From Colonies to Constitution: The War for Independence
'This program traces the key events of the American
Revolutionary War from its outbreak at Lexington, Massachusetts in 1775 to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783." This 15 minute video goes over the major points, but does not add a lot of depth to what isn't in a basic textbook. Does have good visuals where students can get a better feel for the time.
American History: The Revolutionary War Begins
The Revolutionary War began in Lexington after the Continental Congress failed to remove BritainÕs Coercive Acts, which the colonists called the Intolerable Acts. This two minute video goes into the causes of the Revolutionary War and early battles and colonial actions.
The Effects of the Stamp Act on Colonists and Early American History
An explaination the Stamp Act, a British tax on all printed material, from marriage licenses to playing cards, which infuriated early American colonists.The role of this video is to explain why this act helped to cause a war. A word wall is important as well as a timeline to help students place the events in correct order. Very through and great for explaining early American History (Running Time 3:52).
The Colonial Economy
Economic conditions of the 1700s were a contributing factor to the discontent felt by the American colonies towards Great Britain and were not easily overcome after independence. This is how the British used a shortage of money to their advantage. A three minute video that gives some depth to the causes of the Revolution. Well worth viewing. Shows the importance of a common currency to a nation's success.
Declaration of Independence - Remember this.
Reading of the Declaration of Independence we need to put this into practice. The beginning is the reading of letters from those who were present or involved. This is followed by the reading of the declaration by NFL football players past and present and others. (This video was filmed in the early 2000's)
The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776 marks the day that forever changed the direction of American history. On that day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the thirteen British colonies were a free nation by signing the Declaration of Independence. In this video, we present a detailed account of the courage and determination of such founding fathers as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and John Adams. From the Stamp Act to the Boston Tea Party, from Paine's Common Sen
How to Fold an American Flag
Explicit directions on the correct (and respectful) way to fold the American flag.
Symbolism in the American Flag
This is an introductory one-minute history of the American Flag and the symbolism behind the stars and stripes presented by two adolescent girls. (well-done amateur video)
Holidays You Should Fly the Flag
A flag vendor explains that the American flag should be flown on many holidays, including New Year's Day, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln's Birthday and Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Columbus Day. Fly the flag on about 20 commemorative days if you don't fly all year long.
Why Is the American Flag Red, White & Blue?
This short video clip explains why he American flag is red, white and blue. It is red, white, and blue because these colors symbolize inherent American values. The American flag is red for heartiness and valor, white for purity and innocence, and blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice.
"The Boston Tea Party"- Song
In this animated video, students will be introduced to a friendly sea creature character that sings a song about what happened in 1773 when the "tea was poured to sea". Words to the song appear on screen and each word is highlighted as it is sung. It explains why this was done and how the British reacted. This is a wonderful teaching companion for a lesson/unit on the Revolution and its causes. Content is appropriate for upper elementary and early middle school students.
The Boston Tea Party
Video for high school about the Boston Tea Party. "In 1773, the British East India Tea Company faced bankruptcy. More than 17 million pounds of tea sat idle in warehouses, in part because American boycotts and smuggling damaged the English tea industry. The British government, set to lose a large amount of tax revenue if the company failed, ratified a Tea Act that allowed the company to bypass English and American wholesalers and sell directly to American merchants at reduced prices..."
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
This video is accompanied by text. "With the two-party system of government in its founding stages in the United States, a continent away events were taking place that would further the evolution of the Federalist and the Democratic-Republican parties. The people of France were taking their cues from the American Revolution and rebelling against the authoritarian leadership of King Louis XVI. As war ensued between France and Great Britain in 1793, conflict arose in America as the Federalists and
Moonlight Sonata-Beethoven
The "Moonlight Sonata," by Beethoven, is one of the most beloved piano compositions of all time. There is an interesting story about its creation which is explained by the Beethoven-Haus (Beethoven House) in Bonn, Germany:
In the middle of the 19th century there arose a striking fable surrounding the composition of Beethoven’s "Moonlight Sonata." Beethoven meets a blind girl sitting at a piano and, stricken by her fate, he sits down himself at the piano and can suddenly feel t
South Carolina Against the Tariff
Video accompanied by text. "South Carolina, in particular, acted out against the Tariff of 1828. South Carolinians campaigned heavily against the tariff, justifying their arguments with the principles set out in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions written in the previous century by Jefferson and Madison to support states’ rights. They also supported their case by arguing that the U.S. Constitution allowed states to individually nullify federal laws for the whole union.
The South Carol
Jackson and the Bank War
Video accompanied by text. "In its first years, the Second Bank of the United States weathered an economic panic and an important court case. These were not, however, to be the last of its troubles. Other forces were at work that would oppose and eventually destroy the Second Bank of the United States..."
Early in the 1820s, Henry Clay, a representative from Kentucky and political rival of Jackson, advocated and helped implement what became known as the American System for developing a st
Jackson and Van Buren
Video accompanied by text. "Historians are divided on President Andrew Jackson’s feelings toward Indians. Some claim he was a virulent Indian hater and cite as evidence the fact that he commanded the American troops that killed nearly 900 Creeks in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814. On the other hand, Jackson led an invasion of Florida in 1818 to capture runaway slaves and punish those who aided them. There he ordered Indians, Spanish, and British alike hanged or otherwise killed. Rather th
Awesome Alliteration by Amazing American Academians
Here you will find a slide show video put together by early elementary students to give examples of alliteration. The slides give clear and examples of how to use alliteration. Some of children's narration is garbled and the video quality is fair. Worth a look at the children's work. (2:52)
The Annexation of Texas
This video is accompanied by text. "When Mexico gained its independence from Spain, Texas was a sparsely settled frontier province bordering the United States. Texas, explored by the Spanish as early as the 1500s, was largely neglected in the centuries that followed. Only a few thousand Mexicans—known as Tejanos—lived in the province by the early 1820s, most of them clustered around the mission at San Antonio. The Mexican government encouraged Americans to emigrate to Texas in an effort to c
The Mexican American War, Causes and Events
This video is accompanied by text. "The process of admitting Texas as a slave state was well under way by the time Polk became president on March 4, 1845. One plank of the Democratic platform was thus resolved. In his first annual message to Congress, Polk asserted that the American claim to the entire Oregon country was “clear and unquestionable.” The British, who had refused on several occasions to relinquish any territory north of the Columbia River, now had a change of heart. Their chief
