Back

Essentials: Documents and Law

A series of films exploring some of the most significant documents and legal decisions in the history of the U.S. Appropriate for Middle and High School.

Or Add Series to Wish List

Season 1

Published in 1776, Thomas Paine's 47-page pamphlet, "Common Sense", sold hundreds of thousands of copies across the colonies. By employing relatable language and Biblical references, it rallied many to the cause of American independence.

Add to Wish List

212. Common Sense

Published in 1776, Thomas Paine's 47-page pamphlet, "Common Sense", sold hundreds of thousands of copies across the colonies. By employing relatable language and Biblical references, it rallied many to the cause of American independence.

Add to Wish List

Plessy v. Ferguson

In 1892, Homer Plessy's arrest for sitting in a train car reserved for White passengers led to a Supreme Court decision that endorsed racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Add to Wish List

174. Plessy v. Ferguson

In 1892, Homer Plessy's arrest for sitting in a train car reserved for White passengers led to a Supreme Court decision that endorsed racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Add to Wish List

The Gettysburg Address

President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address redefined the Civil War, emphasizing democracy and equality, and remains a cornerstone of American ideals.

Add to Wish List

172. The Gettysburg Address

President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address redefined the Civil War, emphasizing democracy and equality, and remains a cornerstone of American ideals.

Add to Wish List

The Indian Appropriation Acts

The Appropriations Acts of 1851 and 1871 led to the creation of government-run boarding schools, where hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children were forcibly assimilated into White society.

Add to Wish List

171. The Indian Appropriation Acts

The Appropriations Acts of 1851 and 1871 led to the creation of government-run boarding schools, where hundreds of thousands of Indigenous children were forcibly assimilated into White society.

Add to Wish List

The Reconstruction Acts

The Reconstruction Acts aimed to unify the United States after the Civil War by readmitting Southern states and addressing racial inequalities, but their impact was all too brief.

Add to Wish List

170. The Reconstruction Acts

The Reconstruction Acts aimed to unify the United States after the Civil War by readmitting Southern states and addressing racial inequalities, but their impact was all too brief.

Add to Wish List

The 15th Amendment secured the voting rights for African American men, marking the culmination of progressive legislative changes during the Reconstruction era.

Add to Wish List

169. 15th Amendment

The 15th Amendment secured the voting rights for African American men, marking the culmination of progressive legislative changes during the Reconstruction era.

Add to Wish List

The 14th Amendment

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, redefined American liberty by ensuring citizenship rights, due process, and equal protection under the law, marking a pivotal shift during Reconstruction.

Add to Wish List

168. The 14th Amendment

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, redefined American liberty by ensuring citizenship rights, due process, and equal protection under the law, marking a pivotal shift during Reconstruction.

Add to Wish List

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States in 1865. But it was just the beginning of a long fight for equality and civil rights.

Add to Wish List

167. 13th Amendment

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States in 1865. But it was just the beginning of a long fight for equality and civil rights.

Add to Wish List

Kansas-Nebraska Act

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, escalating tensions that led to the Civil War.

Add to Wish List

166. Kansas-Nebraska Act

The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed territories to decide on slavery through popular sovereignty, escalating tensions that led to the Civil War.

Add to Wish List

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 transferred 55% of Mexican territory to the U.S., and ignited a fierce debate over slavery in these new lands.

Add to Wish List

143. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 transferred 55% of Mexican territory to the U.S., and ignited a fierce debate over slavery in these new lands.

Add to Wish List

The Indian Removal Act of 1830

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of Indigenous Peoples from the fertile East to the arid West, marking a tragic chapter in U.S. history with the harrowing Trail of Tears.

Add to Wish List

142. The Indian Removal Act of 1830

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 led to the forced relocation of Indigenous Peoples from the fertile East to the arid West, marking a tragic chapter in U.S. history with the harrowing Trail of Tears.

Add to Wish List

The Monroe Doctrine

In 1823, President James Monroe redefined U.S. foreign policy with a three-paragraph addition to his State of the Union address. The Monroe Doctrine ultimately led to a new era of U.S. imperialism.

Add to Wish List

141. The Monroe Doctrine

In 1823, President James Monroe redefined U.S. foreign policy with a three-paragraph addition to his State of the Union address. The Monroe Doctrine ultimately led to a new era of U.S. imperialism.

Add to Wish List

Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation created the United States' first government. This foundational document paved the way for the development of a more unified and powerful federal system, under the U.S. Constitution.

Add to Wish List

127. Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation created the United States' first government. This foundational document paved the way for the development of a more unified and powerful federal system, under the U.S. Constitution.

Add to Wish List

The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed the first direct British tax on American colonists, igniting widespread protest and setting the stage for rebellion.

Add to Wish List

122. The Stamp Act

The Stamp Act of 1765 imposed the first direct British tax on American colonists, igniting widespread protest and setting the stage for rebellion.

Add to Wish List

Treaty of Ghent

The War of 1812, between the United States and Great Britain, ended with the Treaty of Ghent. This historic agreement, negotiated in Belgium over five months, proved that the U.S. could achieve its aims through diplomacy.

Add to Wish List

119. Treaty of Ghent

The War of 1812, between the United States and Great Britain, ended with the Treaty of Ghent. This historic agreement, negotiated in Belgium over five months, proved that the U.S. could achieve its aims through diplomacy.

Add to Wish List

The Treaty of Paris

In 1783, the Treaty of Paris formally ended the American Revolution. This historic document secured American independence but failed to address important issues that would lead to future divisions.

Add to Wish List

118. The Treaty of Paris

In 1783, the Treaty of Paris formally ended the American Revolution. This historic document secured American independence but failed to address important issues that would lead to future divisions.

Add to Wish List

Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 nearly doubled the size of the United States. But expansion to the West would bring new challenges for the fledgling country.

Add to Wish List

103. Louisiana Purchase

The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 nearly doubled the size of the United States. But expansion to the West would bring new challenges for the fledgling country.

Add to Wish List

The Coercive Acts

Learn how Britain's Coercive Acts, aimed at punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, encouraged rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies.

Add to Wish List

95. The Coercive Acts

Learn how Britain's Coercive Acts, aimed at punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, encouraged rebellion in the Thirteen Colonies.

Add to Wish List

The Townshend Acts

The Townshend Acts of 1767-68 imposed heavy taxes on American colonists, sparking widespread protests and setting the stage for the American Revolution.

Add to Wish List

94. The Townshend Acts

The Townshend Acts of 1767-68 imposed heavy taxes on American colonists, sparking widespread protests and setting the stage for the American Revolution.

Add to Wish List

The Mayflower Compact

In September 1620, a group of colonists left England to make a new life. By the time they reached North America, they had written the Mayflower Compact: a document that would lay the groundwork for democracy in the U.S.

Add to Wish List

91. The Mayflower Compact

In September 1620, a group of colonists left England to make a new life. By the time they reached North America, they had written the Mayflower Compact: a document that would lay the groundwork for democracy in the U.S.

Add to Wish List

The Navigation Acts

The Navigation Acts were a series of trade laws passed by the British Parliament in the 1600s. Learn about how they fuelled discontent in the Thirteen Colonies, setting the stage for the American Revolution.

Add to Wish List

89. The Navigation Acts

The Navigation Acts were a series of trade laws passed by the British Parliament in the 1600s. Learn about how they fuelled discontent in the Thirteen Colonies, setting the stage for the American Revolution.

Add to Wish List

Ratified in 1791, The Bill of Rights is recognised as a cornerstone of American democracy. In this video, learn about why it was created and what rights it grants citizens.

Add to Wish List

6. Bill of Rights

Ratified in 1791, The Bill of Rights is recognised as a cornerstone of American democracy. In this video, learn about why it was created and what rights it grants citizens.

Add to Wish List

Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in history. But why was it written, what did it say and what impact did it have?

Add to Wish List

5. Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in history. But why was it written, what did it say and what impact did it have?

Add to Wish List

Close