U.S. History

"Hailed as a landmark in historical storytelling, Ken Burns’ classic Emmy Award–winning nine-part series The Civil War brings to life America’s most destructive—and defining—conflict. Narrated by historian David McCullough. Distributed by PBS Distribution."
9-part series, 62-100 minutes each.

"This six-part collection features 9 hours of conversation with Howard Zinn, historian and shipyard worker, civil rights activist and author of the hugely successful A People’s History of the United States. The book was a best seller that inspired, and continues to inspire, generations of high school and college students to rethink America’s past. Professor Zinn’s brand of history put ordinary citizens at the center of the story and encouraged readers to acknowledge that change is possible. In 2007, Howard sat down with Ray Suarez, a veteran journalist then featured on PBS Newshour, and their discourse covered many facets of American history, spanning from the Founding Fathers to today's wars in the Middle East."
6 part series, about 90 mins each

"Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a household name in black America during much of her lifetime (1863-1931). This film is a stirring biography of a crusading journalist, anti-lynching campaigner, and black suffragette during the most repressive years of the Jim Crow period. It documents the dramatic life and turbulent times of the pioneering African-American woman during the post-Reconstruction period. Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison reads selections from Wells’ memoirs and other writings in this winner of more than 20 film festival awards."
54 mins

"While the complexities of the American political system have never been greater, the right visual aid can help students sift through them—and even develop a passion for the subject. This six-part series is an ideal tool for introducing and exploring key aspects of U.S. government and public policy. Using a combination of eye-catching graphics, dynamic video footage, and interviews with legal and political scholars, each episode celebrates a particular dimension of American democracy while equipping students to candidly discuss political issues. Topics range from the Constitution and the three branches of government to the electoral process and the responsibilities of citizenship. Viewable/printable instructor’s guides are available online. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production."
6-part series, 21–26 mins each.

"Countless observers have attempted to make sense of the last century—a time of rampant technological change, wild economic fluctuations, two world wars, two remarkable Roosevelts, and at least two homicidal dictators bent on world domination... Brimming with archival images and footage and derived from exacting research, these programs nevertheless have little to do with the charts and timelines of routine history lessons. Instead, they represent both a shrewd analysis of major events and a poetic chronicle of the century’s human currents."
19-part series, 52-83 minutes each.