The Big Why: American History Edition
The Story of the Land of the Free
How did thirteen small colonies become one of the most powerful nations on Earth? From the first footsteps on a 'New World' to the giant leap for mankind, we are solving the mysteries of the people, places, and events that built America.
Topics
The Wrong Turn: Why did Columbus call it 'The West Indies'?
Follow the explorer who was looking for spices in Asia but accidentally bumped into an entire 'New World' instead.
The Mayflower Mystery: Why did the Pilgrims leave home?
Explore the dangerous sea journey of the families who looked for a new place to practice their beliefs and start from scratch.
The Tea Party: Why did the Colonists dump tea into the ocean?
See how a salty protest in Boston harbor sparked a revolution against a King thousands of miles away.
The Ink of Freedom: Why was the Declaration of Independence written?
Look at the 'Break-Up Letter' sent to the King and the famous signatures that started a new nation.
The First Leader: Why did George Washington refuse to be a King?
Learn how the first President set the rules for leadership by choosing to step down and let others lead.
The Great Purchase: How did America double its size overnight?
See how the Louisiana Purchase turned a young country into a giant map of unexplored wilderness.
The Pathfinders: How did Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific?
Join the expedition that used canoes and courage to map the wild West with the help of Sacagawea.
The House Divided: Why did the North and South fight?
Investigate the most difficult time in American history and the struggle to end slavery and keep the country together.
The Secret Train: How did the Underground Railroad work?
Meet Harriet Tubman and the 'conductors' who used secret codes and nighttime travel to lead people to freedom.
The Iron Horse: How did the railroad change America?
See how two tracks meeting in the middle of the country made it possible to travel across the USA in days instead of months.
The 49ers: Why did everyone rush to California?
Follow the trail of the dreamers who traveled across mountains just to find a few shiny flakes of gold in a river.
The Statue’s Light: Why is Ellis Island so famous?
Learn about the millions of people who arrived by boat, looking at the Statue of Liberty as their first sign of a new life.
The Right to Vote: Why did women have to fight for the ballot?
Discover the Suffragettes who marched and spoke out until the laws were changed to include everyone's voice.
The Dust Bowl: Why did the sky turn black in the 1930s?
Explore the 'Hard Times' when the wind blew away the soil and families had to find new ways to survive.
The Code Talkers: How did secret languages win a war?
Meet the Navajo soldiers who used their native tongue to send messages that no enemy could ever crack.
The Dreamer: How did MLK Jr. change America without fighting?
See the power of words and peaceful marches in the struggle for fairness and equality for all.
The Moon Walk: Why did America race to the stars?
Watch as a country’s competitive spirit led to the first human footprints on the dusty surface of the Moon.
The People's House: Why does the President live in a white building?
Go inside the most famous home in the world to see how it was built, burned down, and rebuilt even better.
The Digital Boom: How did Silicon Valley start?
Discover how a few people in their garages created the computers and internet that changed the world forever.
The Wild Treasure: Why did America decide to save the forest?
Learn how the idea of National Parks was born to make sure the world's most beautiful places stay wild forever.