In Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, learn how President Abraham Lincoln issued a bold declaration during the third year of the Civil War that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be free. While limited in immediate effect, the proclamation allowed Black men to join the Union Army and became one of the greatest documents of human freedom in U.S. history.
In Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, learn how the colonies made the case for independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War. A Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, drafted the document, drawing on ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke. The Declaration outlined reasons for independence, the philosophy behind it, the king’s offenses, and concluded with the resolution for freedom. It was approved on July 4, 1776, and its original draft is now on permanent display in Washington, D.C.
In Thomas Jefferson Takes Power, learn how Thomas Jefferson became the first president inaugurated in Washington, D.C., and promoted freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. He significantly reduced the national debt, reformed taxes, and faced early foreign challenges, including confrontations with Barbary pirates. Jefferson also oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States, and commissioned exploration of the Mississippi River.
In Obama’s Presidential Victory, journalist Clive Myrie shows Barack Obama’s presidential victory as a historic turning point and the passing of a long-fought baton to a new generation of leadership. Drawing on voices from advisors, supporters, and Rhea McCauley, the niece of Rosa Parks, the video explores themes of dignity, perseverance, hope, and the belief that progress is possible when people reject cynicism and act together. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Obama: His Story, which traces Obama’s extraordinary journey to the presidency and its meaning within the broader African American freedom struggle.
In Obama Takes the National Stage, journalist Clive Myrie covers how Barack Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, a moment that would introduce him to the nation. Watch Obama’s early nerves, growing confidence, and the power of a speech that connected personal stories to broader ideas of freedom and justice. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Obama: His Story, which traces Obama’s extraordinary journey to the presidency and its meaning within the broader African American freedom struggle.
Meet the Leaders Who Shaped a Nation.
They were visionaries and leaders, but they were also imperfect people shaped by their times. From bold founders and wartime decision-makers to reformers and risk-takers, these U.S. presidents guided the nation through moments of hope, conflict, and change.
In this video playlist, explore BBC clips featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and others, examining both their achievements and their shortcomings. A thoughtful playlist that encourages students to see history with nuance, question leadership, and understand that progress is often driven by complicated people making difficult choices.
In The Rocky Mountains of North America, narrator Douglas Henshall highlights the dynamic landscape of the Rockies. From the American Southwest to the Yukon, this extreme environment offers freedom, but also requires its inhabitants to have exceptional survival skills. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Mountains: Life Above the Clouds, which showcases wildlife thriving in the world's highest mountains.
News is supposed to be impartial, but that’s not always the case. So how does bias get into the news? Introduce your students to why journalism’s standards of impartiality are so important and how recognizing bias will help them judge the accuracy of the news they encounter. In this lesson, they’ll explore how perspective can shape a report and try their hand at rewriting biased reporting.
In Different Perspectives, host Radzi Chinyanganya explores how journalists avoid bias in the media by showing a range of opinions so that people can decide what they think for themselves. For example, in one report, a teenager named Nikita regularly protests his government in Moscow. He admits that not everyone shares his negative views on Vladimir Putin. A second report describes Putin in both the eyes of his supporters and opponents. His supporters see him as popular and charismatic, but his opponents think he leads by force and has taken away freedoms. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In The World's Incarcerated Children, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights how child inmates in Madagascar make up part of the 1.5 million children who are currently imprisoned, held in immigration detention, or placed in institutions around the world. The episode delves into the harsh realities these children face and explores how their lack of freedom impacts their lives and futures. It raises important questions about justice, human rights, and the impact of systemic issues on young lives. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In Defection: Escape From North Korea, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights the story of a young person from North Korea who leaves this reclusive and secretive nation. North Korea is known for its totalitarian government and its strict control over its citizens' lives, including their thoughts, actions, and access to information. Through the eyes of the young defector, gain insight into the harsh realities of life under such a regime, the hope for escape, and the pursuit of freedom in a world where surveillance and propaganda are constant. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
The article "The Emancipation Proclamation: Abraham Lincoln's Declaration That Helped Bring About the End of Slavery" from BBC's HistoryExtra is about how President Lincoln's 1863 order declared freedom for enslaved people in the Confederacy. Although it didn’t free everyone at once, it shifted the Civil War’s focus to ending slavery and led to the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the United States.
In Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, learn how President Abraham Lincoln issued a bold declaration during the third year of the Civil War that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territories were to be free. While limited in immediate effect, the proclamation allowed Black men to join the Union Army and became one of the greatest documents of human freedom in U.S. history.
In Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, learn how the colonies made the case for independence from Britain during the Revolutionary War. A Committee of Five, including Thomas Jefferson, drafted the document, drawing on ideas from the Virginia Declaration of Rights and John Locke. The Declaration outlined reasons for independence, the philosophy behind it, the king’s offenses, and concluded with the resolution for freedom. It was approved on July 4, 1776, and its original draft is now on permanent display in Washington, D.C.
In Thomas Jefferson Takes Power, learn how Thomas Jefferson became the first president inaugurated in Washington, D.C., and promoted freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. He significantly reduced the national debt, reformed taxes, and faced early foreign challenges, including confrontations with Barbary pirates. Jefferson also oversaw the Louisiana Purchase, doubling the size of the United States, and commissioned exploration of the Mississippi River.
In Obama’s Presidential Victory, journalist Clive Myrie shows Barack Obama’s presidential victory as a historic turning point and the passing of a long-fought baton to a new generation of leadership. Drawing on voices from advisors, supporters, and Rhea McCauley, the niece of Rosa Parks, the video explores themes of dignity, perseverance, hope, and the belief that progress is possible when people reject cynicism and act together. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Obama: His Story, which traces Obama’s extraordinary journey to the presidency and its meaning within the broader African American freedom struggle.
In Obama Takes the National Stage, journalist Clive Myrie covers how Barack Obama delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, a moment that would introduce him to the nation. Watch Obama’s early nerves, growing confidence, and the power of a speech that connected personal stories to broader ideas of freedom and justice. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Obama: His Story, which traces Obama’s extraordinary journey to the presidency and its meaning within the broader African American freedom struggle.
Meet the Leaders Who Shaped a Nation.
They were visionaries and leaders, but they were also imperfect people shaped by their times. From bold founders and wartime decision-makers to reformers and risk-takers, these U.S. presidents guided the nation through moments of hope, conflict, and change.
In this video playlist, explore BBC clips featuring George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and others, examining both their achievements and their shortcomings. A thoughtful playlist that encourages students to see history with nuance, question leadership, and understand that progress is often driven by complicated people making difficult choices.
In The Rocky Mountains of North America, narrator Douglas Henshall highlights the dynamic landscape of the Rockies. From the American Southwest to the Yukon, this extreme environment offers freedom, but also requires its inhabitants to have exceptional survival skills. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Mountains: Life Above the Clouds, which showcases wildlife thriving in the world's highest mountains.
News is supposed to be impartial, but that’s not always the case. So how does bias get into the news? Introduce your students to why journalism’s standards of impartiality are so important and how recognizing bias will help them judge the accuracy of the news they encounter. In this lesson, they’ll explore how perspective can shape a report and try their hand at rewriting biased reporting.
In Different Perspectives, host Radzi Chinyanganya explores how journalists avoid bias in the media by showing a range of opinions so that people can decide what they think for themselves. For example, in one report, a teenager named Nikita regularly protests his government in Moscow. He admits that not everyone shares his negative views on Vladimir Putin. A second report describes Putin in both the eyes of his supporters and opponents. His supporters see him as popular and charismatic, but his opponents think he leads by force and has taken away freedoms. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In The World's Incarcerated Children, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights how child inmates in Madagascar make up part of the 1.5 million children who are currently imprisoned, held in immigration detention, or placed in institutions around the world. The episode delves into the harsh realities these children face and explores how their lack of freedom impacts their lives and futures. It raises important questions about justice, human rights, and the impact of systemic issues on young lives. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
In Defection: Escape From North Korea, host Radzi Chinyanganya highlights the story of a young person from North Korea who leaves this reclusive and secretive nation. North Korea is known for its totalitarian government and its strict control over its citizens' lives, including their thoughts, actions, and access to information. Through the eyes of the young defector, gain insight into the harsh realities of life under such a regime, the hope for escape, and the pursuit of freedom in a world where surveillance and propaganda are constant. This video is excerpted from BBC’s My World, a program created for teenagers eager to learn more about the important stories shaping our world.
The article "The Emancipation Proclamation: Abraham Lincoln's Declaration That Helped Bring About the End of Slavery" from BBC's HistoryExtra is about how President Lincoln's 1863 order declared freedom for enslaved people in the Confederacy. Although it didn’t free everyone at once, it shifted the Civil War’s focus to ending slavery and led to the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the United States.