America Explained
Breaking Down the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. It guarantees all Americans basic freedoms – but those freedoms have always been under attack.
What Is the US Constitution?
How has the U.S. Constitution endured when it was created over 200 years ago? Why is it still the supreme law of the land today?
The Miss America Protest of 1968
In 1968 – the Miss America beauty pageant became the focus of an audacious protest that helped move feminism forward.
Museum of Artifacts That Made America
The Tobacco Press: Revolutionising Farmers’ Gold
Today we know the risks of smoking tobacco, but over 100 years ago the dangers were less so, and tobacco became a booming business in Kentucky. Its success can in part be credited to the Burley tobacco press.
Civil War Prosthetics: A Step Forward in Battlefield Medicine
James Edward Hanger was hit by shrapnel from a cannonball at the beginning of the American Civil War- he designed the world’s first articulated prosthetic that could bend like a real leg.
The Swivel Chair: How Thomas Jefferson Invented the Office Chair
As one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson’s words helped found a nation. But did you know that he also invented the modern day swivel chair?
Hidden Figures
Rachel Carson’s Fight for the Environment
At a time when few people were aware of the damage being done to our environment, marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson demanded that the US government take responsibility to protect people – and the planet.
Patsy Mink: Changing the Rules
The first Asian American woman ever to be elected to Congress, Patsy Mink dedicated her life to participating in the democratic process and improving the lives of others.
Ethel Payne: First Lady of the Black Press
How Ethel Payne wielded her first amendment right to ask the tough questions and hold those in power to account.
Women and the American Story
Toypurina: The Indigenous Female Freedom Fighter
The story of a Tongva woman named Toypurina who led a rebellion against a Spanish mission in Alta California.
Mary Church Terrell: Bringing Suffrage & Equality Center Stage
Mary Church Terrell was a lifelong activist who advocated for suffrage and equal rights.
Harriet Robinson Scott: How Filing for Freedom Triggered the Civil War
The story of Harriet Robinson Scott who challenged slavery in the highest court in the United States.
Art That Changed America
Indigenous North American Tattoos
To Indigenous North Americans, tattoos aren’t just decorative, they’re also sacred, rich in artistry and meaning, and of huge social, cultural and religious significance.
How Art Saved Yellowstone National Park
The first dedicated National Park anywhere in the world, Yellowstone attracts millions of visitors every year. It was saved for posterity by the work of two pioneering artists.
9/11: Art From Ashes
September 11, 2001 is a day etched into the memories of millions. Art around the world is being used to explore and understand.
Things You Didn’t Know
Epidemics in America: Learning from the Past
They’re diseases that affect people living in a single country or region – but what impact have historic epidemics had on US society?
Mount Rushmore: Carving History and Controversy
It’s one of the most recognisable landmarks in the United States – but what’s the untold story behind Mount Rushmore National Monument?
Bizarre Treatments: When Medicine Did More Harm than Good
Learn about the bizarre and often dangerous medical treatments used in America up until the 20th century.
Academy of American Democracy
Women in Ancient Athens
The lives and rights of women in Greece, from a modern perspective, seem severely limited; yet, they played important roles in society.
Democratic Symbols in Ancient Athens
In ancient Athens, symbols were used to promote religious and democratic ideals and beliefs. Thousands of years later these symbols helped to define the United States.
Ancient Greek Theater
Greece was home to hundreds of open-air arenas where citizens came together to discuss the important issues of the day. Like Broadway today, they were a place for both entertainment and important social commentary.
Speeches That Changed America
George W Bush: Speech After September 11
President George W. Bush delivers a much anticipated speech to a Joint Session of Congress, outlining America’s reaction to the unprecedented atrocity.
Patrick Henry – Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
Patrick Henry delivers a speech on the rights of the colonies before the Second Virginia Assembly. His words ‘give me liberty or give me death’ would become the war cry of the revolution.
Shirley Chisholm – Equal Rights for Women Speech
Shirley Chisholm, the first African American Woman elected to Congress, addresses the US House of Representatives to argue in support of a controversial women’s rights bill; the Equal Rights Amendment.
Ronald Reagan – Tear Down This Wall
On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan delivers a speech to the people of West Berlin, calling upon the Soviet Union to tear down the wall that divides the city.
Lyndon B Johnson – The Great Society Speech
36th President, Lyndon B. Johnson delivers his famous speech “The Great Society”. See if you can hear any parallels to modern-day America?
William Jennings Bryan – Flag of an Empire Speech
Former U.S. Secretary of State, William Jennings Bryan deliver an impassioned speech regarding Imperialism