Learning plan cover

American history

LEARNING PLAN

American history

This comprehensive learning plan provides essential knowledge for anyone seeking to understand the United States—its origins, development, and ongoing challenges. It's ideal for students, educators, new citizens, professionals working in American contexts, or anyone who wants to move beyond simplified narratives to grasp the complex forces that have shaped modern America. By combining chronological coverage with critical analysis of overlooked perspectives, this plan equips learners to engage thoughtfully with contemporary American issues through their historical context.

ByCommunity User
2 h 43 m
12 coursesUpdated 5 days ago
Founding BrothersBenjamin FranklinForging a Nation from Revolution12 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

  • Master the foundational narrative of American history from colonial settlement through the Revolutionary War and the creation of democratic principles
  • Analyze the causes and consequences of the Civil War, understanding how slavery shaped the nation and how Reconstruction attempted to redefine American freedom
  • Trace America's transformation into a global superpower through industrialization, world wars, and social movements of the 20th and 21st centuries
  • Develop critical thinking skills by examining American history through multiple perspectives, including Indigenous peoples, enslaved and freed African Americans, and marginalized communities
  • Gain frameworks for understanding contemporary American issues by recognizing their historical roots in colonialism, slavery, and ongoing struggles for equality
  • Build analytical skills to evaluate competing historical narratives and recognize how the American past continues to influence present-day politics and society

Discover how thirteen colonies forged a new nation through revolution, exploring the ideas, leaders, and dramatic events that created America's founding principles.

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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Founding BrothersThe 1619 ProjectThe American War in AfghanistanDemocracy Awakening
11 sources
Forging a Nation from Revolution

Explore America's turbulent journey from declaring independence to establishing a constitutional republic, revealing how the fragile Confederation period ultimately led to a revolutionary new form of government.

17 m

Examine America's greatest internal crisis as the nation fought over slavery, then struggled to rebuild and redefine freedom in the turbulent decades that followed.

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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From #BlackLivesMatter to Black LiberationThe 1619 ProjectThe Demon of UnrestWe Were Eight Years in Power
10 sources
America's Unfinished Revolution

Explore Reconstruction's complex legacy as America attempted to rebuild after the Civil War—a period of unprecedented possibility for freed slaves that ultimately fell short, leaving patterns of inequality that continue to shape our nation today.

24 m

Trace America's rise from the Gilded Age through world wars and into the contemporary era, understanding how the nation became a superpower while grappling with social change.

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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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
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Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and DemocracyThe Curse of BignessEvil GeniusesThe Lords of Creation
16 sources
The Fall of the Robber Barons

Discover how America's first ultra-wealthy industrialists were finally reined in through a perfect storm of economic collapse, muckraking journalism, populist uprisings, and progressive reforms that transformed the nation.

27 m

Broaden your understanding by exploring American history through diverse lenses—Indigenous experiences, slavery's enduring legacy, and the complex contradictions that continue to shape the nation.

The 1619 Project cover
The 1619 Project

A groundbreaking reexamination of American history through the lens of slavery and its enduring impact on society.

10 m
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States cover
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States

A provocative reframing of US history from Indigenous perspectives, challenging colonial narratives and revealing centuries of Native resistance.

9 m
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The 1619 ProjectAn Indigenous Peoples' History of the United StatesA People’s History of the United StatesFrom #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation
12 sources
America's Hidden History Uncovered

Explore the uncomfortable truths of American history that textbooks omit—from slavery's economic impact to forgotten heroes of resistance—and discover how these suppressed narratives continue to shape our nation today.

21 m

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

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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

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

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

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

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

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

@OojasSalunke
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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
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483

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

@Cashflowbubu
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