Source: History Detectives

Discover the important role that aerial photography played during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Learn from a photo analyst who worked on the project what types of intelligence it was possible to gather from the photographs and how they were used.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies, The Arts

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1945-early 1970s. Critical Thinking Skills. Photography.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Explore how the Supreme Court after World War II established new constitutional meaning behind the power of the state and the rights of the individual. Analyze the Supreme Court case Minersville School District v. Gobitis.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

See how the Fourteenth Amendment, which gave Congress explicit powers to enforce the rights of former slaves in even the most resistant rebel states, was greeted in the South, and how its vague language left it open for interpretation by states.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. United States History: 1850-1877.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Learn how five lawsuits spurred the Supreme Court to strike down the Civil Rights Act of 1875. Consider the Court's assertion that the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits only states from denying equal protection, not individual shop or business owners.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. United States History: 1850-1877.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Watch how the issue of bakers' working hours led to a challenge of a state law. Analyze the impact of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Supreme Court on workers' rights in the beginning of the 20th century.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Learn what happened when the Supreme Court came up against President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal policies and reversed its position on liberty of contract. Review the case of West Coast Hotel v Parrish, in which the Court supported a minimum wage law.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Discover how the invention of the steam-powered printing press led to the first mass mailing to promote the abolition movement. Learn how Jackson used the power of the presidency to convince postmasters to burn the pamphlets rather than deliver them.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Examine the story of increased terrorist activity in Europe against the backdrop of strained relations with the U.S., increasing Muslim immigration and a Europe struggling to unite.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: European Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: American Experience

Explore the life and deeds of this gifted statesman - the most powerful man in America next to George Washington and the most significant person in American history who never served as president. Discover what led to his downfall and notorious death.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1754-1820s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Learn how President Jackson bolstered efforts to curb the increasingly powerful corporations and banks that he felt encroached upon the rights and liberties of the common man.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Economics. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Watch how, in response to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Cherokees appealed to the Supreme Court in an effort to prevent forced relocation to the West.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: Native American Studies. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Examine the extent to which the critical infrastructure of the U.S., including electrical power, finance, telecommunications, health care, transportation, water, defense and the Internet, is vulnerable to cyber attack.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies

Topics: Communications & Computing. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Secrets of the Dead

Watch as the Allied plan is described in detail using archive footage and reenactments. Discover why Supreme Allied Commander General Eisenhower decided to send the invasion force in at low tide, and the pros and cons of that decision.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. World History: 1900-1945.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Examine the integrity of the U.S. drug safety system. Evaluate the adequacy of the current FDA system and the role that drug companies play in the approval and monitoring of prescription drugs.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Health & Fitness, Social Studies

Topics: Consumer Health. Medicine. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Discover how it was possible for Jackson to win both the popular and electoral votes but lose the election to John Quincy Adams, a Washington insider. See how last-place candidate Henry Clay influenced votes in the House of Representatives.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Community & Citizenship. Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

See how Jackson's supporters created the first true political campaign in American history, using grassroots rallies and lithographs depicting Jackson's heroism during the War of 1812 to gain the popular vote.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Community & Citizenship. Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

Uncover the story of a reign of terror that took place in Elaine, Arkansas in 1919. Learn about the twelve black men chosen by southern whites to take the blame and an African-American lawyer who fought the case to the Supreme Court.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: American Experience

Listen to a speech from Carl Stokes, the first African-American mayor of a major U.S. city. Consider why he felt it was important to ask voters not to support or oppose him based on his skin color.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1945-early 1970s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: American Experience

Reflect on the Jim Crow laws, and explore the Emmett Till murder trial while examining the public's reaction to the case. Listen to Mamie Till's description of the trial, and consider why the killers' acquittal helped ignite the civil rights movement.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1945-early 1970s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: American Experience

Review news clips shown during the trial of African-American students who conducted the sit-ins in Nashville in 1960. Compare the points of view of a sit-in leader, the acting judge and the mayor of the city.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: American Experience

Watch as Reverend Jesse Jackson speaks to a church audience in 1983, describing the relationship between African Americans and the Democratic Party. Observe Jackson's charismatic speaking, which helped to increase black voter registration in 1983.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: American Experience

Watch a video clip in which Atlanta mayoral candidate Maynard Jackson explains how he feels about Watergate. Learn about Maynard Jackson's platform, and discover why he felt Atlanta needed new leadership.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: American Experience

Examine several clips from newsreel footage of anti-war demonstrations, counter-demonstrations and Martin Luther King leading protestors to the United Nations.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1945-early 1970s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Consider how Andrew Jackson's views about Native Americans led to the Indian Removal Act. Listen to Cherokee oral historian Benny Smith describe attempts by this tribe to assimilate into white culture in order to stay on their land.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: Native American Studies. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Watch this brief overview of the complex and often polarizing figure who would become a two-term American president.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

Identify the strategy of this chief attorney for the NAACP in selecting cases of school discrimination to challenge before the Supreme Court. Describe how this coordinated effort was designed to end educational segregation in the U.S.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Trace political strategist Karl Rove's impact on the policies of the Bush administration, especially during the 2004 presidential election. Investigate Rove's stand on current issues, including the battles on Social Security, taxes and tort reform.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Investigate the bi-partisan commmission on a ballistic missile threat setting in motion an accelerated push for national missile defense that continues today. Consider whether national missile defense is a moral necessity or an expensive fantasy.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government. Historical Perspective.

Resource Type: Video

Source: NOVA

Learn how scientists predict the amount of damage that will be caused by an approaching hurricane. Discover how state and federal agencies reacted to scientists' predictions before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies

Topics: Geology & Natural Disasters. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Watch this first of two videos covering the nullification crisis at the end of Andrew Jackson's first term. See how a toast the President made at a state dinner was calculated to let everyone know his position on states' rights.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Watch this second of two videos covering the nullification crisis at the end of Andrew Jackson's first term. Learn more about how the Tariff of 1828 opened up a tense debate about state rights that nearly led to the dissolution of the union.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Learn about the events and convictions that shaped Justice John Marshall's view of government. Learn why he believed that the national government should have more power than the states.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1754-1820s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Discover the events that led to the landmark Supreme Court case McCulloch v Maryland, which said states cannot tax national banks. Learn how Justice Marshall used the phrase "necessary and proper" from the Constitution to support the decision.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1754-1820s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Learn about the philosophies of Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall -- second cousins on opposite sides of the debate over states' versus U.S. government rights. Consider the irony of Chief Justice Marshall swearing in Jefferson as the third president.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1754-1820s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President George H. W. Bush discusses his pardon of former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger for conduct related to the Iran-Contra affair in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1968-1989.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President Gerald R. Ford discusses the absolute power of the President to pardon, as well as his pardon of President Richard Nixon, in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1968-1989.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President Jimmy Carter discusses presidential pardons, their potential for both justice and abuse and why he pardoned Vietnam draft evaders in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1945-early 1970s.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

Listen to this personal narrative as James Nix recalls what happened when his father killed another African American. Consider the justice system at the time, which shrugged off black violence unless it was directed at whites.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The U.S. - Mexican War

Listen to a portion of James K. Polk's 1845 inaugural address, in which he proclaimed that the U.S. must continue to expand and "extend the dominions of peace."

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Investigate the U.S. military's use of private contractors, which has reached an unprecedented scale during the Iraq war. Consider how the Pentagon's increasing reliance on private contractors raises questions about accountability and chain of command.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

Consider the legacy of Jim Crow as it affects justice for African Americans today. Listen to a radio story of a middle-class couple who were terrorized by drunk, white, off-duty policemen and how the courts dealt with the case.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

Listen to James Nix as he recalls how black adults during his childhood used the story of a man lynched for having a relationship with a white woman as a warning to "stay in your place."

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

Consider how the justice system applied to African Americans in the south during Jim Crow years. Learn how a young black man was arrested and beaten--for driving a nice car and expressing respect for his mother--and the reason he was released.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Take a look at what the Founding Fathers envisioned for the role of the presidency - a position that has drastically changed over time - and compare this vision with Andrew Jackson's. See how Jackson redefined the American presidency.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Watch to discover how, during his two terms, Andrew Jackson took steps to increase the powers of the presidency - forever changing the executive branch. Learn how his influence impacted the spoils system, the presidential veto and two-party politics.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Historical Perspective. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President George H. W. Bush discusses the need of the President to keep certain secrets regarding national security from the other branches in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President Jimmy Carter discusses his continuing belief that information and records from the executive office should be made public in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President Gerald R. Ford, also a former congressman, describes the goal of creating a perfect balance of power between Congress and the Presidency in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President Jimmy Carter, also a former congressman, describes changes he would like to see in terms of constitutional checks and balances in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Investigate the expanding industry of alternative medicine, pondering whether this is good medicine or just good business. Analyze the role of government in regulating the industry, and explore alternative treatments and therapies available today.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Health & Fitness, Social Studies

Topics: Consumer Health. Medicine. Civics: United States Government. Media Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President George H. W. Bush discusses the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany during his presidency in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. World History: 1945-1990.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President Gerald R. Ford compares the relative simplicity of Cold War military challenges to those facing President George W. Bush today in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government. The Military.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Consider how little the U.S. Constitution actually says about how to run the country. Learn how Jackson bolstered efforts to curb the increasingly powerful corporations and banks that he felt encroached upon the rights and liberties of the common man.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Economics. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Examine President George W. Bush's religious convictions and their impact on his political career and presidency. Consider the growing influence of America's evangelical Christians and how they affected the 2000 presidential election.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Analyze the O.J. Simpson trial and assess the role that race plays in our criminal justice system. Examine how the media covered the O.J. Simpson trial to consider the impact the media had on the trial.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Media Studies.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Explore the moral, judicial and constitutional implications of relying on plea bargains to keep cases moving through backlogged courts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The Supreme Court

Consider why William Rehnquist was chosen to lead the conservative revolution of the Supreme Court. Learn about Rehnquist's views on the Miranda decision.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Civil and Human Rights. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Explore the impact of communication system failures on victims of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster. Evaluate how governmental agencies in the U.S. help citizens in times of crisis and how this storm impacted their procedures.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Health & Fitness, Social Studies

Topics: Public/World Health. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Trace the history of how decisions made in Washington after 9/11 laid the groundwork for prisoner abuse in Afghanistan, Cuba and Iraq. Consider how far the U.S. should be willing to go to protect itself during the war on terror.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government. Ethics.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The U.S. - Mexican War

Discover how the roots of war began in February 1845, when Congress voted to annex Texas. Learn how Mexico felt about the action and what steps it took in retaliation.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The U.S. - Mexican War

Discover President Polk's economic motives for signing a declaration of war against Mexico in May 1846, and why not only Texas, but New Mexico and California were such highly-valued prizes for the United States. Explore Polk's three-pronged war strategy.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Geography. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: The U.S. - Mexican War

Explore American anti-war sentiments to understand how slavery rather than Mexican territory became the critical feature of the dispute. Listen to the words of Frederick Douglass, Henry David Thoreau and President Polk to explore both sides of the issue.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Cultural Studies: African American Studies. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video

Source: NewsHour Extra

Learn how political party nominating conventions make their selection of candidates for president and vice president. Consider how 2008's tight Democratic primary race may impact the general election.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Community & Citizenship. Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Frontline

Examine why the U.S. went to war in Iraq, what went wrong in the planning for the postwar occupation and what is at stake for both the U.S. and for Iraqis.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: Current Events/Issues. Civics: United States Government. United States History: 1990-present.

Resource Type: Video

Source: WHYY: Presidential Conversations on the Constitution

Watch as former President Gerald R. Ford, also a former congressman, discusses the presidential power of veto in a legacy conversation with journalist Cokie Roberts.

Grade Level: 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government.

Resource Type: Video

Source: Andrew Jackson: Good, Evil & the Presidency

Consider how Andrew Jackson handled complex issues during his presidency, like slavery, Indian removal, banking, industrialization and the preservation of the Union itself to determine whether he deserves historical praise or condemnation.

Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12

Subjects: Social Studies

Topics: Civics: United States Government. Historical Perspective. United States History: 1801-1861.

Resource Type: Video