Learning plan cover

Learn about national history

LEARNING PLAN

Learn about national history

This comprehensive learning plan is essential for anyone seeking to understand the forces that shaped modern America and continue to influence contemporary political and social debates. It's particularly valuable for students, educators, professionals working in policy or public service, and engaged citizens who want to move beyond simplified narratives to grasp the complex, often contradictory threads of the American story. By examining both celebrated achievements and difficult truths, learners gain the historical literacy needed to participate thoughtfully in civic life.

ByCommunity User
2 h 41 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 Learn about national 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 Learn about national history.

What You'll Learn

  • Master the foundational events that shaped American democracy, from revolution through the Constitution and early republic
  • Understand the causes and consequences of the Civil War, including slavery's central role and Reconstruction's lasting impact on race relations
  • Trace America's rise to global power through industrialization, world wars, and transformative social movements of the 20th century
  • Explore multiple perspectives and marginalized voices often missing from traditional historical narratives
  • Connect historical patterns to contemporary issues, recognizing how past conflicts and triumphs continue influencing modern American society

Discover the dramatic origins of America through the Revolutionary War, founding fathers, and the bold experiment in democracy that launched a new nation.

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

Explore how slavery tore the nation apart, Lincoln's leadership through America's bloodiest conflict, and the challenging aftermath of reconstruction that shaped racial dynamics for generations.

Team of Rivals cover
Team of Rivals

Lincoln's cabinet and the Civil War

7 m
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
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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

Understand how America evolved into a global superpower through world wars, economic transformation, and social movements that redefined the nation's role on the world stage.

podcast cover
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
Code Talker cover
Code Talker

Native wisdom becomes America's unbreakable secret weapon against the enemy.

8 m
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source 1source 2source 3source 4
6 sources
World War II Deep Dive: Everything You Need to Know

A comprehensive exploration of WWII's complexity - from the path to war and Pacific brutality to the Holocaust, atomic bombs, and lasting psychological trauma. Uncover the human stories behind history's most defining conflict.

34 m

Gain deeper insight into overlooked narratives, recurring themes of division and unity, and how America's history continues to shape contemporary society and national identity.

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
A People’s History of the United States cover
A People’s History of the United States

A provocative reframing of American history, highlighting overlooked voices and challenging traditional narratives from the bottom up.

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

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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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254
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17

"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."

@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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"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"

@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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likes
117

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

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

@Matt, YC alum
platform
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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
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96
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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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star

"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
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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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