The American Revolution was one of the most profound moments in history, a war for independence that turned the world on its head and influenced millions around the globe. From its neighbors on the green mountains of Vermont to the swamps of South Carolina and across the Atlantic to the Great Lakes and Gibraltar, America's untold story is an essential part of the American experience and continues to impact people today.
Whether you're looking for an engaging history documentary to watch with your kids, or want to learn more about America's untold story before you start school, there are a variety of different options available. From classics like Ken Burns' "The Civil War" to modern works like Ava DuVernay and Marlon Riggs', here are some of the best American history documentaries to watch now.
Ken Burns's 1990 film "The Civil War" remains to this day, the most popular history documentary aired on PBS. Garnering scores of awards, it has since shaped generations of Americans' perceptions about slavery and the Civil War, and remains a staple in history classes around the country.
But while "The Civil War" is a must-watch for anyone who wants to understand the events of the Civil War, it isn't without its flaws. While it does a great job of providing historical context and making the war seem inescapable, it also plays up a number of myths about the Civil War that may not be true.
Its most prominent example of this is its use of a Confederate apologist, Henry Foote, to provide the Civil War's final word in each episode. While Foote has a well-known anti-slavery agenda, and his quotes aren't entirely accurate, he is able to use the documentary's narrative to promote his views in an effective way.
For instance, during the film's closing scene, Foote claims that if President Lincoln had won the election instead of Andrew Jackson, slavery would still have been legal. In a sense, the film's use of Foote's quote was a psychological pass, as it helped Americans believe that the Civil War was inevitable and based on slavery alone.
Despite these flaws, it is still considered an important historical documentary for its insights into the Civil War and slavery. But while it has certainly helped shape America's beliefs about the war, its failure to provide an adequate account of the facts has left it vulnerable to scrutiny and criticism from historians.
Another great way to get more accurate and challenging accounts of the Civil War is through contemporary filmmakers who are not trained as historians. Ava DuVernay and Marlon Roggs, for example, have created powerful and relevant documentaries that delve into topics like Black power, gender, and the African Diaspora.
Likewise, Exterminate All the Brutes is a hybrid docuseries that uses rich archival footage and animation to challenge the very notion of how we write history. Its four episodes offer an incredibly visually arresting journey into the darkest hours of humanity, delving deep into the exploitative and genocidal aspects of European colonialism, from America to Africa and its implications for our society today.
FAQ
Why do actors end up on the blacklist?
Actors are more likely to be rejected than writers. Actors are likely to be rejected often. It doesn't matter if you get rejected a lot because eventually you'll meet someone you love.
Actors are usually very talented, meaning they can make a living almost anywhere. However, most actors aren't interested in making money. Actors enjoy acting and telling stories. It's likely that you will be acting if your passion is acting.
Sometimes, auditions are cancelled because you are either too young or too old for the job. Or, you could lose out on a role in a movie. It happens all too often.
But once you've been cast, you may also face criticism. People may tell you that your makeup looks terrible and you shouldn't use it. If you're lucky, you won't even hear negative comments.
Sometimes your character isn't real or authentic and you will be criticised. Perhaps you're a gay man who everyone believes is straight. You could also play a woman with a tendency to cry a lot, even though she's supposed to be tough.
Maybe you are asked to change your vocal chords. Sometimes they ask you to sound like either a boy or a girl. They usually want you sound better.
It is best to ignore these criticisms. Actors often feel that they've failed if they are told they did something wrong. The truth is they haven’t done anything wrong.
They were not born with the talent that would make them famous. Sometimes, no matter what they do, they just don't fit the bill.
Blacklisting an actor could be for many reasons. Some people don't like actors. Others believe actors are lazy. Others still believe that actors cheat.
Whatever your reason, it doesn't matter. You won't get blacklisted for trying. There are many roles available, and you will find them.
As long as you keep trying, you'll eventually succeed.
Which is the most mysterious spot on Earth?
Antarctica is the world's most mysterious place on Earth.
What is it that makes this place so interesting? Because it is unlike any place on Earth.
It is very remote and isolated. But there is more to this site than meets the eye.
Some of the most bizarre wildlife species can also be found in this natural wonder.
So let's explore how this remarkable destination became famous for its mystery.
Antarctica: The South Pole
Antarctica's name is a mystery. Some believe it refers to "land of ice". Others believe it comes out of Greek mythology.
Antarktis was an ancient Greek name that was given to the island where Zeus and his twin brothers, Zeus. According to legend, one of the twins was born in winter. Thus, the term antarctic.
Others believe that the name is a combination of the Greek words anti and tropos which mean against and turn. This would mean land turned away from the sun.
Whatever the reason, Antarctica has always held a special fascination for people.
It is the continent with the lowest, windiest and highest temperatures. It is too cold to support trees, plants, and animals.
Yet, this frozen wasteland is alive.
Here, 90 percent live of all species of living things. Here are approximately 50% of all the animal and plant species in the world.
What is it that makes Antarctica so unique? Here, water freezes and becomes ice instead of evaporated into the air.
This causes large amounts of ice to float above ground.
These floating glaciers make up 80%. They are growing in size every year.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet has grown 60 feet in the past 60 years.
If the melting continues, sea level could rise up to 200ft. It could result in massive flooding all over the world.
This does not mean that everyone is wrong. Some scientists think global warming might be beneficial. According to scientists, global warming could be good for us because the melting of the ice sheets will accelerate, which can lead to floods that release toxic chemicals into our soil and bodies.
However, others caution that this theory sounds a lot like a plot in a science fiction movie.
Have you ever wondered what amount of trash is generated each day worldwide?
The United Nations states that an average person produces more than 2.5 pounds of waste per day. That's over 25 billion pounds of garbage each year!
Most of the trash ends up at incinerators and landfills. But, what happens to those dumpsters? All that trash ends up being shipped out of country. The trash is then sent out of the country and dumped in countries where it pollutes ecosystems. But, one man has now discovered exactly where this rubbish goes. Mike Sexton is his real name. He is the owner of Waste Watchers. His job involves monitoring the movements and routes of trash trucks across North America. Then he reports back to us about what happens next.
Sexton says he finds his job very satisfying. CNN interviewed Sexton and said that he has a lot of fun. "We often see large rigs passing through our town and we will follow them. "Sexton began following truckers almost 20 year ago.
He stated that he fell in love with the product.
His favorite story involved a driver who pulled off at an abandoned gas station near Los Angeles. "The guy was looking for someplace to put his load," Sexton recalled. "He saw the building as he drove down the road. He stopped and pulled up, then he went inside. "There were two large roll-off containers full of stuff. The guy took everything out and started filling up the truck again. "Then he looked at the place and decided to unload everything. There were many old tires, furniture, rags and mattresses. "It was just total chaos. But it had been cleaned out before he came along. There wasn't any trash."
So why did this happen? Well, the answer is that this particular location used to be part of a recycling center.People who learned about this facility would drive here to recycle their trash. "They'd bring their household items and take them to this building," Sexton explained.And after they finished, they would leave the empty containers behind.
This could happen hundreds of time per week. It could happen hundreds of thousands of times a week. The truck eventually stops running because it has become so jammed with junk. The owner eventually decides to dump the truck.
Trash, however, isn't the only problem facing our planet.As you may have noticed, things are getting worse.According to experts, pollution levels have risen dramatically in recent years.More than half of all water bodies on Earth are polluted.Pollution from industrial chemicals has increased by more than 30 percent since 1980.Even the air we breathe is becoming increasingly toxic.A study by the World Health Organization found that the average person inhales around 100 million particles daily.
Many of these tiny plastic pieces end up in landfills and incinerators. Others get washed into rivers or oceans.And when they reach the ocean, they often end up in the stomachs of fish.
Experts warn us that we may soon face an international food shortage if things don't change. One expert said, "If we keep going as we are going, we're never going to make it," but most people don’t seem concerned.
Is there a Hollywood blacklist?
There is a Hollywood blacklist.
But the list isn't made public. As far as we are aware, the names are not even known. It matters because of this.
The secret is because the directors and actors on blacklist wouldn't have any job opportunities. Thus, they would leave the industry and studios will lose money. This would mean that they would cut back on movie production. Which would mean fewer opportunities for the blacklisted filmmakers. This could lead to them going bankrupt.
This could eventually lead to more victims.
In short, when someone tries to make an oscar winning movie, they might be asked to sign a contract saying they won't speak publicly against their employers. The same goes for any director or producer who wants to get nominated for an award.
That's why you hear stories about how producers pressure directors to remove scenes from their films. Directors might threaten to leave projects that don't reflect their vision.
This is the reason there is a Hollywood blacklist. If you make negative comments about your employer, it's likely that you will be unemployed. That's bad for everyone.
The problem is that many people have been falsely accused. They have had to fight for their freedom.
We must stop this from happening again. Everyone should have the right to speak freely.
We must get rid of the Hollywood blacklist.
Statistics
- "It is estimated that 75% of people have at least mild gum disease, with the most common symptoms being bleeding when brushing, bad breath, and dark and swollen gums," Dr. Ron Baise, a London-based dentist, tells Romper. (romper.com)
- You spend about 10% of your time awake blinking (romper.com)
- According to a 2018 study published in Free Radical Biology & Medicine, this is because blood pressure is regulated by our innate circadian rhythm and internal clock. (romper.com)
- In fact, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, you make 15 to 30 gallons of tears each year, which is insane when you think about it. (romper.com)
- A 2012 paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported that people blink about 15 to 20 times each minute, meaning, if you do the math, you spend about 10% of the time that you're awake blinking. (romper.com)
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American history secret societies and clubs
American History is fascinating because of many reasons. One reason is because of the mystery surrounding them. A second reason is their impact on society.
Secret societies and clubs have been used throughout America's history to promote ideas that would otherwise be considered taboo. Anti-Semitism is one example of such ideas. These groups also contributed to the spread of political ideologies, such as communism & socialism.
The Ku Klux Klan is America's most well-known organization. This group was established in 1865, after the Civil War had ended. Its purpose is to protect white people from African Americans.
The Knights Templar and Freemasons were also created during this time. These groups all shared similar goals and beliefs.
Another interesting aspect of secret society membership is that it was not only for males. However, these groups had some female members. These women included Emma Goldman. Margaret Sanger and Susan B Anthony.
In addition to the groups mentioned above, other secret societies did not share the same ideals. The Order of Skull & Bones is an example of a secret society that was established in 1832. Their goal, however, was to create an elite section within the United States.