The Thirteen Colonies

In this fast-paced and engaging episode of Crash Course US History, John Green explores the global conflict known as the Seven Years War (or the French and Indian War) and its pivotal role in setting the stage for the American Revolution. The video moves beyond simple dates and battles to examine the complex economic and social forces at play, specifically focusing on the economic theory of mercantilism and how the colonial drive for land and resources sparked a global conflagration.

This engaging animated video provides a kid-friendly history of the Declaration of Independence, explaining its origins, purpose, and enduring legacy. It takes students on a journey from the National Archives Museum where the document is stored today back to 1776. The narration clearly outlines the context of the thirteen colonies, the conflict with Great Britain, and the decision to become a free nation. It highlights key figures like Thomas Jefferson and John Hancock, and explains significant locations like Independence Hall. Key historical themes explored include the Revolutionary War, the role of the Second Continental Congress, and the drafting process involving the "Committee of Five." The video clarifies important dates, distinguishing between when the document was presented (June 28), voted on (July 4), and signed. It also breaks down the document's original, much longer title and offers a close-up look at John Hancock's famous signature. For the classroom, this video serves as an excellent introduction to American Civics and History. It makes abstract historical events concrete by using clear visuals and approachable language. Teachers can use it to spark discussions about what it means to be independent, the risks the signers took, and the meaning behind the famous words "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness," which are read aloud at the end of the video.

This educational video from Crash Course Black American History provides a nuanced examination of how the institution of slavery took root and evolved in the American colonies. It moves beyond simple dates to explore the economic motivations behind slavery, specifically the concept of mercantilism and the desire to minimize production costs. The video details the transition from using indentured servants to the systemic enslavement of Africans, highlighting the specific legal and social shifts that codified slavery into law based on race.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of the religious landscape in the United States, tracing its roots from a predominantly Protestant colonial society to a diverse modern nation. The narrator uses relatable analogies to explain complex social dynamics before diving into key historical periods, specifically focusing on how the Great Awakening reinforced early Christian dominance and how subsequent waves of immigration introduced Catholicism, Judaism, and Eastern philosophies to the American cultural fabric. Key themes explored include the tension between the constitutional promise of religious freedom (the Free Exercise Clause) and the historical reality of discrimination faced by minority groups. The video presents case studies on Jewish immigrants fleeing antisemitism and Chinese immigrants arriving during the Gold Rush, highlighting both their contributions and the systemic barriers they encountered, such as the Immigration Act of 1924. It defines important concepts like "religious revival," "secularism," and "antisemitism" within their historical contexts. For educators, this video serves as an excellent resource for U.S. History and Civics units. It connects abstract constitutional rights to concrete historical events, allowing students to analyze demographic shifts and discuss the social impacts of immigration. The video features built-in pause points for document analysis activities, making it a ready-to-use tool for teaching about the First Amendment, the history of immigration policy, and the value of cultural diversity.

In this installment of Crash Course US History, John Green explores the complex landscape of the American colonies beyond the typical stories of Jamestown and Plymouth. The video delves into the diverse origins of colonies like New Amsterdam (later New York) and Pennsylvania, highlighting the role of the Dutch and Quakers in shaping early American commerce and religious tolerance. It also examines the darker aspects of colonial expansion, including the 'Walking Purchase' fraud against the Lenape Indians and the establishment of a slavery-based economy in South Carolina.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of the early European colonization of the territory that would become the United States. It traces the timeline from Spanish settlements in the 1500s, through French exploration, to the establishment of permanent English colonies. The narrative focuses on key historical moments including the founding of St. Augustine, the struggles of Jamestown, the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and the eventual formation of the 13 original colonies.

In this fast-paced and nuanced overview of the American Revolution, John Green moves beyond a simple timeline of battles to explore the complex causes and contradictory outcomes of the war. The video connects the end of the Seven Years' War and British debt to the imposition of taxes like the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts, explaining how these economic pressures catalyzed a desire for self-governance. It distinguishes between the "War for Independence" and the actual "Revolution," challenging viewers to consider how revolutionary the event truly was for different groups of people. Key themes include the intellectual roots of the revolution in the Enlightenment, specifically the ideas of John Locke and Immanuel Kant regarding liberty and property rights. The video critically examines the hypocrisy inherent in the founding era, contrasting the soaring rhetoric of "all men are created equal" with the reality of slavery and the exclusion of women and non-property owners from political power. It highlights that for many—especially slaves, women, and the poor—the power structure remained largely unchanged despite the overthrow of the monarchy. For educators, this video serves as an excellent tool for teaching critical historical analysis rather than just rote memorization. It prompts students to evaluate historical narratives, understand the difference between political independence and social revolution, and discuss the complexities of the Founding Fathers. The content supports lessons on the Declaration of Independence, the influence of philosophical movements on political action, and the evolution of American democratic ideals.

This educational video provides a comprehensive overview of the Atlantic Slave Trade, examining the staggering statistics, economic motivations, and brutal realities of the "peculiar institution." Host John Green details the movement of 10-12 million Africans to the Americas, debunking common misconceptions about where enslaved people were taken—highlighting that the vast majority went to the Caribbean and Brazil for sugar production, rather than the United States. The video explores the horrifying conditions on slave ships and the dangerous labor of sugar processing, framing slavery not just as a historical event but as an economic engine driven by consumer demand. Beyond the physical aspects, the video delves into the intellectual and legal history of slavery, defining "chattel slavery" and the concept of "social death." It traces the roots of these dehumanizing ideologies through history, referencing Greek philosophy (Aristotle), Roman plantation models (latifundia), Judeo-Christian justifications (the Curse of Ham), and the Arab slave trade. The analysis challenges viewers to understand how slavery was justified intellectually and legally for centuries. This resource is highly valuable for high school history classrooms as it connects historical events to broader themes of economics, human rights, and moral responsibility. It encourages critical thinking about how language is used (critiquing the casual use of the word "slave") and concludes with a powerful reflection on the shared human responsibility for this tragedy, warning against using history to blame specific groups while exonerating others.

This fast-paced and engaging history lesson dives into the complex realities of early English colonization in North America, moving beyond the simplified myths often taught in elementary school. Host John Green contrasts the two primary English settlements: the profit-driven, struggling colony of Jamestown in Virginia and the religiously motivated, family-oriented colonies of New England. The video explores how these distinct origins—one based on tobacco and indentured servitude, the other on religious community and subsistence farming—created deep-seated regional differences that would shape American history.

In this episode of Crash Course Black American History, Clint Smith explores the origins and impact of "Slave Codes"—the set of laws passed in the American colonies to legally distinct Black people (both enslaved and free) from white colonists and to cement a racial hierarchy. The video details how these laws were not merely about labor management but were designed to protect the economic "investment" of enslavers by stripping Black people of basic rights, limiting their movement, and criminalizing their independence. The video examines specific historical statutes from colonies like Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, and New York, illustrating how the legal system evolved to make slavery hereditary and permanent. Key concepts such as "partus sequitur ventrem" (the condition of the child follows the mother) are explained to show how the law was manipulated to ensure a perpetual labor force. The narrative highlights the hypocrisy of colonists demanding liberty from Britain while simultaneously constructing a legal framework to deny liberty to Black Americans. For educators, this video serves as a crucial resource for teaching the systemic nature of racism and slavery in the United States. It moves beyond the view of slavery as just a labor system and reveals it as a legal and social structure designed to oppress. It is an excellent tool for High School US History and Civics classrooms to spark discussions about how laws can be used to enforce inequality and how the legacy of these colonial codes influences modern legal and social disparities.

This episode of Crash Course Black American History tells the remarkable true story of Elizabeth Key, a biracial woman born in 1630s Virginia who successfully sued for her freedom. Hosted by Clint Smith, the video explores the early colonial era when the legal distinctions between indentured servitude and slavery were not yet fully calcified. It details Key's background as the daughter of an enslaved mother and a white English father, her unjust imprisonment beyond her indentured term, and the groundbreaking legal battle she waged alongside her husband and lawyer, William Grinstead. The video delves into complex historical themes including the intersectionality of race, gender, and religion in colonial law. It breaks down the three specific legal arguments Key used to win her case: her father's status as a free white man, her baptism as a Christian, and the specific terms of her original indenture contract. The narrative highlights how colonial courts struggled with questions of lineage and status before the hardening of racialized slave codes later in the century. For educators, this video serves as a powerful case study for understanding the evolution of slavery in America. It moves beyond generalized narratives to show specific human agency and legal maneuvering. It is particularly useful for demonstrating that racial categories were constructed over time through legal systems. The video concludes with a critical reflection on justice, noting that while Key's story has a happy ending, it was the exception to the rule, prompting students to question the fairness of a legal system where freedom often depended on luck rather than justice.

In this episode of Crash Course US History, John Green explores the complex and often tragic relationship between English settlers and Native Americans during the colonial period. The video moves beyond the simple myths of Thanksgiving and Pocahontas to examine the economic, cultural, and political dynamics that drove interactions in the Chesapeake and New England. It details the shift from initial mutually beneficial trade to violent conflict, highlighting how differing concepts of land ownership, livestock, and gender roles contributed to the deterioration of relations. The content covers significant historical events including the Powhatan Confederacy's interactions with Jamestown, the Massacre of 1622, the Pequot War, and the devastating King Philip's War. It provides a nuanced look at historical figures like John Smith, Chief Powhatan, and Metacom, while addressing the brutality enacted by both sides. The video challenges the narrative of passive Native American victimization by highlighting their active resistance and the genuine threat they posed to the colonial way of life. This resource is highly valuable for high school history classrooms as it uses primary sources and historiography to deepen students' understanding of early American history. It encourages critical thinking about historical narratives, the impact of colonization, and the enduring legacy of these early conflicts. Teachers can use this video to launch discussions on the clash of cultures, the reliability of historical sources, and the systemic issues that shaped the formation of the United States.