Learning plan cover

American history

LEARNING PLAN

American history

This comprehensive survey of American history provides essential context for understanding current political, social, and cultural debates in the United States. It's ideal for students, professionals working in American contexts, global citizens seeking to understand U.S. influence, or anyone wanting to grasp how historical forces continue to shape contemporary American society and its role in the world.

ByCommunity User
2 h 30 m
12 coursesUpdated 6 days ago
Founding BrothersBenjamin FranklinAmerica's Founding Contradictions: The Real Story12 sources

How This Learning Plan Was Made

This plan was crafted by BeFreed’s proprietary AI to help you learn American history with ease. It is curated from in-depth research on the topic and structured around the most effective learning journeys proven by BeFreed users.

Each episode delivers bite-sized, high-impact lessons distilled from world-class sources — bestselling books, research papers, and expert insights. Together, they form a sophisticated yet accessible path to mastering American history.

What You'll Learn

  • Understand the founding principles and revolutionary ideas that shaped American democracy and constitutional government
  • Analyze the causes and consequences of the Civil War, including the complex legacy of slavery and Reconstruction
  • Trace America's transformation into a global superpower through its involvement in 20th century conflicts and industrial growth
  • Examine the civil rights movement and social transformations that redefined equality and justice in modern America
  • Connect historical events to contemporary debates about democracy, identity, and national values

Discover the birth of America through the eyes of the Founding Fathers, exploring the Revolutionary War, the creation of the Constitution, and the pivotal relationships that shaped the nation's first years.

Founding Brothers cover
Founding Brothers

Pulitzer Prize-winning exploration of pivotal moments and relationships among America's Founding Fathers during the nation's formative years.

9 m
Benjamin Franklin cover
Benjamin Franklin

In-depth biography of America's founding father

12 m
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source 1source 2source 3source 4
6 sources
America's Founding Contradictions: The Real Story

Explore the messy, complicated truth behind American history - from revolutionary ideals built on slavery to modern movements fighting for true equality. Discover how the founders' contradictions still shape our democracy today.

20 m

Examine America's greatest internal crisis—the tensions over slavery that led to the Civil War, Lincoln's leadership, and the challenging Reconstruction era that attempted to redefine freedom and equality.

Team of Rivals cover
Team of Rivals

Lincoln's cabinet and the Civil War

7 m
The Demon of Unrest cover
The Demon of Unrest

Gripping account of the tumultuous months leading to the Civil War, filled with political intrigue and unforgettable characters.

9 m
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The Republic for which it stands : the United States during Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, 1865-1896 | WorldCat.orgThe Rise of Industrial America, 1877-1900 | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American HistoryReconstruction - Civil War End, Changes & Act of 1867Overview | Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900 - Library of Congress
6 sources
America's Second Founding: Reconstruction to Gilded Age

Explore how post-Civil War America grappled with freedom, democracy, and identity from 1865-1900. Discover the rise and fall of Reconstruction, industrial transformation, and reform movements that still shape us today.

9 m

Trace America's emergence as a global superpower through world wars, economic upheaval, and industrial transformation that reshaped both the nation and the world order.

The Second World War cover
The Second World War

History's greatest conflict through the eyes of its greatest defender.

8 m
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World War II | Facts, Summary, History, Dates, Combatants, & CausesSecond World War - causes, major events, and its global impactsource 3What Were the Consequences of WWII?
6 sources
WWII: The War That Remade Everything

Explore how World War II transformed our world in just six years - from cavalry charges to atomic bombs, reshaping technology, politics, and civilization itself through the deadliest conflict in human history.

15 m
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The History of US Economics | useconpodcastMax Edling, War, Money, and the American State, 1783-18679. The American Revolution: Part 3Americana: A 400-Year History of American Capitalism
6 sources
America's First Century: Economic Revolution & Chaos

From Hamilton's financial genius to Jackson's banking wars and Civil War transformation - discover how a scrappy collection of colonies accidentally invented modern capitalism through crisis, innovation, and pragmatic problem-solving.

10 m

Explore how social movements, civil rights struggles, and evolving national identity have shaped contemporary America and continue to influence debates about equality, justice, and democratic values today.

From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation cover
From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation

A powerful examination of racial inequality in America, tracing the evolution of Black activism to the present day.

10 m
The Soul of America cover
The Soul of America

A historian's inspiring look at how America has overcome division and fear throughout its history to progress forward.

9 m
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source 1source 2source 3source 4
6 sources
Critical Race Theory: Beyond the Myths

Lena and Eli break down what critical race theory actually is, exploring how race was invented as a tool of control and how systems like mass incarceration maintain racial hierarchies today. Drawing from powerful voices like Ibram Kendi, Michelle Alexander, and James Baldwin, they reveal how underst

32 m

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117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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201
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn
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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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12
likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
platform
comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
star
star
star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
platform
comments
96
likes
4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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star

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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comments
201
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16

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
platform
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
platform
comments
37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
platform
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