5 Early Republic Videos for Kids

Educational videos can be a great tool. I love adding them to my U.S. History units. But finding high-quality educational videos can be a struggle.

To help save you time, I am compiling a list of my favorite kid-friendly history videos. Below you will find my top 5 Early Republic videos for kids!

History vs. Andrew Jackson (TED-Ed)

In this imaginary courtroom, Andrew Jackson must defend his decisions during his presidency.
5 minutes
My Rating: Ages 10+
Notes: Creatively and engagingly, this video shows multiple ways to examine Jackson’s actions as president. It is a great model for using evidence to support an opinion. It could be fun to have students create a mock trial of their own!

Mr. Bett’s Class – The Monroe Doctrine

In this parody of Adele’s Hello, Mr. Bett gives a super cringy but helpful overview of the foreign policy laid out by the Monroe Doctrine.
Time: 3 minutes
My Rating: Ages 10+
Notes: I love how the video’s description lists the lyrics. It would be fun to have students sing along!

Lowell Mill Girl Morning Routine

Note: Click the box below to watch the video on Youtube.

Millie Prudence Taylor, a young girl, working in the Lowell Mills, takes us through a typical morning working at the mills.
Time: 2.5 minutes
My Rating: Ages 10+
Notes: This video shows the intensity of daily life working in the mills and the girls’ willingness to sacrifice for the opportunities it gave them and their families.

The Rise of Cotton: Crash Course Black American History #13

Crash Course describes how the U.S. became an economic world power through the rise of the cotton industry in the South. The video emphasizes that the wealth of our nation was built largely upon the unpaid work of enslaved Black Americans.
Time: 12 minutes
My Rating: Ages 10+
Notes: This video encourages students to think about the generational impact of slavery and racial inequality in the U.S. You can find a companion lesson for this video in my Early Republic unit!

Teaching Hard History: American Slavery, Key Concept 5

In this video, historian Tera Hunter explains how enslaved people fought against slavery in both revolutionary and everyday ways. She tells how Henry “Box” Brown escaped slavery and joined the abolitionist cause. (Sidenote: There is a great picture book about this story called Henry’s Freedom Box. Learn more here.)
Time: 5.5 minutes
My Rating: Ages 10+
Notes: I love how Hunter expresses how enslaved people valued love, companionship, and family. This video would be great to add to the Abolitionist Movement lesson in my Early Republic unit. You can find more Teaching Hard History framework videos here.

Free Early Presidents Booklet Activity

I hope these 5 Early Republic primary sources for kids help bring this unit to life in your classroom!

Do you need more help teaching about the Early Republic?

Grab my free Early Presidents booklet! In this activity, students learn about key events from the first seven presidencies (from George Washington to Andrew Jackson).

Then, students create a timeline including the most important events from the Early Republic.

Download your FREE Early Presidents Booklet

More Early Republic Resources

Are you looking for additional resources to help you teach about the Early Republic?

3-Week Early Republic Unit: This three-week unit includes interactive activities that will keep your students engaged and clear lesson plans that will save you time.
The Ultimate Guide to Teaching about the Early Republic: This teaching guide will help you feel prepared and confident to teach about the Early Republic. I’ve included an overview of the time period, a pacing guide, a timeline, and much more.
Early Republic Primary Sources: An outline of 5 primary sources, complete with teaching suggestions. I have also compiled primary sources for several other US History topics!
Early Republic Picture Books: 8 worthwhile picture books to help bring the Early Republic to life in your classroom.

5 Early Republic Videos for Kids