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Civics and Citizenship

Geography: From Athens to America

Thanks, in part, to its unique geography, Athens is the birthplace of democracy, and one of the most successful city-states in all of Ancient Greece.

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Stonewall Uprising: The Fight Against Oppression

The LGBTQ+ community took a stand in 1960s America. Discriminated against because of their sexuality and gender identity, they campaigned for a fairer, freer society in a time of social and political upheaval in America.

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Is America Doing Enough To Go Green?

With global greenhouse gas emissions at record levels, and the future of Earth at stake, what are Americans doing to safeguard the planet for future generations? And what more can be done?

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We Call BS! Why Guns Are Big News

Millions of Americans value their Second Amendment right to own and carry arms. However, after 17 students and staff were shot dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School back in Florida in 2018 - students became the voice in the fight for gun law change. Meet Harvard University lecturer and author Caroline Light who explains why the gun control debate in America is louder than ever before.

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The Battle of the Sexes

Although half of Americans are female, women make up just 25% of Congress. In fact, women have been treated unfairly in America since day one – but what are the causes of that inequality and what are the effects?

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The History of Birth Control

The invention of the Pill in 1967 revolutionised birth control everywhere. But US scientists Gregory Pincus and John Rock weren't the first people to experiment with contraception – civilisations around the world have been doing it for centuries.

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A Tale of Two Leaders

Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis led Americans in the American Civil War. Both men were born in Kentucky and led opposing sides. But what happened to them both once the war ended?

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The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence was the first ever document to cement equality into the founding principles of a nation. It helped to bring the colonies together during a national crisis, but it was by no means perfect.

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Robert E. Lee: The Man Behind the Myth

He’s revered as the greatest Confederate general of them all, the personification of Southern loyalty, tradition and military strength. But there’s a lot more to the so-called ‘Marble Man’ than meets the eye. So, who was the real Robert E Lee?

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Dueling Economies That Fueled the Civil War

Which economy was best for the country's future? The industrial economy of the North? Or the plantation system of the South? The stage was set for a financial fracas that would lead to the deadliest war in US history.

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Dred Scott: Suing for Freedom

Dred Scott went to the US Supreme Court to sue for his freedom. The Court ruled that Black people were “inferior beings” with no Constitutional rights. This decision helped spark the American Civil War.

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Industry & Supply: The Race to Get Civil War Soldiers Frontline Resources

Supplying almost three million soldiers with the food, clothes and resources they needed to fight the Civil War was no easy task. So which side proved most successful?

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Japanese American Prison Camps on U.S. Soil

In 1942, at the height of the Second World War, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorised the incarceration of approximately 110,000 Japanese-Americans in the American West. But was Executive Order 9066 a step too far?

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The Secret Balloons that Bombed America

In 1944, Imperial Japan attacked the West Coast of America with hundreds of balloon bombs flown 6,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean. They took the lives of five Oregon school children and their teacher – and remain a threat to this day.

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Castle Bravo: The Largest Nuclear Explosion in US History

In 1954, the US Government conducted a series of secret nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands. The idyllic coral island Bikini Atoll became the epicentre of the largest nuclear test disaster in US history. The affects of radiation exposure and environmental destruction are still being felt by the Marshallese people today.

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Lewis and Clark: the Making of an Expedition

Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery opened the American West up to expansion and settlement – but it all rested on the expert planning and preparation.

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Wong Kim Ark's Fight for Birthright Citizenship

By taking on the US government and winning, Wong Kim Ark ensured that the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution granted citizenship to every American by birth, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

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Frederick Douglass' Composite Nation

Abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass believed that the U.S. could become the greatest nation in history – if it accepted the defining principles set out in his speech, Composite Nation.

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Public Spaces: The Birth of Nations

Public spaces are places for democracy. Open to everyone, and a space where people can gather, they could form a type of government where the people have ultimate power.

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Age of Revolution: When Enough is Enough

In the late 1700s, three major revolutions changed the course of history in the name of freedom and equality. The Age of Revolutions bore witness to this change.

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Could Veganism Save The World?

Veganism is sweeping the global. So why are more and more people deciding to cut all animal products from their diets – and why could doing so help to save the Earth?

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What Makes A State A State?

At first there were 13 – now there are 50! But what gives each US state the power to control its own laws and when does federal law take over?

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“You're Fired!” How To Get Rid Of The President

Impeachment is the process of removing the President from office. But what does it really take to get fired as Commander-in-Chief?

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The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers were written by three of America's Founding Fathers, in an attempt to convince the American people that the Constitution should be ratified.

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The Bill of Rights: Cornerstone of US Society?

Written by Founding Father James Madison in 1789, The Bill of Rights makes up the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. Many people still consider the Bill of Rights to be the cornerstone of our society, but not everyone agrees.

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The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most important documents in US history. Issued at the height of the American Civil War, it granted freedom to enslaved people living in the eleven breakaway states of the Confederacy.

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Country Music of Kentucky

This is the story of Route 23, known as the Country Music Highway that stretches across Eastern Kentucky, the home of some of America's greatest Country Music stars

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The Articles of Confederation

Did you know that before the Constitution, there was another governing system in the US? The Articles of Confederation.

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Wartime Elections

What is the effect of war on elections? Benjamin Franklin famously wrote: “Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”, but he forgot one thing – Presidential elections!

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When Russia Sold Alaska

In 1959, the United States officially welcomed Alaska into the family as the 49th state. But did you know that 100 years earlier, Alaska was actually part of Russian America?

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Invoking The 25th Amendment

What happens when the President is no longer able to perform their duties? That’s when the 25th Amendment to the US Constitution comes into play.

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The Anti-Masonic Party

Learn about the Anti-Masonic Party and how it challenged elitism at the highest echelons of US government.

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The Underground Railroad

A sprawling network of secret routes, pathways and safe houses, the Underground Railroad helped countless enslaved people escape to freedom in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Coast to Coast: America's First Transcontinental Railroad

Before there were viral videos and trending hashtags, the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 was one of the first mass media events in US history. Behind the glitzy headlines of that historic day - there’s a darker story to be told.

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The Origin of Earth Day Explained

On April 22, 1970, the US went climate crazy – as 20 million Americans took part in the very first Earth Day.

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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.

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The Road to Athenian Democracy

What forms of government preceded democracy and how did this pave the way for the ancient Athenians to invent democracy?

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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.

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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.

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Did a Book Spark the Civil War?

It was published nine years before a shot was fired. And was written by a woman. How did Uncle Tom’s Cabin fan the flames of the American Civil War?

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The Gettysburg Address: The Two-Minute Speech That Saved America

It’s got fewer words than the average rap song, and takes less time to read than it does to boil an egg. So how did the Gettysburg Address inspire a global movement for democratic change that’s still shaping our lives today?

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Emancipation Proclamation Exposed

The Emancipation Proclamation is one of the most important and misunderstood documents in US history. So, what did it actually proclaim?

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Civil War Amendments

Did you know that the US Constitution's most important amendments took place over just 5 years? So what happened between 1865 and 1870 – and how did it change America?

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Women of the Civil War

Women weren’t just spectators of the American Civil War – they played a vital role in the home, the workplace, the battlefield and beyond.

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War on the Water: Civil War Navies

The American Civil War wasn’t just fought on land – it took place on rivers and seas too. But the contrast between Union and Confederate navies could not have been more stark.

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What is a Citizen? From Ancient Athens to the US

Citizenship allows people to participate in the democratic process, but the road to inclusive citizenship has not been a smooth one.

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Voting in Ancient Athens

The United States is a representative democracy where people vote for politicians to govern on their behalf – but voting in the direct democracy of ancient Athens was a very different process.

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Democratic Symbols

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.

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What is The 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?

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Remembering the Civil War

No two Americans had the same experience of the Civil War – and everyone remembers it differently. Through the stories they told – and the artifacts that survived – various narratives emerged!

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Civil War Tactics: Shooting as Many as Possible

The Greeks fought in phalanx formation. In medieval times, they preferred the wedge. So what made Civil War armies fight in long, straight lines that left them wide open to attack?

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The New South: After Reconstruction

After the American Civil War, the American South attempted a rebrand. But would it accept the progressive social and political changes of the Reconstruction Era?

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Civil War Innovation & Technology

It was the most destructive conflict in US history – but the American Civil War also saw the emergence of new technologies and innovations born from a will to win.

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The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

The Lincoln Douglas Debates of 1858 were some of the most controversial in US history. Having deepened the divide between North and South – they helped bring the nation to war.

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The Story of American Barbecue

Today, barbecue is a big part of American culture. But did you know that this staple of the great American menu is actually older than the United States itself?

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The Invisible Plight of Poor Southern Whites

For many poor White families in the Antebellum South, slavery did not pay – so why did the ruling elite erase their narrative from the history books?

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Horse-Riding Librarians

The Pack Horse Library Initiative saw hundreds of female librarians cross the Appalachian Mountains to deliver books to those in need.

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Plague and Prejudice: The Black Death in California

As the world grapples with new pandemics, what can we learn from the US’s mixed response to the Bubonic Plague, which arrived in San Francisco in 1900?

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The 442nd: The Most Decorated Regiment of the Second World War

Despite the racism they faced, the bravery and heroism of the Japanese American 442nd Regiment Combat Team made them one of the most decorated units in United States history.

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David Pharaoh Asserts Indigenous Rights

Montaukett leader David Pharaoh fought for indigenous land rights – and established a lasting legacy as the founder of America’s first Montaukett school.

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Joseph Henry Douglass: Changing America With Music

Classical violinist Joseph Henry Douglass helped empower the Black community through music and education at a time when Southern lawmakers were pushing back against the progress of Reconstruction.

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Mediterranean World: Inspiring America's Democracy

Discover how 3,000 years ago the Ancient Mediterranean World improved the life of the people through trade and the sharing of customs, knowledge and ideas.

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Civic Engagement: Power to the People

Democracy was born when the Athenian government transitioned from the “rule of a few” to the “rule of many”, around 3,000 years ago.

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Designing the Constitution: Learning from our Ancestors

How the Founding Fathers used the experiences of other democratic societies to inform the US Constitution.

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Slavery in Democracies: The Greatest Hypocrisy

How could democratic societies claim to support equality while holding humans in bondage? The legacy of slavery tests the democratic ideal that everyone has an equal right to freedom and self-governance.

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1619: The Legacy of Slavery in America

1619 was a significant year in the history of America for better and for worse. In Jamestown, Virginia the first slaves were imported and sold. Meet Nikole Hannah-Jones; author of New York Times' "1619 Project" who will examine the impact of that year on American History, culture and development.

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Never Again Action: Young Jews Against ICE

In June 2019, reports of immigrant children detained in cages on the US-Mexico border stunned America. Meet the extraordinary, Jewish people working in peaceful protest to demand change from the ICE.

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GI Jane: What I Loved About Serving in the Army

Selective Service may only apply to young men but more women than ever are entering the US military. Meet Lesley-Ann Crumpton, a former Captain in the US Military Police who will explain more about her life and what inspired her to do her part.

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Are You Being Spied On?

Should the US government be allowed to spy on its citizens to protect society as a whole? There are arguments for and against – but the Big Brother state isn't a conspiracy theory, it's real!

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Get Schooled! How the Electoral College Works

It's a system that's unique to the United States of American – but exactly is the electoral college, how does it work and what part does it play in our democracy? Discover more about the group of "electors" who have the final say.

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Fighting for LGBTQ Rights: Is the United States Really United?

The 10th Amendment to the Constitution allows each state to set its own laws. That's meant that in Colorado, LGBTQIA+ rights have often been repressed. Meet the students at William J. Palmer High School who took their school district to court - and won!

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The Battle of Middle Creek

The Battle of Middle Creek took place in Floyd County on January 10, 1862, but why was it so important to the legacy of the American Civil War and the history of the USA?

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The Bill of Rights: What is it and what Rights does it Guarantee?

The right to stand up for what we believe in is as American as apple pie and is protected under US law by the Bill of Rights: a list of ten amendments to the US Constitution that almost never existed.

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All Men are Created Equal? The Founding Fathers' Views on Slavery

What did the Founding Fathers really think of slavery? And how did that impact the laws they created?

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Bright Lights, Gritty City

In the space of just 40 years, the majority of Americans packed their bags for a new life in the city. So what brought on this seismic shift from rural to urban dwelling? And what was the fallout?

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The Chinese Massacre Explained

The Chinese Massacre of 1871 was the deadliest lynching in U.S. history – wiping out 10% of LA’s immigrant Chinese population in the space of just a few hours.

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Art as Activism: Statements of Democracy

Art is a powerful democratic tool because it can inspire emotion and empower people to take direct action to achieve a social or political goal.

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How The Census Changed America

A nationwide head count of all those who live in the United States, the US Census takes place every ten years. It shows us how society constantly changes – but it also took decades of struggle for every person in America to count.

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Standing Up To ICE: How Young People Are Protesting For A Fairer America

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a government agency that tracks and apprehends illegal aliens. But when its officers caged children on the Mexico border, young people stood up for change.

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Hotboxing History: Is The United States Really United?

Have you ever wondered why cannabis is legal in some states but not others? It all goes back to the US Constitution – and another disagreement between the Founding Fathers.

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How Prostitution Built The Wild West

Putting the "wild" into Wild West, prostitution was big business in frontier communities – and gave the so-called "soiled doves" who controlled the industry wealth and influence as America grew.

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Women of the American Revolution: The Real Unsung Heroes

During the American Revolutionary War some American women disguised themselves as men in order to join the fight, and played a critical role both on the home front and on the battlefield.

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Ulysess S Grant: Profile of a Leader

In 2020, a statue of former US President Ulysses S Grant was toppled by Black Lives Matter protesters. A Civil War hero who helped bring about an end to slavery, he was a controversial figure too.

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The Harlan County Coal Wars

Harlan County coal miners in the 1930s went on a labour strike protesting about the conditions. Coal companies and the local police forces put them under. It broke out into civil unrest and Unions were established.

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Common Sense: Democracy in Print

We’ve all seen our fair share of American political ads in recent years. But the very first? That could be Common Sense - written by Thomas Paine – an 18th century pamphlet designed to incite rebellion!

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The United Colonies of America: More Diverse Than You'd Think

Despite their many differences, the North American colonies eventually came together as one country – the United States of America. It’s that acceptance of other cultures, other ideas, other people, that makes us truly American.

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The Ten Crucial Days that Changed the American Revolutionary War

Did you know that little over a year into the American Revolutionary War, the US army had been reduced to just 3,000 men? But over ten crucial days, all of that changed thanks to one man: George Washington.

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America's Two-Party System

The United States is essentially a two-party system, unlike other democracies around the world where people can vote for political parties representing many different interests. Is that a good or a bad thing?

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Y2K: Countdown to Catastrophe

Learn about the Y2K bug crisis that led millions to believe at the dawn of the millennium that computers around the world would crash, causing the end of civilization.

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Race in Ancient Greece

We often think of ancient Greek society as White, but it was a lot more diverse than we give it credit for.

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Paying for the Civil War

It cost the equivalent of billions of dollars in today’s money, and left the US government crippled with debt. But how, exactly, did America pay for the Civil War?

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Lives of the Enslaved During the Civil War

How did life change for enslaved people as the American Civil War raged around them?

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The First Allies of the Revolution

The United States’ first true allies, the Oneida Tribe helped the Patriots to win the American Revolutionary War – but at what cost?

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The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe

Famous American author Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting death may have been a result of cooping, a violent form of voter fraud practiced in the 19th century.

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Elections in the United States

How do elections actually work?

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Black Soldiers and the Fight for Citizenship

For those enslaved, it was the perpetrator of countless horrors. So why did almost 200,000 African-Americans put their lives on the line to preserve the United States?

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Choosing Sides: Native Americans and the Civil War

What about the Native Americans who found themselves stuck in the middle of the Civil War – why did they fight for both sides?

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Reconstruction: Old Nation or New?

Reconstruction was one of the most tumultuous periods in US history. After four years of Civil War, not everyone agreed on the best way forward. The result was 12 years of violence and political strife.

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Civil War Hospitals

The medical hospitals established during the American Civil War helped save thousands of lives – and change how the US military cares for troops to this day.

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Animal War Heroes

Animals aren’t just cute – during times of war, they’ve proven to be immensely useful. Some have even been awarded with prestigious medals for helping to save lives.

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Frances Ellen Watkins Harper's Pursuit of Absolute Equality

This film is about the most important events of Watkins Harper’s early life, highlighting her early achievements as a writer.

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Atlantic World: New World, New Possibilities

Paving the way for modern democratic society, the ancient Mediterranean world traded goods and ideas across three continents over thousands of years.

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What is the Significance of 1619?

The year 2026 marks the bicentennial of a landmark year in US history – when the first European women and enslaved people arrived on North American soil, and US democracy was born.

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America: Nation of Immigrants

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses..." It's true that the United States has always been a nation of immigrants, but as the debate around border control becomes louder and more polarised, will we be in the future?

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Your Country Needs You! The Selective Service System

In peaceful times, the US Armed Forces are well stocked with brave men and women who voluntarily sign up to serve. But in the event of a third catastrophic global conflict, it is possible for the US government to rapidly recruit from the civilian population, thanks to the Selective Service System.

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Is Now The Time to Talk About Guns?

Gun control in the United States has been a loaded term for decades. So who is favour of the Second Amendment – and who is fighting back against it?

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Who has the Right to Vote in the United States?

Puerto Ricans pays taxes but can't vote in Presidential Elections. While in Chicago, between 2006 and 2016, 199 dead voted from beyond the grave! So how does voting law really work in the United States?

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Can America's War on Drugs Ever Be Won?

As our understanding of the consequences of drug abuse has improved, so America’s relationship with drugs has changed. From Nixon to Trump, the so-called 'War on Drugs' has cost the US government billions – but will there ever be an end in sight?

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The Rosenbergs: First Civilians Executed for Espionage

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were the first US citizens to be convicted and executed for sharing government secrets during peacetime. Were they innocent?

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The Continental Congress

The Continental Congress was short-lived, but the role that it played in helping America to become an independent democracy can never be forgotten.

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The US Constitution

We all know what the US Constitution is – but do you know its origins story? Let’s delve into history and discover more about the most document in US history.

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Language of the Revolution

Did you know that hipsters were a thing back in the 18th century and were known as Macaroni? Our ancestors liked to get creative with language: especially in the world of politics.

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America's First President: Setting Precedents

Did you know that George Washington didn’t want to become the first US President? Despite his reluctance, he set many precedents which remain pillars of the office today.

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The Supreme Court: Gatekeeper of the Constitution

Ever wonder why a new appointment to the Supreme Court is such big news? Of the three branches that make up the Federal Government, it’s arguably the judiciary – the courts system – that has the greatest impact upon our lives.

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The Citizen Soldier

With the first shots of the American Revolution, they downed tools and ran to help in the fight for independence. This is the story of the ordinary people who helped found a nation.

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The Gilded Age: When America Became a Superpower

Learn about the Gilded Age, a period of immense social and industrial change in US history.

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Shots Fired! Why Being President is a Deadly Job

Of all the Presidents who have held office since the foundation of the United States, four were gunned down by assassins. This is their story.

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The Havasupai Project Explained

When the Havasupai tribe became the subject of a medical trial in the 1990s, their DNA was covertly used for scientific testing that participants had not consented to. Thirteen years later the secret was discovered and the tribe filed a lawsuit against the researchers.

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Manhattan Project Human Experiments

When scientists at the top secret 'Manhattan project' wanted to discover how radioactive bomb materials could affect the human body – they secretly injected terminally ill patients with uranium to find out.

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The Tulsa Race Massacre Explained

It was one of the deadliest terror attacks in US history. So why wasn’t the Tulsa Race Massacre properly taught in US schools until 2019?

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