From humble beginnings, Abraham Lincoln rose to become the 16th president of the United States. Elected amidst of the crisis and ensuing trauma of a Civil War, he overcome a myriad of daunting challenges to become one of our greatest Presidents, best known for the Emancipation proclamation, the Gettysburg Address and his tragic assassination.
One of the original Founding Fathers, Franklin was noted for his discoveries, writings, ingenuity, and diversity of interests. His clever writings and proverbs are widely quoted this day. An architect of the American Revolution, despite never holding national elective office, he was a leader of the Enlightenment, and recognized and revered across Europe, the United States and around the globe.
Born in Birmingham in a middle class neighborhood, Condoleeza Rice became a woman to inspire all people. In late 2000 she became the first African American woman to be appointed the National Security Advisor to President George W. Bush and four years later was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of State. But these are just a few of the many remarkable things she has achieved.
Edward (Ted) Kennedy was a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts for nearly five decades. Born I one of the most powerful and legendary political families in American history, he first joined the Senate in 1962 to fill the seat left when his brother John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States. He was re-elected eight times, making him the third longest serving and most effective Senators in US history.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only man elected 4 times as President of the United States. Crippled by pilio, he led a stricken nation through the dark days of the Great Depression and World War II with an eternal optimism that the spirits of millions of people, and the "New Deal" which offered hope for the future.
Washington proved his worth on the field of battle during the French and Indian War. When the Revolutionary War began, George Washington was elected Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. After six long years of battle, America won her Independence from Great Britain, and Washington was unanimously chosen to lead the new nation as it's first president.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States. This informative program chronicles his life as he grew up from a sickly child to a war hero, best-selling author, and finally one of the 20th Centuries most transformative politicians. He fought for civil rights, inspired the U.S. space program and provided decisive leadership and courage during the tense days of the Cuban Missle Crisis.
Nearly 70 years old, Ronald Reagan was the oldest person ever elected president. After a movie career in Hollywood, Reagan went into politics and was elected Governor of California. Running on a conservative platform, he was twice elected President of the United States. Dubbed "Great Communicator," Reagan's policies help end the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
Twice elected vice-president under Eisenhower, Richard Nixon then lost the 1960 presidental election to John F. Kennedy. Nixon re-emerged and won the presidency in 1968 and again in 1972. His administration de-escalated the was in Vietnam and established relarltions will China. However, due to the Watergate scandalz he was the first president to ever resign from office.
Prior to becoming the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt had been a mayor, a governor, the Secretary of the Navy, a rancher and a war hero. As President he used his "bully pulpit" and the mass media to gamer support for his progressive agenda. During his tenure he was able to break up large corporate monopolies, champion worker's rights and advocate for the conservation of millions of acres of public lands.
William (Bill) Clinton became the 42nd President of the United States in 1993, and the first Democrat to serve two terms since FDR. After graduating from Georgetown and attending Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, he became the youngest person ever elected as Governor of Arkansas. As president, his policies created one of the strongest economies in history while improving international relations and bring diversity to the White House.
Leonardo Da Vinci defined the era known as the Renaissance. As a painter he was responsible for such great works as "The Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." As a scientist and engineer, he envisioned many modern inventions such as the bicycle, airplane, and even the helicopter. He was renowned architect, botanist and astronomer.
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal." This was Martin Luther King Jr's dream. A dream that he would spend most of his life trying to fulfill. In this document of his life, you will learn about the history of the Civil Rights Movement and his immense role in it.
Michelangelo Buonarotti flourished as a sculptor, painter, and architect during the cultural rebirth known as the Renaissance. While under the patronage of many notable figures of the era, Michelangelo created eternal masterpieces such as the sculpture of David and the painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
From his birth on a small Mediterranean island to his death in exile on St. Helena, the life of Napoleon Bonaparte has come to symbolize the period of world history just before the Industrial Revolution. The Age of Napoleon was one of profound triumphs and crushing defeats, and brought forth profound change for France, Europe, and the world.
The dominant artistic voice of the 20th century, Pablo Picasso's legendary career spanned nearly eight decades during which he achieved international recognition as an innovative and prolific painter and sculptor. Meet the child prodigy who broke with the conventional art forms of his time and spawned Cubism. His life, his politics, and his lovers are revealed through his collection of works.
Standing beside such artistic giants as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, the artists known as Raphael is considered one of the most gifted and admired painters from the era known as the Renaissance. Raphael was responsible for some of the most inspirational paintings of the era, most notably The Transfiguration and the School of Athens.
Rosa Parks was a courageous woman whose defiance in the face of segregation helped inspire the architects of the Civil Rights movement and set an example for generations to follow. She had the courage to fight segregation in its common place, a seat on a bus. She was also the first woman to lie in state in the Capital Rotunda.
"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration" --- Thomas Edison. Edison's life was a true "rags to riches" story. Considered to be the greatest inventor of his or any time, Edison's wonderful inventions, including the phonograph and light bulb were a driving force of the Industrial Revolution. His inventions guided America into the 20th Century.
Vincent Van Gogh died an impoverished failure in the eyes of the world. Today his paintings are among the most famous and most recognized in the world. In the brief decade before his death, Vincent produced his entire body of work perfecting a vigorous brushstroke and a vibrant use of color that distinguished his paintings from all others.
After immigrating from Scotland to Canada Alexander Graham Bell became one of the foremost developers of the telephone, together with Antonio Meucci, inventor of the first telephone prototype, and Philip Reis. A rival of Thomas Edison, he was also responsible for important advances in aviation and hydrofoil technology.
Coretta Scott King was the wife of the slain civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. and a noted community leader in her own right. King made huge accomplishments throughout her life, including carrying on the legacy of her husband for over three decades. This informative program will take students of all ages through her life story.
Mohandas K. Gandhi was a man of peace who spent most of his life preaching nonviolence to gain equality and freedom for the people of India. This informative program explores his struggle against the might British Empire and her colonies of India and South America. Gandhi's words and deeds made him one of the most influential men of the 20th century.
Imagine that you could not see these words or hear them spoken but you could still talk, write, read, and make friends. In fact, you went to college, wrote nearly a dozen books, traveled all over the world, met 12 U.S. presidents, and lived to be 87. Well, there was such a person, and she was born over a hundred years ago. All this and more as we explore the life of Helen Keller.
From humble beginnings, Henry Ford used his natural gift for mathematics and his love for machines to propel himself into history. He was a pioneer in automobile technology, and the inventor of the mass-production assemble line. Ford's dedication to his dreams has affected us all and helped shape the world in which we live.