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American History (1800s - 1900s)

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Public • 124 clips

This playlist provides clips that illustrate key concepts in American History in the 1800s and 1900s.

Gods and Generals: Lee Refuses Command

3m 56s

american history

Colonel Robert E. Lee is offered the opportunity to lead the Union army and the position of Major General. He respectfully declines because his home, Virginia, is considering a secession from the Union, and he feels he has no greater duty than to serve his home.

Clips

1

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West Side Story: America

The group of women sing about the amazing American life and the opportunities that it offers, whi...

2

The Great American Melting Pot thumbnail

Schoolhouse Rock!: The Great American Melting Pot

This clip explains that the United States was founded and developed by immigrants. It illustrates...

3

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Pearl Harbor: We Are at War

President Franklin Roosevelt and his defense cabinet discuss retaliation plans for the Pearl Harb...

4

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All the President's Men: Freedom of the Press

Two journalists are instructed to write a story on the Watergate scandal and exercise their First...

5

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It's a Wonderful Life: Bank Run

George Bailey gives out loans to the community members in order to hold them over until the bank ...

6

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01:52

Seabiscuit: The Stock Market Crash of 1929

The narrator in the clip explains the impact of the stock market crash on the United States econo...

7

Bathroom Segregation thumbnail

04:01

The Help: Bathroom Segregation

Minnie Jackson, an African-American maid, is the brunt of a dehumanizing conversation by the whit...

8

The Presidents Song thumbnail

03:21

Animaniacs: The Presidents Song

The Warners (Yakko, Wakko, and Dot) sing through all of the U.S. presidents up to Bill Clinton. F...

9

The Oklahoma Land Rush thumbnail

02:59

Far and Away: The Oklahoma Land Rush

The colonists participate in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 with the hope of claiming a piece of ...

10

Infamy Speech thumbnail

01:47

Pearl Harbor: Infamy Speech

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt gives his famous speech to Congress following the Japanese at...

11

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03:00

Frost/Nixon: Watergate Questioning

David Frost interviews President Nixon about the Watergate Scandal and manages to get the truth o...

12

Everyone's Tired thumbnail

03:33

Iron Jawed Angels: Everyone's Tired

Alice Paul takes the women's suffrage movement by storm and is part of a coalition who risk their...

13

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03:01

Schoolhouse Rock!: Sufferin Til Suffrage

Describes how women obtained the right to vote in the United States.

14

Force Feeding thumbnail

03:47

Iron Jawed Angels: Force Feeding

In an effort to demonstrate resistance and prove the women's solidarity, Alice Paul leads the oth...

15

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03:16

All in the Family: I Wanna Sit In My Chair

Maude sits in Archie's chair and won't move, so Archie uses his secret weapon to upset her: talki...

16

Innocent Citizens Hanged thumbnail

02:26

Gangs of New York: Innocent Citizens Hanged

A gang leader has some innocent Irishmen hanged for absurd claims so that he can stop being accus...

17

The Draft Riots thumbnail

02:10

Gangs of New York: The Draft Riots

Vehemently opposed to the New York army draft, working-class men riot in New York City and attack...

18

I'll Be There Speech thumbnail

01:21

The Grapes of Wrath: I'll Be There Speech

Tom Joad explains to his mother the call to action he creates for himself in the context of the d...

19

They're Paying Good Wages thumbnail

03:56

The Grapes of Wrath: They're Paying Good Wages

A crowd of men is intrigued at the opportunity to be paid fair wages as orange pickers in the Wes...

20

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04:21

The Simpsons: Prohibition in Springfield

The town of Springfield starts enforcing prohibition after recent events involving alcohol are de...

21

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01:47

DuckTales (1987): Work Smarter, Not Harder

Scrooge McDuck tells the story of how and why he emigrated to America. His parents believed in th...

22

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02:53

Apollo 13: Houston, We Have a Problem

What seems like smooth-sailing quickly turns into an emergency for the astronauts of Apollo 13. T...

23

They Aren't Letters from the Jackie Robinson Fan Club thumbnail

02:43

42: They Aren't Letters from the Jackie Robinson Fan Club

PeeWee approaches Mr. Rickey to tell him that he received a letter stating that people are not to...

24

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01:12

42: Why Did You Do This?

Jackie Robinson questions Mr. Rickey on his mission. Mr. Rickey states that he loves baseball and...

25

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02:01

Malcolm X: Before Everything, We Were Black

Malcolm X gives a riveting speech in which he reminds his community that, before all else, they a...

26

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01:59

Apollo 13: Landing on the Moon

An astronaut explains to his son how his upcoming moon landing will work (if all goes well). He a...

27

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02:00

Amistad: The Natural State of Mankind

John Quincy Adams argues in favor of the African slaves in the United States v. The Amistad case ...

28

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03:12

12 Years a Slave: It's All Wrong

Bass speaks out against slavery to Edwin Epps, a slave owner. Bass tells Epps that he should be m...

29

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02:33

The Ernest Green Story: Little Rock Crisis

Ernest Green and the rest of the Little Rock Nine attempt to integrate into an all-white school f...

30

Auction Block thumbnail

02:53

Key & Peele: Auction Block

Key & Peele are slaves in an auction. At first, they do not want to be owned by another human...

31

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00:58

Pearl Harbor: War is Inevitable

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto shares Japan's perspective on its impetus for going to war and initiatin...

32

Women in the Factory thumbnail

01:46

Bomb Girls: Women in the Factory

A drama about World War II women at work in a munitions factory.

33

Mutiny on a Slave Ship thumbnail

03:48

Roots (1977): Mutiny on a Slave Ship

As slaves are displaced to their new home by the slave ships, they feel unsettled and plot to ove...

34

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03:43

The Alamo (1960): The First Wave

The Mexican troops launch the first wave of their assault on the Alamo Mission near modern day Sa...

35

Colonel Travis's Speech thumbnail

02:56

The Alamo (1960): Colonel Travis's Speech

Colonel William B. Travis asks his men what it is they value so dearly that they are willing to f...

36

The Model T thumbnail

01:42

Seabiscuit: The Model T

This clip highlights the Ford Model T and explains how the invention of the assembly line has mad...

37

The Final Speech thumbnail

03:08

The Purple Heart: The Final Speech

One of the crews that took part in the Doolittle Raid following the Pearl Harbor attack is put on...

38

Lee Refuses Command thumbnail

03:56

Gods and Generals: Lee Refuses Command

Colonel Robert E. Lee is offered the opportunity to lead the Union army and the position of Major...

39

The Name Is Amelia thumbnail

01:08

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: The Name Is Amelia

Larry Daley encounters Amelia Earhart as he tries to get away from a tribe of angry men. They qui...

40

The Truth thumbnail

03:24

JFK: The Truth

Jim Garrison talks to a jury during the trial of Clay Shaw and urges it to pursue the path of tru...

41

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02:26

Gone with the Wind: All We Got Is Cotton, Slaves, and Arrogance

A group of southerners are talking about seceding from the Union and going to war. When their cap...

42

Turnaround Tuesday thumbnail

04:01

Selma: Turnaround Tuesday

Dr. Martin Luther King leads thousands of marchers out on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alab...

43

Free State of Jones thumbnail

01:14

Free State of Jones: Free State of Jones

Newt Knight announces the formation of the Free State of Jones. This act secedes his county from ...

44

Bayonet Charge thumbnail

03:49

Gettysburg: Bayonet Charge

This clip depicts the Battle of Little Round Top during the Civil War. With his men out of ammuni...

45

Vietnam War Protest thumbnail

03:27

Born on the Fourth of July: Vietnam War Protest

Ron and other Vietnam veterans protest the Vietnam War at the 1972 Republican National Convention...

46

Syracuse University Protest thumbnail

02:42

Born on the Fourth of July: Syracuse University Protest

A group of students at Syracuse University protest the Vietnam War during an anti-war rally and a...

47

The Oregon Trail thumbnail

01:48

Teen Titans Go!: The Oregon Trail

Robin brings the rest of the Titans to the Oregon Trail to teach them self-reliance in an environ...

48

Forrest in Vietnam thumbnail

04:57

Forrest Gump: Forrest in Vietnam

Forrest tells the story of his time serving in the Vietnam War. He and his unit were searching fo...

49

Rosa Parks thumbnail

01:52

The Boondocks: Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks leads a peaceful defiance that prompted the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.

50

The Princess Gives an Impassioned Speech thumbnail

01:12

Princess Kaiulani: The Princess Gives an Impassioned Speech

Princess Ka'iulani attempts to maintain the independence of the island against the threat of Amer...

51

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02:12

The Quiet American: Saving a Country and a Woman

An older British reporter shares perspective with a young U.S. doctor on the Vietnam War.

52

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01:33

The Founder: Selling the American Dream

Ray Kroc, a salesman who became pivital in turning McDonalds into one of the biggest restaurant f...

53

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02:11

The Great Debaters: Revolution

Mr. Tolson recites "I, Too" from Langston Hughes and a poem from Gwendolyn Bennett to set the sce...

54

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02:58

The Great Debaters: The Time for Justice

The plot of The Great Debaters revolves around the efforts of debate coach Melvin B. Tolson at a ...

55

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02:11

The Longest Day: The British Invasion

The British land on Sword Beach and begin their invasion on Normandy.

56

Thrifty Pig thumbnail

04:07

The Thrifty Pig: Thrifty Pig

This spinoff of The Three Little Pigs urges people to accumulate their savings to trade in as war...

57

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01:50

The Color Purple: Hell No

A fight emerges when a white lady makes an off-hand comment to the children of a black woman.

58

Elbow Room thumbnail

03:02

Schoolhouse Rock!: Elbow Room

The song teaches about Westward Expansion from the thirteen colonies.

59

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05:03

I Will Fight No More Forever: Chief Joseph Surrenders

Chief Joseph gives a speech in which he expresses the dire situation of his people and formally s...

60

The Creation of California thumbnail

02:37

America: The Story of Us: The Creation of California

This clip explains how the Gold Rush transformed the United States and led to the creation of Cal...

61

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01:22

Lincoln: This Amendment Is That Cure

Abraham Lincoln vehemently advocates for the ratification of the thirteenth amendment. He states ...

62

Yeaman Congress thumbnail

01:38

Lincoln: Yeaman Congress

George Helm, a representative of Kentucky, pleads his case against emancipation. He questions wha...

63

Second Inaugural Address thumbnail

01:59

Lincoln: Second Inaugural Address

President Abraham Lincoln gives his second inaugural address in which he expresses hope for the e...

64

Rosa Parks is Arrested thumbnail

03:58

The Rosa Parks Story: Rosa Parks is Arrested

Rosa Parks refuses to relinquish her seat in the "colored" section of the bus to a white passenge...

65

The Modern Factory is Born thumbnail

02:14

America: The Story of Us: The Modern Factory is Born

This clip explains how industrialization has led to a significant change in the lives of American...

66

The Fire thumbnail

04:08

Triangle: Remembering the Fire: The Fire

This clip illustrates the working conditions in factories and describes how workers were overwork...

67

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03:16

Newsies: King of New York

Young newspaper sellers express in song their ambitions in an industrializing, urbanizing America...

68

Santa Fe thumbnail

03:51

Newsies: Santa Fe

Jack sings a song in which he laments his lot as a poor young man in New York City and dreams of ...

69

It's Not Going Out! thumbnail

01:46

Animated Hero Classics: It's Not Going Out!

Thomas Edison's light bulb finally works after much trial and error.

70

Bedford Falls Supports the War thumbnail

02:04

It's a Wonderful Life: Bedford Falls Supports the War

The civilians of Bedford Falls all chip in to do their part to support the war. They begin their ...

71

Colonel Chamberlain's Speech thumbnail

02:34

Gettysburg: Colonel Chamberlain's Speech

Colonel Chamberlain delivers a speech to a large group of men to redevote them to the cause of th...

72

History of Trench Warfare thumbnail

02:42

Bet You Didn't Know: History of Trench Warfare

This clip discusses the origins and evolution of trench warfare and its use in several prominent ...

73

Survival Under Atomic Attack thumbnail

04:59

Survival Under Atomic Attack: Survival Under Atomic Attack

The opening of an authentic Civil Defense film that was released shortly after the Soviet Union t...

74

John F. Kennedy Mini Bio thumbnail

05:11

Biography: John F. Kennedy Mini Bio

A short biography of John F. Kennedy, a Massachusetts politician who served as the 35th President...

75

The Battle of Antietam thumbnail

02:10

Glory: The Battle of Antietam

A reenactment of the Battle of Antietam.

76

The Promise of America thumbnail

02:31

An American Tail: The Promise of America

Papa tells Fievel and his family inspiring ideas about America. He mentions that it has no cats a...

77

You've Committed Espionage thumbnail

01:47

The Newsroom: You've Committed Espionage

Neal steals documents through his source in order to create a story. Rebecca informs him that he'...

78

American Justice thumbnail

01:04

Bridge of Spies: American Justice

James Donovan, an American lawyer, is asked to defend a Soviet spy in court. It is important that...

79

Prohibition Era thumbnail

02:46

Bet You Didn't Know: Prohibition Era

This clip describes the Prohibition era in the United States. It explains the assumptions of Proh...

80

13th Amendment Consequences thumbnail

02:54

13th: 13th Amendment Consequences

Angela Davis remembers her time of being persued by the FBI while she protested what makes someon...

81

Story of the Bus Boycott thumbnail

02:36

Bet You Didn't Know: Story of the Bus Boycott

This clip explains the impact of the Montgomery Bus Boycott on the Civil Rights Movement as well ...

82

The History of the Suburbs thumbnail

05:02

Adam Ruins Everything: The History of the Suburbs

Adam Conover and Nikole Hannah-Jones of the NY Times give a lesson to a suburban family about the...

83

Segregation and Martin Luther King Jr. thumbnail

01:13

The Sixties: Segregation and Martin Luther King Jr.

A brief overview of segregation in the United States and Dr. Martin Luther King's desire for change.

84

Segregation Forever thumbnail

04:29

The Sixties: Segregation Forever

Alabama Governor George Wallace and Birmingham Commissioner Bull Conner reaffirm their commitment...

85

Minny Gets Fired thumbnail

03:01

The Help: Minny Gets Fired

During a rain storm, Minny gets fired for using the indoor bathroom instead of the outdoor bathro...

86

Gentrification thumbnail

02:11

Boyz n the Hood: Gentrification

S.A.T man explains gentrification and stresses the importance of keeping the neighborhood black o...

87

The Five Points Neighborhood thumbnail

02:09

Gangs of New York: The Five Points Neighborhood

An immigrant is given the lowdown on the tough Five Points neigborhood in Civil War era New York ...

88

Teddy Roosevelt Advocates for Imperialism thumbnail

02:06

Rough Riders: Teddy Roosevelt Advocates for Imperialism

Teddy Roosevelt gives a speech in favor of imperialism at the U.S. Naval War college. He expresse...

89

The Making of the Nazi thumbnail

03:57

Education for Death: The Making of the Nazi: The Making of the Nazi

A spin on the fairy tale, Snow White, depicts Hitler as crucial in getting Germany to stand on it...

90

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02:16

Family Guy: Stealing The U-boat

Brian, Stewie, and Mort travel back in time to the Nazi regime in Germany. They steal a German U-...

91

The Enigma Has To Be Broken thumbnail

02:35

Breaking the Code: The Enigma Has To Be Broken

Patricia, a cryptanalyst, introduces Alan Turing to the Engima machine and explains how it works....

92

The Train Journey thumbnail

05:00

Anne Frank: The Whole Story: The Train Journey

Anne Frank and her family, along with other Jews, are forced from their homes and onto trains tha...

93

PTSD Nightmare thumbnail

01:24

The Best Years of Our Lives: PTSD Nightmare

A World War II veteran, Fred, returns home to his small-town American life and is plagued with fl...

94

Iran-Contra Scandal thumbnail

01:36

American Dad!: Iran-Contra Scandal

A short satirical clip explaining the Iran-Contra affair during the Cold War and how Oliver North...

95

Conference in Crimea thumbnail

02:05

United Newsreel: 1944 to 1945: Conference in Crimea

The three world leaders Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin Roosevelt come together du...

96

World War I Overview thumbnail

02:15

Bet You Didn't Know: World War I Overview

This clip gives some background and an overview of World War I. It states that the assassination ...

97

History of Veterans Day thumbnail

02:13

Bet You Didn't Know: History of Veterans Day

This clip describes the history of the Veterans Day in the United States. It states that the holi...

98

Testing of the Atomic Bomb thumbnail

02:12

Fat Man and Little Boy: Testing of the Atomic Bomb

J. Robert Oppenheimer, chief scientist of the Manhattan Project, tests with his team the first at...

99

Churchill's Plea for Aid thumbnail

02:59

Darkest Hour: Churchill's Plea for Aid

Winston Churchill desperately presses Franklin D. Roosevelt for assistance and aid as England str...

100

Deciding to Drop the Bomb thumbnail

02:37

Truman: Deciding to Drop the Bomb

President Truman is told the Atomic Bomb will soon be ready and debates using it against the Japa...

101

Truman Sworn Into Office thumbnail

04:49

Truman: Truman Sworn Into Office

Vice President Harry Truman learns of President Franklin Roosevelt's death and is sworn in amid t...

102

The Manhattan Project thumbnail

01:47

Truman: The Manhattan Project

President Truman is informed of the Manhattan Project and the American efforts to build an Atomic...

103

Auschwitz Details thumbnail

03:18

Nuremberg (2000): Auschwitz Details

Rudolf Höss, commandant of Auschwitz, is questioned by Chief U.S. Prosecutor Robert H. Jackson. H...

104

The Treaty of Versailles thumbnail

04:01

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Winds of Change: The Treaty of Versailles

Witnesses to the Treaty of Versailles, including Arnold Toynbee and the German representative to ...

105

Austria-Hungary Declares War thumbnail

02:45

Fall of Eagles: Austria-Hungary Declares War

An Austro-Hungarian general advises Emperor Franz Josef I to take punitive actions against Serbia...

106

WWI Chain Reaction thumbnail

00:38

The Day That Shook The World (1975): WWI Chain Reaction

This clip explains how World War I came to be a global war after the assassination of Archduke Fr...

107

The First Man in Space thumbnail

01:23

The Sixties: The First Man in Space

Explores the political and cultural impact of the Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin's successful spac...

108

The Bay of Pigs Fails thumbnail

05:03

The Sixties: The Bay of Pigs Fails

Examines the US-backed overthrow attempt on the Soviet-aligned government of Fidel Castro underta...

109

The Berlin Wall Goes Up thumbnail

03:15

The Sixties: The Berlin Wall Goes Up

Amid posturing between the United States and the Soviet Union construction begins on the Berlin W...

110

A Nuclear World thumbnail

01:49

The Sixties: A Nuclear World

Explores the fears, of both average citizens and even President Kennedy, in America of war with t...

111

Kennedy and Khrushchev Come Together thumbnail

02:35

The Sixties: Kennedy and Khrushchev Come Together

Some reconciliation takes place between the Soviet Union and the United States as they agree, alo...

112

Communism and Vietnam thumbnail

02:58

The Sixties: Communism and Vietnam

President John Kennedy deals with communist expansion in Vietnam and promises aid to the South Vi...

113

Anne Frank in Hiding thumbnail

03:38

Anne Frank: The Whole Story: Anne Frank in Hiding

Anne Frank describes her living situation as a Jewish family hiding in Nazi Germany during the Ho...

114

Who Was Anne Frank? thumbnail

03:20

History: Who Was Anne Frank?

This clip provides a brief overview of Anne Frank and her life. It also states why she is importa...

115

Battle of Stalingrad thumbnail

01:05

Crash Course: Battle of Stalingrad

John Green provides a brief summary of the Battle of Stalingrad and its significance in World War...

116

Great Depression Vagrancy thumbnail

02:54

Mad Men: Great Depression Vagrancy

A "Hobo" arrives at a country house looking for work and a meal in during the Great Depression. M...

117

Destroy Russia? For What? thumbnail

01:17

Fail Safe (2000): Destroy Russia? For What?

Professor Groeteschele tries to persuade the military to pursue a full strike against Russia. Bri...

118

March on Washington Overview thumbnail

02:34

Bet You Didn't Know: March on Washington Overview

This clip describes the purpose and impact of the March on Washington as well as the events that ...

119

W.E.B. Du Bois Mini Bio thumbnail

03:46

Biography: W.E.B. Du Bois Mini Bio

A short biography of W.E.B Du Bois, one of the most influential African-American intellectuals an...

120

Booker T. Washington Mini Bio thumbnail

03:30

Biography: Booker T. Washington Mini Bio

A short biography of Booker T. Washington, an influential African-American educator and leader. H...

121

Dr. King in Jail thumbnail

02:49

Selma: Dr. King in Jail

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy reflect while in a jail cell after taking part in...

122

Sit-ins and Nonviolence thumbnail

05:06

The Sixties: Sit-ins and Nonviolence

Martin Luther King calls James Lawson to Nashville to organize and train volunteers for non-viole...

123

The Freedom Riders thumbnail

04:09

The Sixties: The Freedom Riders

Recounts the story of the "Freedom Riders," activists who rode interstate buses into the South in...

124

Securing the Right to be Heard thumbnail

01:30

The Sixties: Securing the Right to be Heard

Medgar Evers successfully challenges the segregationist dominance of Mississippi television and i...