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American History (1800s - 1900s)

Official • 124 clips

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

American Dad!: Iran-Contra Scandal

1m 36s

american history

iran-contra affair

reagan administration

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

Clips

1

West Side Story: America thumbnail

West Side Story: America

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

2

Schoolhouse Rock!: 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

Pearl Harbor: We Are at War thumbnail

Pearl Harbor: We Are at War

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

4

All the President's Men: Freedom of the Press thumbnail

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

It's a Wonderful Life: Bank Run thumbnail

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

Seabiscuit: The Stock Market Crash of 1929 thumbnail

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...

8

Animaniacs: The Presidents Song thumbnail

Animaniacs: The Presidents Song

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

9

Far and Away: The Oklahoma Land Rush thumbnail

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 ...

11

Frost/Nixon: Watergate Questioning thumbnail

Frost/Nixon: Watergate Questioning

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

12

Iron Jawed Angels: Everyone's Tired thumbnail

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...

14

Iron Jawed Angels: Force Feeding thumbnail

Iron Jawed Angels: Force Feeding

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

15

All in the Family: I Wanna Sit In My Chair thumbnail

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

Gangs of New York: Innocent Citizens Hanged thumbnail

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

Gangs of New York: The Draft Riots thumbnail

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

The Grapes of Wrath: I'll Be There Speech thumbnail

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

The Grapes of Wrath: They're Paying Good Wages thumbnail

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

The Simpsons: Prohibition in Springfield thumbnail

The Simpsons: Prohibition in Springfield

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

21

DuckTales (1987): Work Smarter, Not Harder thumbnail

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

Apollo 13: Houston, We Have a Problem thumbnail

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

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

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...

25

Malcolm X: Before Everything, We Were Black thumbnail

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

Apollo 13: Landing on the Moon thumbnail

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

Amistad: The Natural State of Mankind thumbnail

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

12 Years a Slave: It's All Wrong thumbnail

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

The Ernest Green Story: Little Rock Crisis thumbnail

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...

31

Pearl Harbor: War is Inevitable thumbnail

Pearl Harbor: War is Inevitable

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

33

Roots (1977): Mutiny on a Slave Ship thumbnail

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

The Alamo (1960): The First Wave thumbnail

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

The Alamo (1960): Colonel Travis's Speech thumbnail

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...

37

The Purple Heart: The Final Speech thumbnail

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

Gods and Generals: Lee Refuses Command thumbnail

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

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

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...

41

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

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...

43

Free State of Jones: Free State of Jones thumbnail

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 ...

45

Born on the Fourth of July: Vietnam War Protest thumbnail

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

Born on the Fourth of July: Syracuse University Protest thumbnail

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

Teen Titans Go!: The Oregon Trail thumbnail

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 Gump: Forrest in Vietnam thumbnail

Forrest Gump: Forrest in Vietnam

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

50

Princess Kaiulani: The Princess Gives an Impassioned Speech thumbnail

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

The Quiet American: Saving a Country and a Woman thumbnail

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

The Founder: Selling the American Dream thumbnail

The Founder: Selling the American Dream

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

53

The Great Debaters: Revolution thumbnail

The Great Debaters: Revolution

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

54

The Great Debaters: The Time for Justice thumbnail

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 ...

59

I Will Fight No More Forever: Chief Joseph Surrenders thumbnail

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

America: The Story of Us: The Creation of California thumbnail

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

Lincoln: This Amendment Is That Cure thumbnail

Lincoln: This Amendment Is That Cure

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

63

Lincoln: Second Inaugural Address thumbnail

Lincoln: Second Inaugural Address

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

64

The Rosa Parks Story: Rosa Parks is Arrested thumbnail

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

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

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

Triangle: Remembering the Fire: The Fire thumbnail

Triangle: Remembering the Fire: The Fire

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

70

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

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

Gettysburg: Colonel Chamberlain's Speech thumbnail

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

Bet You Didn't Know: History of Trench Warfare thumbnail

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: Survival Under Atomic Attack thumbnail

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

Biography: John F. Kennedy Mini Bio thumbnail

Biography: John F. Kennedy Mini Bio

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

76

An American Tail: The Promise of America thumbnail

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

The Newsroom: You've Committed Espionage thumbnail

The Newsroom: You've Committed Espionage

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

78

Bridge of Spies: American Justice thumbnail

Bridge of Spies: American Justice

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

79

Bet You Didn't Know: Prohibition Era thumbnail

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: 13th Amendment Consequences thumbnail

13th: 13th Amendment Consequences

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

81

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

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

Adam Ruins Everything: The History of the Suburbs thumbnail

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

The Sixties: Segregation and Martin Luther King Jr. thumbnail

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

The Sixties: Segregation Forever thumbnail

The Sixties: Segregation Forever

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

86

Boyz n the Hood: Gentrification thumbnail

Boyz n the Hood: Gentrification

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

87

Gangs of New York: The Five Points Neighborhood thumbnail

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

Rough Riders: Teddy Roosevelt Advocates for Imperialism thumbnail

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

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

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

Family Guy: Stealing The U-boat thumbnail

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

Breaking the Code: The Enigma Has To Be Broken thumbnail

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

Anne Frank: The Whole Story: The Train Journey thumbnail

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

The Best Years of Our Lives: PTSD Nightmare thumbnail

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

American Dad!: Iran-Contra Scandal thumbnail

American Dad!: Iran-Contra Scandal

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

95

United Newsreel: 1944 to 1945: Conference in Crimea thumbnail

United Newsreel: 1944 to 1945: Conference in Crimea

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

96

Bet You Didn't Know: World War I Overview thumbnail

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

Bet You Didn't Know: History of Veterans Day thumbnail

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

Fat Man and Little Boy: Testing of the Atomic Bomb thumbnail

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

Darkest Hour: Churchill's Plea for Aid thumbnail

Darkest Hour: Churchill's Plea for Aid

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

100

Truman: Deciding to Drop the Bomb thumbnail

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: Truman Sworn Into Office thumbnail

Truman: Truman Sworn Into Office

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

102

Truman: The Manhattan Project thumbnail

Truman: The Manhattan Project

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

103

Nuremberg (2000): Auschwitz Details thumbnail

Nuremberg (2000): Auschwitz Details

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

104

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

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

Fall of Eagles: Austria-Hungary Declares War thumbnail

Fall of Eagles: Austria-Hungary Declares War

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

106

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

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 Sixties: The First Man in Space thumbnail

The Sixties: The First Man in Space

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

108

The Sixties: The Bay of Pigs Fails thumbnail

The Sixties: The Bay of Pigs Fails

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

109

The Sixties: The Berlin Wall Goes Up thumbnail

The Sixties: The Berlin Wall Goes Up

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

111

The Sixties: Kennedy and Khrushchev Come Together thumbnail

The Sixties: Kennedy and Khrushchev Come Together

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

112

The Sixties: Communism and Vietnam thumbnail

The Sixties: Communism and Vietnam

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

113

Anne Frank: The Whole Story: Anne Frank in Hiding thumbnail

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...

115

Crash Course: Battle of Stalingrad thumbnail

Crash Course: Battle of Stalingrad

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

116

Mad Men: Great Depression Vagrancy thumbnail

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

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

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

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

118

Bet You Didn't Know: March on Washington Overview thumbnail

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

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

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

Biography: Booker T. Washington Mini Bio thumbnail

Biography: Booker T. Washington Mini Bio

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

122

The Sixties: Sit-ins and Nonviolence thumbnail

The Sixties: Sit-ins and Nonviolence

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

123

The Sixties: The Freedom Riders thumbnail

The Sixties: The Freedom Riders

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

124

The Sixties: Securing the Right to be Heard thumbnail

The Sixties: Securing the Right to be Heard

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