Allied servicemen of World War II spent the majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday activities." In this program, former soldiers recall the interludes between the interminable marching and the periods of deadly fighting.

Documentary, public information film, morale booster; propaganda film – all descriptions that apply to Humphrey Jennings and Stewart McAllister's extraordinary war-time film. Using his customary combination of poetry and propaganda, Jennings constructs a collage of the various people and classes of Britain, at home and at work, at war and at peace. The result, while not overtly proselytising, sounded a clear clarion call to internal and international...

In the late 1800s, Maggie Walker, an African American community leader, helped establish a sanitarium for tuberculosis patients, a community center, and an educational loan fund, among other humanitarian projects. She was also the first woman in the United States to become founder and president of a chartered bank.

The award-winning Horrible Histories returns for a special episode about Mary, Queen of Scots, starring Jessica Ransom. We follow Mary as she stumbles from young girl in Scotland, to queen in France, back to queen in Scotland, and finally to Elizabeth I's public enemy no. 1—with a bit of Queenian Rhapsody thrown in for good measure! Meanwhile across the world we meet silver-nosed Danish scientist Tycho Brahe, and Mr. H gives us his unique take on...

In the first half of the 19th century, Americans pushed westward across the Appalachians, the Mississippi River, and the Rocky Mountains, en route to the Pacific Ocean. The frontier experience shaped the American character. At the same time, land hunger, gold fever, and the pursuit of “Manifest Destiny” resulted in the removal of many American Indian nations, acquisition of vast swaths of Mexico through the Mexican-American War, and a painful...

It began as a protest against the Conscription Act of 1863 – but quickly descended into the bloodiest race riot in US history. So why did New York’s White working class kill at least 120 people during the New York Draft Riots?

This episode of the U.S. Army's The Big Picture television show spotlights the political, economic, and social background that brought about the creation of a military force for the free Bonn Republic of West Germany. The creation of this German Army was an important plank in the founding platform of the NATO nations as the addition of this force unified the stand of these nations against aggression. This video shows the American Army officers training...

In this episode, the story comes up to date with the 20th century. Starting at Munich's beer halls, we learn about Hitler's first revolt at the Munich Putsch which resulted in his imprisonment at Landsberg, where the young Hitler was to dictate his memoirs, Mein Kampf. Whilst Hitler was fighting for power in Germany, women were fighting a different battle, that of sexual rights. In the back streets of Manhattan, nurse Margaret Sanger works with American...

Shawnee warrior Tecumseh unites the Native American tribes to resist expansion; after Thomas Jefferson orchestrates the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis & Clark make their legendary expedition to the Pacific; and a new war for America begins.

Black and white indentured servants were treated similarly in the 1620s. By the early 18th century, the expanding slave trade caused many colonies to adopt strict "black codes," transforming the social system into one of legal racial oppression.