Years and Lasting Legacy
The video chronicles Benjamin Franklin's contributions in his later years, particularly at the Constitutional Convention, where he played a key role in shaping the U.S. Constitution. It discusses his iconic 'Rising Sun' speech and his...
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
Amending the Constitution
The U.S. Constitution has been amended 27 times in its history, but what did they change, and how?
Hip Hughes History
The Constitutional Convention in Ten Minutes (The First HHH Lecture)
Aimed at the heart of the NY state regents exams. Early Federal Government concepts.
Hip Hughes History
George Washington "O.G."
Learn the basics about America's first original gangster, George Washington. What did he like to do in his spare time, were his teeth really wooden, and most importantly what actions did he take to help create the foundations of our...
Hip Hughes History
The Liberty Amendments Explained: Article V Convention of States
A look at the Constitutional process of starting a Constitutional Convention by the states. And an straight forward focus on Mark Levin's proposed "Liberty Amendments" and the Convention of States pushing for a Constitutional Convention.