Examining the African American Experience in the 20th Century   (#2104310)

Version for Academic Year:

Course Standards

General Course Information and Notes

Version Description

This course will examine the artistic expressions of African Americans during the 20th Century.  This century was a tumultuous time period in United States History highlighted by profound changes in the social, economic and political affairs of African Americans.  By examining the music and visual art created by African Americans during this time period, students will gain an understanding of the experiences of African American peoples.

Students will be exposed to the various genres of music that African Americans created or influenced such as jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, gospel, rock and roll and hip hop.  Students will dissect and interpret works and explain what led to their creation and the impact that they had.

Students are not only exposed to the African American music of the time, but are also introduced to their visual art pieces.  Students will analyze and provide their interpretations of works within the context of United States history.

Students will have been exposed to some of the greatest works ever produced in American culture.

General Notes

Literacy Standards in Social Studies
Secondary social studies courses include reading standards for literacy in history/social studies 6-12, and writing standards for literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects 6-12. This course also includes speaking and listening standards. For a complete list of standards required for this course click on the blue tile labeled course standards. You may also download the complete course including all required standards and notes sections using the export function located at the top of this page.

English Language Development (ELD) Standards Special Notes Section:
Teachers are required to provide listening, speaking, reading and writing instruction that allows English language learners (ELL) to communicate for social and instructional purposes within the school setting.   For the given level of English language proficiency and with visual, graphic, or interactive support, students will interact with grade level words, expressions, sentences and discourse to process or produce language necessary for academic success. The ELD standard should specify a relevant content area concept or topic of study chosen by curriculum developers and teachers which maximizes an ELL’s need for communication and social skills. To access an ELL supporting document which delineates performance definitions and descriptors, please click on the following link: https://cpalmsmediaprod.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/docs/standards/eld/si.pdf.

General Information

Course Number: 2104310
Abbreviated Title: EXAMINING AFR EXPER
Number of Credits: Half credit (.5)
Course Length: Semester (S)
Course Type: Elective Course
Course Level: 2
Course Status: Course Approved

Educator Certifications

One of these educator certification options is required to teach this course.


Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this course.

Original Student Tutorials

Taking Lead: Women of the Civil Rights Movement:

Learn how women took on leadership roles during the Civil Rights Movement by exploring the contributions of Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and Dorothy Height with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Civil Rights Road Trip: Part 2 The Southern States:

Travel through the southern United States to visit significant areas of the Civil Rights Movement with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Executive Order 9981 and Integration in Our Military, Part 1:

Explore how Executive Order 9981 ended segregation in our military, thereby expanding rights for African Americans in the U.S. Army, Air Force, and National Guard with this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 of a two-part series: Click HERE to open part 2 (coming soon). In Part 2, you'll see how Executive Order 9981 was implemented in the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Executive Order 9981 and Integration in Our Military, Part 2:

Explore how Executive Order 9981 ended segregation in our military, thereby expanding rights for African Americans in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard with this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 of a two-part series. Click HERE to open Part 1, which explores how Executive Order 9981 was implemented in the Army, Air Force, and National Guard.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

When Students Lead:

Explore the "birth" and legacy of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Civil Rights Road Trip: Part 1 Alabama:

Travel around the state of Alabama to learn about three events during the Civil Rights era: the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the 16th Street Church bombing, and the March to Selma with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats and New Deal Policies Relevant Today:

Learn about President Franklin D. Roosevelt's use of the radio to communicate New Deal policies that are still relevant with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Civil Rights Groups Helped End Segregation in Our Military:

Analyze methods used by civil rights groups to influence government action to end segregation in the United States Armed Forces, resulting in Executive Order 9981 with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

How Did an Executive Order End Segregation in America's Armed Forces?:

Did you know our military personnel faced segregation and discrimination while serving our country? Learn about presidential powers, the use of executive orders by our presidents, and how Executive Order 9981 ended segregation in the U.S. armed forces with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Governments Working Together:

Learn about public policy solutions and how public opinion, the media, and interest groups all influence decision-making about public issues with this interactive tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Shifting America :

Explore different methods for promotion social and political change and examples of preservation from U.S. history with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Impact of Political Parties in America:

Learn about the Republican and Democratic political parties in the United States, including their origins, modern versions, and impact on public policy in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Year-Round School Debate: Identifying Faulty Reasoning – Part Two:

This is Part Two of a two-part series. Learn to identify faulty reasoning in this interactive tutorial series. You'll learn what some experts say about year-round schools, what research has been conducted about their effectiveness, and how arguments can be made for and against year-round education. Then, you'll read a speech in favor of year-round schools and identify faulty reasoning within the argument, specifically the use of hasty generalizations.

Make sure to complete Part One before Part Two! Click HERE to launch Part One.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Year-Round School Debate: Identifying Faulty Reasoning – Part One:

Learn to identify faulty reasoning in this two-part interactive English Language Arts tutorial. You'll learn what some experts say about year-round schools, what research has been conducted about their effectiveness, and how arguments can be made for and against year-round education. Then, you'll read a speech in favor of year-round schools and identify faulty reasoning within the argument, specifically the use of hasty generalizations. 

Make sure to complete both parts of this series! Click HERE to open Part Two. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Evaluating an Argument – Part Four: JFK’s Inaugural Address:

Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence.

In Part Four, you'll use what you've learned throughout this series to evaluate Kennedy's overall argument.

Make sure to complete the previous parts of this series before beginning Part 4.

  • Click HERE to launch Part One.
  • Click HERE to launch Part Two.
  • Click HERE to launch Part Three.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Evaluating an Argument – Part Three: JFK’s Inaugural Address:

Examine President John F. Kennedy's inaugural address in this interactive tutorial. You will examine Kennedy's argument, main claim, smaller claims, reasons, and evidence. By the end of this four-part series, you should be able to evaluate his overall argument. 

In Part Three, you will read more of Kennedy's speech and identify a smaller claim in this section of his speech. You will also evaluate this smaller claim's relevancy to the main claim and evaluate Kennedy's reasons and evidence. 

Make sure to complete all four parts of this series!

  • Click HERE to launch Part One.
  • Click HERE to launch Part Two.
  • Click HERE to launch Part Four.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Ready for Takeoff! -- Part Two:

This is Part Two of a two-part tutorial series. In this interactive tutorial, you'll practice identifying a speaker's purpose using a speech by aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. You will examine her use of rhetorical appeals, including ethos, logos, pathos, and kairos. Finally, you'll evaluate the effectiveness of Earhart's use of rhetorical appeals.

Be sure to complete Part One first. Click here to launch PART ONE.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Ready for Takeoff! -- Part One:

This is Part One of a two-part tutorial series. In this interactive tutorial, you'll practice identifying a speaker's purpose using a speech by aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. You will examine her use of rhetorical appeals, including ethos, logos, pathos, and kairos. Finally, you'll evaluate the effectiveness of Earhart's use of rhetorical appeals. 

Click here to launch PART TWO.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Era of Jim Crow and the Nadir of Race Relations: Part 2 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn about the era of Jim Crow segregation and the larger context within which it flourished, the "Nadir" of American race relations.

CLICK HERE to open Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Era of Jim Crow and the Nadir of Race Relations: Part 1 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn about the era of Jim Crow segregation and the larger context within which it flourished, the "Nadir" of American race relations.

CLICK HERE to open Part 2. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Booker T. and W.E.B. (Part 2):

Learn about Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois and their rivalry of ideas in this interactive tutorial. Both men were African-American leaders during the "nadir" of race relations, but they had very different visions.

This is part 2 in a two-part series. CLICK HERE to open Part 1. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The War at Home: World War II Poster Propaganda:

In this interactive tutorial, you'll analyze dozens of World War II propaganda posters in order to understand how Americans on the home front experienced the war years. The U.S. government commissioned propaganda to convince Americans to support the war in a variety of ways. You'll learn how these posters reveal U.S. domestic policy during the 1940s, as well as how the government tried to expand the involvement of different groups of Americans, including women and minorities, during WWII.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 4 of 4):

Practice writing different aspects of an expository essay about scientists using drones to research glaciers in Peru. This interactive tutorial is part four of a four-part series. In this final tutorial, you will learn about the elements of a body paragraph. You will also create a body paragraph with supporting evidence. Finally, you will learn about the elements of a conclusion and practice creating a “gift.” 

This tutorial is part four of a four-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

War and Peace? Part 2 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn about the end of World War I and the Paris Peace Conference that followed, from the point of view of the United States and President Woodrow Wilson.  You'll learn about the Treaty of Versailles that ended the war with Germany, about the League of Nations, and about Wilson's failure to make the U.S. a part of the newly created international organization.  

CLICK HERE to open Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

War and Peace? Part 1 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn about the end of World War I and the Paris Peace Conference that followed, from the point of view of the United States and President Woodrow Wilson.  You'll learn about the Treaty of Versailles that ended the war with Germany, about the League of Nations, and about Wilson's failure to make the U.S. a part of the newly created international organization.  

CLICK HERE to open Part 2.

 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Expository Writing: Eyes in the Sky (Part 3 of 4):

Learn how to write an introduction for an expository essay in this interactive tutorial. This tutorial is the third part of a four-part series. In previous tutorials in this series, students analyzed an informational text and video about scientists using drones to explore glaciers in Peru. Students also determined the central idea and important details of the text and wrote an effective summary. In part three, you'll learn how to write an introduction for an expository essay about the scientists' research. 

This tutorial is part three of a four-part series. Click below to open the other tutorials in this series.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Over Here: Americans at Home in World War I, Part 2 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn how Americans on the home front experienced World War 1 while helping the U.S.A win the war. You'll learn about war bonds and about the changes WWI brought to America's economy. You'll also learn how propaganda and new laws against wartime dissent curbed Americans' civil liberties. Finally, you'll learn how the war lead to increased opportunities for women and African Americans.

CLICK HERE to open Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Over Here: Americans at Home in World War I, Part 1 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn how Americans on the home front experienced World War 1 while helping the U.S.A win the war.  You'll learn about war bonds and about the changes WWI brought to America's economy.  You'll also learn how propaganda and new laws against wartime dissent curbed Americans' civil liberties.  Finally, you'll learn how the war lead to increased opportunities for women and African Americans.  

CLICK HERE to open Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Booker T. and W.E.B. Part 1 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn about Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois and their rivalry of ideas.  Both men were African American leaders during the "Nadir" of race relations, but their visions were very different.  

CLICK HERE to open Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Progressive Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt: Part 2 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn about the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.  "TR," as he was known, pursued a bold, progressive agenda that transformed America and the presidency.  

CLICK HERE to open Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Progressive Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt: Part 1 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn in detail about the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt.  "TR," as he was known, pursued a bold, progressive agenda that transformed America and the presidency.  

CLICK HERE to open Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

World War II Begins: Part 2 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn how World War II began in Europe and Asia. You'll learn about the aggression of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan that threatened world peace, and you'll learn how the United States responded with isolationism...until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 caused America to join the Allies.

CLICK HERE to open Part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

World War II Begins: Part 1 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, learn how World War II began in Europe and Asia. You'll learn about the aggression of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan that threatened world peace, and you'll learn how the United States responded with isolationism...until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 caused America to join the Allies.  

CLICK HERE to open Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Literacy in History: The Pullman Strike, Part 2 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, you'll analyze the Pullman Strike of 1894, a dramatic event in the American labor movement.  In Part 1, you'll focus on the history of the strike.  In Part 2, you'll practice your literary skills while learning more about the same event.  

Click HERE to open Part 1. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Literacy in History: The Pullman Strike, Part 1 (of 2):

In Parts 1 and 2 of this interactive tutorial series, you'll analyze the Pullman Strike of 1894, a dramatic event in the American labor movement.  In Part 1, you'll focus on the history of the strike.  In Part 2, you'll practice your literacy skills while learning more about the same event.

Click HERE to open Part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Cold War at Home: McCarthyism and the Red Scare:

Learn about the Second Red Scare that swept America in the early years of the Cold War with this interactive tutorial. You'll also learn about McCarthyism, the era of suspicion and persecution that gets its name from the actions of notorious Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Power of Words: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address:

Practice analyzing an informational text using President Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address. In this interactive tutorial, you'll determine Lincoln's purpose in this historical speech. You'll also analyze how his specific word choice and use of parallel structure help support his purpose.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Coming to America: The Era of Mass Immigration:

In this interactive tutorial, learn about the era of mass immigration from 1865 to 1914, when as many as 25 million immigrants entered the United States, many of them through Ellis Island. You'll learn where immigrants came from, why they emigrated, how they adjusted to life in the U.S., and you'll compare the experiences of European and Asian immigrants.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Captains of Industry: The Second Industrial Revolution:

In this interactive tutorial, learn some of the differences between the First and Second Industrial Revolutions, as well as key developments that drove the Second Industrial Revolution. You'll also learn about some of the leaders of industry during this era, including John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, and J.P. Morgan, and examine how their development of major industries and business practices affected America’s economy during the Second Industrial Revolution.

Check out this related tutorial: The Power of Innovation: Inventors of the Industrial Revolution.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Postwar Blues...and Reds:

In this interactive tutorial, learn about the years immediately following World War I: 1919 and 1920. These were dangerous years of economic depression, racial violence, and anti-immigrant nativism in the United States. You'll learn about the Red Scare, the Palmer Raids, Sacco and Vanzetti, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Three Presidencies: Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon:

In this interactive tutorial, learn about the three U.S. presidents elected during the turbulent 1960s: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Richard Nixon. You'll learn how each of these men left an unfinished legacy as president, and you'll learn about their politics, successes, and failures, with an emphasis on domestic politics.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

What Caused the Civil War?:

In this interactive tutorial, explore the central causes of America's bloodiest conflict: the Civil War.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

The Supreme Court in Action:

In this interactive tutorial, learn about landmark cases decided by the Supreme Court in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, including Brown vs. Board of Education, Miranda vs. Arizona, and Roe vs. Wade. This tutorial covers the backgrounds, outcomes, and impacts of eight important cases in detail.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Eliminating Exotics: Identifying and Assessing Research for Quality and Usefulness:

Learn how to better conduct research in this interactive tutorial. You'll learn to distinguish relevant from irrelevant sources when conducting research on a specific topic. In addition, you'll practice identifying authoritative sources and selecting the appropriate keywords to find quality sources for your topic.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Powerful Rhetoric: Analyzing President Wilson's War Message to Congress:

Learn how speakers use rhetoric to achieve their purpose. In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn how speakers can achieve their purpose through the use of pathos, ethos, and logos. Using excerpts from President Wilson's "War Message to Congress," you'll analyze how speakers use rhetoric to make their case effectively.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Analyzing Related Concepts in Historical U.S. Documents:

In this tutorial, you'll practice identifying and analyzing how specific concepts are addressed in texts from two different time periods. The featured texts include the Bill of Rights and an excerpt from the "Four Freedoms" speech by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. You'll practice analyzing the similarities and differences in how the two texts address certain concepts.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Cancer: Mutated Cells Gone Wild!:

Explore the relationship between mutations, the cell cycle, and uncontrolled cell growth which may result in cancer with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Assessments

Quiz: America in the 21st Century:

Test your knowledge of America in the 21st century with this nine-question multiple choice quiz provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Assessment

Quiz: 1990s America:

Test your knowledge of America in the 1990s with this 7-question multiple choice quiz provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Assessment

Quiz: 1970s America :

Test your knowledge of 1970s America in this 14-question quiz provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Assessment

Quiz: 1980s America :

Test your knowledge of America in the 1980s in this ten-question multiple choice quiz provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Assessment

Quiz: The South After the Civil War:

Test your knowledge of the South after the Civil War in this 6-question multiple choice quiz provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Assessment

Quiz: The Civil Rights Movement :

Try this 12-question multiple choice quiz to see how much you know about the Civil Rights Movement.

Type: Assessment

Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiasts

Bring Frequencies to Life with Balinese Music:

It's okay if you're not on quite the same wavelength as this ethnomusicologist. In Balinese gamelan tuning, that's a good thing!

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Frequencies and Communities in the Music of Bali:

Physical science and social science connect in this discussion of Balinese gamelan. Full STEAM ahead!

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Text Resources

Supreme Court Landmark Cases: Grutter v. Bollinger & Gratz v. Bollinger (2003):

Learn more about the 2003 landmark Supreme Court decisions Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger. In these dual cases, the Court upheld the use of affirmative action (as one factor in many) in deciding college admissions.

Type: Text Resource

Supreme Court Landmark Case: U.S. Steel Workers of America v. Weber (1979):

Learn more about the 1979 landmark Supreme Court decision U.S. Steel Workers v. Weber. In this case, the Court upheld a controversial affirmative action policy regarding the training and placement of skilled laborers.

Type: Text Resource

Supreme Court Landmark Case: Miranda v. Arizona (1966):

Learn more about the 1966 landmark Supreme Court decision Miranda v. Arizona. In this case, the Court considered the civil rights issues of due process and self-incrimination. The case set an important legal precedent and established the "Miranda Rights" which must be read to criminal defendants upon arrest.

Type: Text Resource

Supreme Court Landmark Case: Cooper v. Aaron (1958):

Learn more about the 1958 landmark Supreme Court decision Cooper v. Aaron. In this lesser known follow-up to Brown v. Board of Education, the Court held that states could not pass legislation that undermined the desegregation of public schools.

Type: Text Resource

Supreme Court Landmark Case: Gideon v. Wainwright (1963):

Learn more about the 1963 landmark Supreme Court decision Gideon v. Wainwright. In this case, the Supreme Court decided issues related to due process and a criminal defendant's right to a lawyer's counsel even if he or she cannot afford one.

Type: Text Resource

Supreme Court Landmark Case: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896):

Learn more about the 1896 landmark Supreme Court decision Plessy v. Ferguson. In this case, the Supreme Court declared legal "separate but equal" laws requiring black and white citizens to use segregated facilities. The decision ushered in an era of "Jim Crow" in the American South.

Type: Text Resource

Supreme Court Landmark Case: United States v. Lopez (1995):

Learn more about the 1995 landmark Supreme Court decision U.S. v. Lopez. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress could not ban the possession of firearms within "gun-free school zones." The decision touched on issues of gun control, federalism, and the powers of Congress under the Commerce Clause.

Type: Text Resource

Tutorials

U.S. History Overview: Reconstruction to the Great Depression:

Learn about key events in American history from the Reconstruction Era to the start of the Great Depression in this tutorial video provided by Khan Academy. The video touches on the Reconstruction Amendments, Jim Crow laws, the Coinage Act and the Panic of 1873, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and the 18th and 19th Amendments.

Type: Tutorial

The Origins of Jim Crow: Introduction:

Learn about the origins of Jim Crow segregation, a system of legalized segregation that took place in the American South from 1877-1954, in this tutorial video provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Tutorial

Origins of Jim Crow: Black Codes and Reconstruction:

Learn about the Black Codes and the era of Reconstruction in this video tutorial provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Tutorial

Origins of Jim Crow: Compromise of 1877 and Plessy v. Ferguson:

Learn about the origins of Jim Crow segregation in the American South after the Civil War, as well as the Compromise of 1877 and the Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson in this tutorial video provided by Khan Academy.

Type: Tutorial

Reconstruction and the 15th Amendment:

This short video provided by Khan Academy features two historians reviewing the ratification of the 15th Amendment, which granted African American men the right to vote. The historians also explore ways in which the different Reconstruction Amendments were undermined and not fully realized for almost a century. Helpful graphics illustrate the content.

Type: Tutorial

60-Second Presidents: Barack Obama:

View a brief, funny video about the 44th President, Barack Obama, who passed healthcare reform over the objections of a hostile Congress.

Type: Tutorial

Majority Rules: New York v. United States (1992):

Learn the historical context for a landmark Supreme Court decision, New York v. United States,in this short interactive tutorial. This case dealt with federal laws regarding radioactive waste removal in the late 20th century. You'll have a chance to evaluate the case on your terms before seeing how the justices actually ruled. Enjoy!

Type: Tutorial

Examining the Life & Work of Eleanor Roosevelt:

In a series of short videos, learn about the life and work of Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the 32nd president and niece of the 26th president. The first video details Eleanor's lonely childhood, the second describes her first involvement in American politics and public speaking, the third examines her work with organizations like the Red Cross and the League of Women Voters, and the fourth explains her role working with the United Nations and leading the committee that drafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This pivotal document changed the way the world viewed the rights of people. Watch one video or enjoy them all!

Type: Tutorial

60-Second Presidents: Bill Clinton:

View a brief, funny video about the 42nd President, Bill Clinton, who oversaw a strong economy in the 1990s but became only the second president ever to face impeachment.

Type: Tutorial

60-Second Presidents: George H.W. Bush:

View a brief, funny video about the 41st President, George H.W. Bush, a one-term president who oversaw the end of the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War.

Type: Tutorial

60-Second Presidents: George W. Bush:

View a brief video about the 43rd President, George W. Bush, who was in office on September 11, 2001 and responded by declaring a global "War on Terror."

Type: Tutorial

60-Second Presidents: Ronald Reagan:

View a brief, funny video about the 40th President, Ronald Reagan, the Hollywood actor who shaped the politics of the 1980s and became a Republican Party icon!

Type: Tutorial

The Supreme Court: Brown v. Board of Education:

Learn more about the 1954 landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. This case was a pivotal moment in the struggle for racial equality in America.

Type: Tutorial

Whose Land is This?:

Learn about America's history in this interactive tutorial. This webisode from PBS's History: A Freedom of Us provides detailed informational texts, primary source documents that include photographs, and online quizzes to help you explore aspects of this complex time in American history. You'll learn about the 1862 Homestead Act, the rise of immigration, different aspects of the immigrant experience, the expansion of the American West, and the violent conflicts that resulted in the deaths of Native Americans and the removal and relocation of different tribes onto reservations.

Type: Tutorial

What is Freedom?:

Explore the era of Reconstruction and its aftermath in this webisode from PBS. Learn about the struggles of rebuilding the South and uniting the Union in the years that immediately followed the Civil War, and explore the rise of Jim Crow laws after Reconstruction was abandoned. This webisode provides primary source documents including photographs and excerpts from speeches, a timeline, glossary, and quizzes you can take to test your knowledge.

Type: Tutorial

Becoming Free:

Explore key events from the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s in this webisode from PBS. During these decades, America closed out the Vietnam War era, saw the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, and experienced a rise in terrorist attacks against Americans abroad and on American soil. In this resource you can examine primary source documents and photographs, listen to segments of key speeches, examine a timeline and glossary, take a quiz, and explore additional resources connected to this era. Enjoy this journey into American history!

Type: Tutorial

The Supreme Court: Timeline:

With this interactive timeline, you can explore key cases and events in the history of the Supreme Court, ranging from 1787 to 2005. To learn specifically about cases related to integration, busing, affirmative action, the rights of the accused, and reproductive rights, click on the years 1954, 1963, 1966, and 1973, though ALL the links will lead you to valuable information. Have fun exploring!

Type: Tutorial

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow:

In this tutorial, you'll explore the social and legal realities of the "Jim Crow" Era. Jim Crow was the nickname given to the acts and laws passed in Southern states after Reconstruction. These were aimed at preventing African Americans from fully realizing their civil liberties: especially the right to vote. Please take time to carefully explore this interactive site and recognize the ways in which American society has changed since this time. Also note that this resource is for mature audiences; due to the era in American history being explored, there are some words used that audiences may find offensive and some violent images are shown.

Type: Tutorial

Remembering Pearl Harbor: Attack Map:

In this tutorial, you'll interact with a chronological map of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Trace the timeline of events as you listen to, read, and explore the devastating sneak attack that brought the U.S. into World War II on December 7, 1941.

Type: Tutorial

Habeas Corpus: The Guantanamo Cases:

In this tutorial, you will view an outstanding video on the meaning and history of habeas corpus: the law that prevents a person being held in jail or prison without being able to hear and contest the charges being brought against them. You'll then learn about 4 recent Supreme Court cases where habeas corpus has been called into question in the context of the global war on terror.

Type: Tutorial

A Conversation on the Constitution: Brown v. Board of Education:

In this video, you will hear from Supreme Court Justices O'Connor, Breyer and Kennedy as they recount the landmark Supreme Court decision on the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954. This case was instrumental in the advancement of the Civil Rights Movement and to desegregating public schools in America. The video also include discussion of a key event that followed the Brown v. Board ruling, specifically that of the nine students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957, a group known as the Little Rock Nine. Enjoy this conversation on the Constitution!

Type: Tutorial

The Living Room Candidate:

In this resource, you will experience a blast from the past! Go on a journey through U.S. political history as you view various campaign ads from past presidential elections. From the earliest television ads aired in 1952 to ads from 2012, this is a one stop shop with over 300 political commercials available to watch. Each election year contains information to set the context for the collection of commercials, as well as information about the major candidates who ran, and a map that displays the final election results. Enjoy this journey into America's political past!

Type: Tutorial

We Shall Overcome:

In this webisode brought to you by PBS, you will explore key events that took place in American history from 1963-1968, including the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. In this resource you can examine primary source documents and photographs, listen to segments of key speeches, examine a timeline and glossary, take a quiz, and explore additional resources connected to this era. Enjoy this journey into American history!

Type: Tutorial

Safe for Democracy:

In this webisode brought to you by PBS, you will explore key events that took place in American history from 1903-1927. Topics include the Wright Brothers, World War I, women's suffrage, Prohibition, jazz, Hollywood in the 1920s, and Charles Lindbergh. In this resource you can examine primary source documents and photographs, a timeline and glossary, take a quiz, and explore additional resources. Enjoy this journey into American history!

Type: Tutorial

Let Freedom Ring:

In this tutorial, you will explore key events that took place in American history from 1955-1963, including the rise of the Civil Rights Movement and early events in the Cold War. Through this interactive tutorial, you can examine primary source documents and photographs, listen to key speeches, and interact with a wealth of information during this webisode brought to you by PBS. The webisode even includes a timeline, glossary, quiz, and additional resources that you can examine to further explore this era. Enjoy this journey into American history!

Type: Tutorial

Sights and Sounds of the Roaring Twenties:

In this tutorial, you will explore an interactive map featuring video and audio clips that help you explore the sights and sounds of New York City in the 1920s. During this time in American history, life for Americans was in a constant state of change - culturally, politically, socially, and economically. Things were booming, especially in New York City. Enjoy this interactive exploration through an exciting time in American history!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: George H.W. Bush and the End of the Cold War:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind journey through George H.W. Bush's one-term presidency, which saw the end of the Cold War and the successful Gulf War in Iraq. During this time America continued to boom economically, but while one conflict ended, others would soon pop up in Africa and the Middle East. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. history!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: The Reagan Revolution:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind journey through the 1980s and President Ronald Reagan's two terms in office. President Reagan is often credited for a strong economy and for ending the Cold War. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. History!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: The Clinton Years, or the 1990s:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind journey through recent history and learn about America in the 1990s. During this time President Bill Clinton oversaw globalization and a strong economy linked to the rise of the Internet, but his successes didn't prevent his own impeachment... Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. History!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: Terrorism, War, and Bush :

In this tutorial video, you'll learn about the George W. Bush administration and America during the early 2000s. From the controversial Election of 2000, to the terrorist attacks that took place on 9/11, the 2000s were marked by domestic and foreign crises. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. history!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: The Sixties:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind journey through the 1960s, a decade in American history marked by social, political, and governmental change, as well as influential leaders such as JFK and Martin Luther King, Jr. You'll learn more about the Civil Rights Movement and the laws and court decisions that sought to bring equality to more groups of people in our nation. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. History!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: Conservatism:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind journey through the era of conservatism in the 1960s and 1970s in America. During this time, President Richard Nixon and others harnessed a backlash to 1960s liberalism by bringing groups together to fuel a new conservative movement across the nation. You'll learn about Watergate and about key pieces of legislation and government agencies, such as the ERA and EPA, that mark this era. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. History!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: Economic Malaise:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind tour through America in the 1970s. Presidents Ford and Carter were the nation's chief executives during this time, and both are usually considered "failed" presidents for their inability to improve America's economic decline over the course of the decade. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. History!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: Civil Rights and the 1950s:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind journey through key events of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s in America. During this time, society focused on achieving equal rights and more protections for all groups in America, especially African-Americans. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. History!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: Reconstruction:

In this tutorial video, you will take a whirlwind journey through the period of Reconstruction in American History. As you may know, Reconstruction was a critical time in America of rebuilding and reinventing the South in the years after the Civil War. You'll learn about its successes and failures. Enjoy this "crash course" review!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: Immigrant Cities:

In this tutorial video, you will take a whirlwind journey through the migration patterns and influx of immigrants to our nation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, along with the resultant growth of cities. These trends impacted the labor movement, workforce, and politics of this era. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. history!

Type: Tutorial

Crash Course U.S. History: The Progressive Era:

In this tutorial video, you'll take a whirlwind journey through the Progressive Era in American history. During this time, people were attempting to solve governmental and societal issues, all while trying to better implement equality for all. Enjoy this "crash course" in U.S. history!

Type: Tutorial

Video/Audio/Animations

Uncle Tom's Cabin: Reception & Significance:

In this video from Khan Academy, you'll learn about the reception and cultural significance surrounding Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. The publication of this novel is considered one of the causes of the Civil War.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Uncle Tom's Cabin: The Influence of the Fugitive Slave Act:

In this video from Khan Academy, you'll learn about the political and cultural issues that inspired the writing of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. These include the compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act. The publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin is considered one of the causes of the Civil War.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

How to Read a Document, Part 2: Analyzing FDR's Inaugural Address:

 

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

How to Read a Document, Part 1: Source Identification:

Learn how to "think like a historian" in this brief video from Khan Academy. Your hosts explain the difference between primary and secondary sources and analyze the beginning of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's First Inaugural Address.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Thinking Like a Historian:

Learn how to "think like a historian" in this brief video from Khan Academy. The speaker describes how thinking like a historian entails using the skills of a storyteller, a scientist, and a lawyer!

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Yorktown: Now or Never:

View a 10-part video on the Battle of Yorktown, the culminating battle of the Revolutionary War. With French aid, George Washington led American troops to a victory that ensured American independence.

In addition to the video, you will find primary source documents and a graphic organizer to help you analyze the Battle of Yorktown in greater detail.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this course.