Election Day, the first Tuesday after November 1, is the focus of a short PBS video that details why that date was chosen, where ballots can be cast, and why it's important to vote.

The election of Barack Obama in 2008 was a watershed moment in African American and American history. Using clips from the acceptance and concession speeches, as well as the words of outgoing president, George H. W. Bush, budding...

Is Inauguration Day always on January 20th? Do incoming presidents always take the oath of office on a Bible? Learn the answers to these questions and more with an informative and entertaining video about Inauguration Day.

Most Americans expect to wake up the morning after a presidential election knowing who won. That didn't happen during the 2000 election between Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore. The Supreme Court had to weigh in on a messy...

One of the checks and balances built into the United States Constitution, is the president's ability to call a special session of Congress. A bell ringer, designed to stir interest in this check that president has on the legislative...

Why do Americans vote on Tuesdays? As your class will learn from this video, this specific voting day in United States presidential elections stems from no substantial historical origin. Instead, speaker Jacob Soboroff brings attention...

What is free speech? And does it apply to corporations looking to support federal campaigns? As decided in the controversial Citizens United ruling, the Supreme Court determined that corporations have the same rights as people and can...

The history behind the Iranian Revolution and hostage crisis is long and complicated. The hostage crisis directly affected a presidential election, and it played into Cold War fears of a global crisis. Using video clips of an historian...

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a principled man who valued common sense, decency, and national security, and who made these values the cornerstones of his eight years in office. Middle and high schoolers watch as the 33rd president...

A lesson on presidential inaugurations would not be complete without President Ronald Reagan's optimistic assessment of the democratic election system. Addressing the nation on the day of his first inaugural address, January 20, 1981,...

Though President Franklin Delano Roosevelt led the United States for a record-breaking four terms, he began his administration with a single day of pomp, circumstance, and inspiring words. Young historians watch and listen to footage of...

Soon after the world entered the 21st century, George Walker Bush was sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States. With days of inspiration, terrorism, and cooperation ahead of him, President Bush addresses the country with a...

Rocked by the sudden assassination of their beloved President John F. Kennedy, the American people elected Lyndon B. Johnson to be the 36th president of the United States. President Johnson addresses his fellow citizens from...

The United States Electoral College can be a confusing concept for young learners at first glance; however, this instructional video will help clear up that confusion with a clear explanation of how electors are allocated and the...

Discover how Thomas Jefferson's vision for a smaller and limited government motivated major events in United States history, such as the Louisiana Purchase and the embargo of 1807. While the video is packed with information, it does...

Clarify the history and conditions of modern-day Africa with a video by Crash Course World History. As high schoolers learn about Joseph-Desire Mobutu, the Rwandan Genocide, and the first democratic election in the Democratic Republic of...

You've always wanted to know why ytterbium is called ytterbium, haven't you? An engaging video investigates the discovery of elements throughout history. It posits the theory that we are close to having discovered all the elements.

Big Bird learns how people vote on Election Day.

A video illustrates how one candidate from each political party is chosen leading up to Election Day. Nominations, caucuses, delegates, and super-delegates are all identified in the clip.

A fantastic explanation of the Electoral College and how it functions. What really happens at the polls during Election Day? What occurs if the vote in the Electoral College does not reflect the popular vote? How do candidates spend...

Explains how the Electoral College system is structured and how it works in an election, including for the American territories and for citizens living abroad. [4:43]

Explains how the Civil War began when Fort Sumter was attacked on April 12, 1861. [1:00]

Two days after Hillary Clinton secured enough delegates to be the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party, President Obama endorsed Clinton on Thursday in a video. The two will campaign together next week in Wisconsin."I want to...

This video discusses the basic ideas behind the U.S. electoral process. It follows the chronological steps from voting to election day, focusing on each state's role.