How to (Re)Learn American History
Because ignorance won’t help us become a more perfect Union
It’s not too late to learn American history.
If history put you to sleep in high school, or if you were more interested in another subject or in dating/graduating/anything else, you’re not alone.
History textbooks are dense and dull. The most common strategy is to memorize, regurgitate, and forget.
But maybe you’ve seen the arguments about how history should be taught in schools today. Maybe you’ve learned things from your kids that you didn’t know happened. Things that shocked you.
Hiding from history or denying it won’t help us solve the problems of today or tomorrow, and leaving the state of our nation to politicians feels particularly risky these days.
I know you’re busy, but this is important.
Even if you hated it, flushed it, or were bored to tears by it in your youth, the story of The United States is worth revisiting.
And where better to start than a free, high-quality, and entertaining video series?
Crash Course US History
Crash Course is an educational YouTube channel hosted by brothers John Green and Hank Green. The channel was created originally for teachers and students of history and biology, but it grew to include many other subjects. They welcome anyone interested in learning.
The US History section was written by Raoul Meyer, an experienced high school history teacher, and John Green, a bestselling author. The videos were created to closely align with the 2013 AP US History curriculum.
With a fast pace, exceptional graphics, and engaging style, John Green delivers US History in a series of forty-eight videos.
Total running time 10.5 hours
Average video length 13 minutes
The videos are fun and full of information, but they’re best as an introduction or a review. If you’re not a history buff, you’ll be left with a lot of questions and (hopefully) a desire to learn more. If history is your thing, it will play like a highlight reel complete with witty humor and discerning insights.
Crash Course is an excellent start for (re)learning history, but to think deeply about where America has been and to best contribute to where she’s going, you’ll need more resources.
Stay tuned.
Image: Canva Pro
