Before the United States had the Constitution, it had the Articles of Confederation, a much weaker government that lasted from 1777 to 1789. In this video, Kim and Leah discuss the pros and cons of the Articles, and the reasons they were discarded in favor of a new Constitution.

Students will analyze a picture of Paul Revere's Engraving and answer some guided photo analysis questions. 

In 1787, the Framers of the US Constitution came together to create a stronger central government. In this video, Kim discusses how the Framers compromised over the plan for the legislative branch of government, combining the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan to form the House of Representatives and the Senate.

How revolutionary was the American Revolution? In this video, Kim models the historical thinking skill of continuity and change by comparing society before and after the Revolutionary War.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . . " In this video, Kim explores the origins of the Declaration of Independence in the ideas of Enlightenment philosopher John Locke and its resounding message in history.

How and why did the Northern and Southern parts of the United States begin to develop distinctive regional attitudes about the institution of slavery? In this video, Kim discusses how the economic systems and ideas of each region evolved over time, leading to two very different societies.

The Seven Years' War (known in North America as the French and Indian War) was the first truly global war, in which the British and the French competed to be the world's foremost imperial power. In this video, Kim discusses the background to the conflict and what each combatant wished to achieve.

The first years of the Seven Years' War didn't go well for the British (even though 22 year old George Washington was in command!). Then they decided to spend a lot of money on winning the war -- and they succeeded! The only problem was how to pay back their debt . . . maybe some new taxes on the American colonists?

The rhetoric of the American Revolution, which emphasized that "all men are created equal," led many to question existing social norms in the years after the Revolution. The ideals expressed by the Founders influenced the expansion of voting rights, the gradual abolition of slavery in the North, and a new role for women through republican motherhood.

The US Constitution established three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial. In this video, Kim discusses how the Framers employed the concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances to limit the power of government.

John Dickerson discusses the history and the significance of the Articles of Confederation. John Dickerson is co-host of CBS This Morning. He was previously CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent, Political Director and anchor of Face The Nation. Dickerson is also a contributor to Slate's Political Gabfest and to The Atlantic. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Dickerson moderated CBS News' two presidential debates. Prior to CBS, Dickerson was Slate Magazine's Chief Political correspondent and covered politics for twelve years for Time magazine.

John Dickerson discusses George Washington's leadership qualities and his role as president. John Dickerson is co-host of CBS This Morning. He was previously CBS News' Chief Washington Correspondent, Political Director and anchor of Face The Nation. Dickerson is also a contributor to Slate's Political Gabfest and to The Atlantic. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Dickerson moderated CBS News' two presidential debates. Prior to CBS, Dickerson was Slate Magazine's Chief Political correspondent and covered politics for twelve years for Time magazine.