423 Years of American History in 13 Minutes

Video Overview & Insights

An entertaining and informative history of America from Christopher Columbus to WW1, explaining how America rose to become a world power. The story is a little oversimplified but historically accurate.

HISTORICAL NOTES

In 2024, The USA produced 26% of the global GDP and accounted for about 40% of global military spending, making it the richest and most powerful individual country in history. At America's highest point, near the end of WW2, it may have produced more than 50% of the world's manufactured goods. Many empires have been larger in size, but due to advances in technology, the USA has more absolute military strength than any historical empire.

The conversation between Columbus and the King of Spain is fictional, but the Spanish were seeking a trade route to Asia so they could trade for spices, which could be sold for a high profit in Europe. The King and Queen were also committed to spreading Catholic Christianity.

The King and Queen’s advisors believed that Columbus could not reach Asia by sailing west because it was too far. They were right. Columbus always believed he had reached Asia, but was confused why what he found didn’t match the descriptions he had read about Asia.

When England is shown on the map, Wales is included for simplicity, since England and Wales were united under one king.

The discussion between Napoleon and Tallyrand is based on real events, but has been compressed into a single conversation.

The part about the Oregon Treaty only shows the part of the Oregon Territory below the 48th parallel. Before the treaty, the Oregon Territory extended into what is now British Columbia and was jointly controlled by the United States and Great Britain. (You can learn more in OverSimplified's video about the Pig War.) The Canadian flag shown at that point in the video had not been designed yet (Canada was not an independent nation until much later.)

At one point I mention free farmland in the Oregon Territory, and I show the state of Oregon. The free farmland was available even before the Oregon Treaty, but the Donation Land Claim Act was active from 1850-1855. Oregon became a state in 1859, and free land was available again under the Homestead Acts from 1862 on.

The Guano Islands Act was championed by William Seward, who also coordinated the purchase of Alaska. The discussion between de Stoeckl and Seward is based on real events, but has been compressed into a single conversation, with some humor added.

In 1867 Alaska wasn't producing money for Russia, and since it was very far from Russia's population center and only a few hundred Russians lived there, Russia couldn't really defend it. After the Crimean War ended in 1856, Russia needed money and was afraid that their rival Great Britain would take Alaska. So they sold it to the US to try to counterbalance Great Britain's growing influence.

When the Hay-Herrán Treaty was not ratified by the Senate of Colombia, the United States supported separatists in Panama and was the first to recognize its independence from Colombia.

Key events mentioned in this history of America include:

- The discovery of America

- European colonization and the 13 American colonies

- The French and Indian War (and the Seven Years' War)

- The Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution

- The Constitutional Convention

- The beginnings of the United States of America

- The Louisiana Purchase

- American Expansion and Manifest Destiny

- The Mexican-American War

- Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War

- The Alaska Purchase by William Seward

- The Spanish-American War

- The Annexation of Hawaii

- Theodore Roosevelt, the Panama Canal, and Gunboat Diplomacy.

This period of US history ends with the USA becoming a superpower just before the beginning of WW1. There is only so much that can be packed into a short video like this, so naturally I skipped over many important events and didn't cover every perspective.

The humorous approach to American history was inspired by channels like @OverSimplified, @extrahistory, and Bill Wurtz's "History of the entire world I guess." However, the history documentary videos on this channel don't have any inappropriate language or humor. Although the United States history is simplified, I have presented this animated history with careful accuracy. This US history video is for all ages, so it is appropriate for kids and can be used in schools.

If you want to learn more about American history and don’t mind some crude jokes, you may want to watch OverSimplified American Revolution, OverSimplified Civil War, and OverSimplified WW1.

CREDITS

Maps / NASA / Public Domain

Images: Cross of Burgundy / Ningyou. / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Music: Investigations, Covert Affair / Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) / CC BY 3.0