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Brande Johnson, Social Studies and Economics Teacher

“I don’t ever have to worry about any kind of bias. They produce excellent documentaries that give the facts, and it allows my students to form their own opinions.”

Brande Johnson, Social Studies and Economics Teacher

Hundreds of short docs produced by award-winning journalists.

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Our short documentaries help students connect past and present. They’re perfect for sparking discussion, building media literacy skills, and making history accessible.

The Price of Oil: Lessons From a 1970s Energy Crisis
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The Price of Oil: Lessons From a 1970s Energy Crisis

10 min.
2 class materials
When oil shortages disrupted daily life in the 1970s, Americans were forced to rethink consumption, and the crisis set in motion decisions that continue to shape energy policy today.
Conspiracy Theories and Fake News from JFK to Pizzagate
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Conspiracy Theories and Fake News from JFK to Pizzagate

12 min.
1 class material
Retro Report explores decades of conspiracy theories – from the John F. Kennedy assassination to Pizzagate – and what they can tell us about how we view the world today.
The Cold War on TV: Joseph McCarthy vs. Edward R. Murrow
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The Cold War on TV: Joseph McCarthy vs. Edward R. Murrow

8 min.
3 class materials
In the heat of the Cold War, Joe McCarthy’s anti-communist crusade became a media sensation.
9/11 Heroes: Surviving the Biggest Attack on U.S. Soil
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9/11 Heroes: Surviving the Biggest Attack on U.S. Soil

11 min.
3 class materials
First responders who survived 9/11 don’t want the day to be forgotten.
The 2008 Financial Crisis Explained: Housing Bubble to Bailout
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The 2008 Financial Crisis Explained: Housing Bubble to Bailout

10 min.
2 class materials
Risky loans, regulatory gaps, and Wall Street practices fueled the 2008 financial crisis and led to the Great Recession.
An Enlightened Idea: The Constitution Drew on Centuries-Old Principles
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An Enlightened Idea: The Constitution Drew on Centuries-Old Principles

5 min.
2 class materials
The framers drew on Enlightenment thought and experience to design a new government.
Mud-Slinging and Deadly Duels: How Negative Campaigning Evolved
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Mud-Slinging and Deadly Duels: How Negative Campaigning Evolved

6 min.
2 class materials
Explore the history and impact of negative campaigning in U.S. presidential elections.
How Watergate and Citizens United Shaped Campaign Finance Law
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How Watergate and Citizens United Shaped Campaign Finance Law

13 min.
1 class material
The Watergate campaign finance scandals led to a landmark law designed to limit the influence of money in politics. Decades later, some say the scandal isn’t what’s illegal, it’s what’s legal.
How Tinker v. Des Moines Established Students’ Free Speech Rights
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How Tinker v. Des Moines Established Students’ Free Speech Rights

7 min.
3 class materials
A silent protest led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that defined students’ free speech rights.
How Activists Fought for Rights for People With Disabilities, and Made Them the Law
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How Activists Fought for Rights for People With Disabilities, and Made Them the Law

12 min.
1 class material
How activists pushed for the A.D.A., establishing rights for people with disabilities in the United States.
Dictators and Civil Wars: The Cold War in Latin America
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Dictators and Civil Wars: The Cold War in Latin America

6 min.
2 class materials
Driven by fears of the rise of communism, the United States adopted a policy of containment, intervening in the politics of countries across the globe. In Latin America, the consequences of those efforts are still unfolding.
Berlin Wall: The Rise and Collapse of a Cold War Symbol
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Berlin Wall: The Rise and Collapse of a Cold War Symbol

12 min.
1 class material
The Berlin Wall divided a city, and fell in a moment of change.
How the Cold War Arms Race Fueled a Sprint to the Moon
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How the Cold War Arms Race Fueled a Sprint to the Moon

6 min.
3 class materials
After the Soviet Union sent the first human safely into orbit, the U.S. government doubled down on its effort to win the race to the moon.
Agent Orange: Last Chapter of the Vietnam War
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Agent Orange: Last Chapter of the Vietnam War

9 min.
3 class materials
The use of the defoliant Agent Orange during the Vietnam War continues to cast a dark shadow over both American veterans and Vietnamese citizens.
What Japan’s Atom Bomb Survivors Have Taught Us About the Dangers of Nuclear War
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What Japan’s Atom Bomb Survivors Have Taught Us About the Dangers of Nuclear War

10 min.
3 class materials
Japanese survivors recall the day the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and warn of future risks.
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Retro Report is an independent, nonprofit news organization.

Our work brings a greater understanding of current events through the lens of history, fights misinformation and encourages inquiry. We create short documentaries and work with educators to construct classroom resources that help students connect the past with the present. Our materials are developed using primary sources and a rigorous fact-checking process so teachers can evaluate and use them with confidence.

Every video and lesson is designed to support classroom instruction, giving students the tools to examine evidence and form their own conclusions.

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