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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.

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

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...