Learning American History Through Movies & Free Timeline
Movie Homeschooling
I could not find a chronological list of movies of American History so I made the one below. First I created a timeline from 1630 to 2000 into 12 eras and listed the most important people and events. (You can download a 8.5×11 printable version here. ) Then I found period movies for each time period listed below (I will continue to add to this list).
Then we made a timeline on a white board and used sticky notes to record people and events as we watched movies (the timeline is not just for movies but to record any American events we learned about during reading or other subjects). This really helped put events in chronological order when we watch science documentaries or series like ”How the States Got Their Shapes” which bounce around in time periods.
If this list or the printable timeline is helpful to you, please pass it on via Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter or your blog.
Where or How to Get the Movies
Try searching your TV for shows to record on TV. All the movies below are available through Amazon used. Most can be watched online free through Hulu or rented via Netflix.
DISCLAIMER: I have not viewed all of the movies. Click through to read the description, reviews and ratings. Movies are not always accurate (didn’t stop us from watching the Ten Commandments). Use this as a teaching opportunity to explain to your children the inaccuracies. Check the ratings too as some may not be suitable for children. Please feel free to add suggestions in the comments.
Are Movies a Lazy Way to Teach?
Is Movie Homeschooling, homeschooling? Don’t fee guilty using movies to teach. We are hardwired for stories. Jesus used stories to teach. You don’t get brownie points for teaching with dry boring textbooks.
Use a movie as a jump off place for further research. When your children start asking things like “Is that why J. P. Morgan worked with Edison?” you know they are learning, thinking and remembering.
Movies Listed Chronologically by Era
Click on this Amazon Store to see the movies listed by era, and you can easily view ratings and reviews.
American History Overview
- America: The Story of Us
- History Classics: The States (See my post 50 States in 50 Days)
- 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America
- The History Channel Presents The Presidents
- How the States Got Their Shapes
- Ken Burns – American Lives
(Thomas Jefferson / Lewis & Clark / Frank Lloyd Wright / Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B Anthony / Mark Twain / Horatio’s Drive / Unforgivable Blackness)
Pre America Period
1630-1763 Colonial Period
- Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower
- The Mayflower Pilgrims (Amazon Instant Video)
- National Geographic – The New World: Nightmare in Jamestown
- William Bradford- The First Thanksgiving DVD
- Where America Began: Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown [VHS]
- The War That Made America: The Story of the French and Indian War
- When the Forest Ran Red
- Roots (Miniseries 4 DVD)
- Freedom & Repression In Colonial America
- Benjamin Franklin
- Crucible
- Deerslayer (French Indian War)
- Hawkeye (1755, 4 DVD)
1763-1783 Revolutionary America
- American Revolution Documentaries
- The History Channel Presents The Revolution
- John Adams
- 1776 (Musical)
- April Morning
- Johnny Tremain
(NR)
- A More Perfect Union: America Becomes a Nation
- Just The Facts – The United States Bill of Rights and Constitutional Amendments/ The Constitution
- Benedict Arnold – A Question of Honor
- The Crossing
- Drums Along the Mohawk
1783-1815 Young Republic
- George Washington DVD
- Centennial (Miniseries 6 DVDs)
- Thomas Jefferson
- War of 1812
- The History Channel Presents The War of 1812
- Louisiana Purchase
- National Geographic – Lewis & Clark
- Sacagawea – Heroine of the Lewis and Clark Journey
1815-1860 Westward Expansion
- Amistad
- Alamo
- Red River
- Davy Crockett
- Fort Apache
- High Noon
- Wild West Tech – Gold Rush Tech (History Channel)
- Shane
- Stagecoach
- Wyatt Earp (PG-13)
- Tombstone (R)
- Unforgiven (R)
- Walt Whitman
1830-1876 Civil War and Reconstruction
- Gone with the Wind
- North and South (Mini Series Emmy Award, 8 DVD)
- The Blue and the Gray (Miniseries 3 DVD)
- Hatfields & McCoys (Mini Series, 3 Emmy Awards, 2 DVD)
- Glory
- Red Badge of Courage
- Shenandoah
- Friendly Persuasion
- Civil War Documentaries
- The History Channel Presents The Civil War
- Dances With Wolves
- Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition)
- Ken Burns: The Civil War (Commemorative Edition)
- U.S. Mexican War 1846-1848
- Amistad
- Santa Fa Trail
- Gangs of New York (1840s to 1863)
1871-1914 Industrial Revolution
- Backstairs at the White House (Taft to Eisenhower)
- Industry and Empire: The Birth of the Industrial Revolution
- Ford Motor Company Auto Manufacturing
- Henry Ford
- Thomas Edison
- Railroad
- The Great Locomotive Chase
- The Vanderbilts: An American Dynasty
- American Experience: The Rockefellers
- The Men Who Built America
- Far and Away (PG13)
- Industrial Revolution
- Instant Expert: Oil
- Empires of Industry: Black Gold – The Story of Oil
- Empires of Industry – Andrew Carnegie and the Age of Steel
- Spanish-American War
- Seven Wonders of the Industrial World
1880-1920 Political Reform
- Mark Twain
- Teddy Roosevelt – An American Lion
- When Giants Roamed: The Golden Age of Steam (The History Channel)
- Ellis Island
- Christy Complete Series
- Anne of Green Gables
1914-1933 WWI / Prosperity/ Depression
- Sergeant York (NR)
- Spencer’s Mountain
- War Horse (PG-13)
- WWI Documentaries
- All Quiet on the Western Front
- Biography: Amelia Earhart – Queen of the Air
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
- All the King’s Men
- The Grapes of Wrath
- Ironweed
(R)
- J Edgar
1933-1945 New Deal / WWII
- WWII Documentaries
- The Longest Day
- Patton
- Empires of Industry: Victory at Sea: Mass Producing Liberty
- Hope and Glory
- The Great Escape
- The Hiding Place
- Anne Frank – The Whole Story
- The Diary of Anne Frank
- The Pacific
- From Here to Eternity
- Saving Private Ryan
- Hiroshima (get used)
- The House on 92nd. Street
- Passage to Marseilles
- Watch on the Rhine
- Atomic Cafe
- Hiroshima: Out of the Ashes
- Truman
- Red Tails
- Seabiscut
1945-1960 Post War
1960-1980 Vietnam Era
- Vietnam Documentaries
- Martin Luther King Jr
- Bay of Pigs
- JFK Assassination
- Civil Rights
- Nixon
- Apollo
- Frost/Nixon
Another few movies to include in your listing would be The Simeon Weisenthal Story goes well with Ann Frank and The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler is another to add as well. Another good Hallmark movie is Miss Rose White which is Post WWII…. have fun!
Thank you for such a wonderful list. I am working on a list for ancient history films as well as Early Church. I love having resources available as we approach various time periods
Thanks for making and posting this list! I’m not homeschooling anymore, but i still take every opportunity to supplement my girls’ education
I would like to suggest an addition to your list–Alex Haley’s “Roots” is a great “other-side-of-the-story” to Gone With the Wind, North and South, and The Blue and the Gray. Of course, the subject matter can be difficult for the very young, but it can be delicately explained to older ones.
I could hug you right now! My 10 year old son is dyslexic, not reading yet, and has a low tolerance for read alouds. Videos are huge tools for him. This list is saves me so much time – Thank you!!
[...] found this handy list for you online. Please note the site’s disclaimer. DISCLAIMER: I have not viewed all of the [...]
Genuinely no matter if someone doesn’t understand afterward its up to other visitors that they will assist, so here it occurs.
WOW! Being a teaching of various American History classes this is AWESOME! Thank you so very much!
Rita
All I can say is WOW!!! and THANK YOU!!! for this movie list — you have no idea what an answer to prayer this is to me right now….
I like the idea of posting a timeline of American History movies. You may be interested in the TV series I produced at Exploring History’s Treasures, http://www.exploringhistorystreasures.com
We show American History in an exciting way. I travel to schools across the country speaking to high school students. They get excited about what they are watching, and learn more by asking questions.
Thanks,
Frank W. Pandozzi
Executive Producer
I would add The Patriot to the list for the Revolutionary War era. If you are in SC, this movie aligns so well with the 8th grade standards. I have often shown this movie (after sending home permission slips) in my On my way! Classroom.
I LOVE this idea, however, I cannot get the printable download to work. Any suggestions?
I love, love, love this!! Thank you!!
[...] December 27, 2012 By Jamerrill Stewart Leave a Comment Visit Heart of Wisdom for ideas on learning American History through movies and a free timeline download. The free timeline covers 1630-2000 and is broken into 12 eras. The chronological movie list [...]
Thank you! This is phenomenal!
I use “Liberty’s Kids,” a former PBS who, with my fifth graders. It covers Pre to Post Revolution and the kids love them. They are short (20 minutes) and you can pick and choose which episodes best fit your needs. I purchased the 6 DVD set for $50.
[...] Historical fiction movies followed my hands on research and activities about the movie (Great list on HeartofWisdom.com) [...]
This list is awesome! Thank you for posting it!
I am definitely bookmarking this for future reference.
What a wonderful idea! Thanks for taking the time to put this list together. A couple of my kids actually learn well by watching shows/movies/documentaries (better than reading a so-called “boring” textbook) so this will be perfect.
This is great! Does anyone know of a similar list for Geography? I’m having trouble finding a good high school geography curriculum.
Great list – I think Last if the Mohicans would be a good addition to the pre-Revolution period. And a small note, Anne of Green Gables takes place in Canada – so not actually American, if you’re doing strictly American history. Otherwise I love the list!
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