Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Goldhill Home Media
• VHS Release Date: September 9, 2003
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B00009W0UT
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #558,050 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

American democracy has a lineage of written records that we can trace to show the development of our nation, and how each document builds on those before it to make our foundation of freedom stronger. In this video we look at the documents conceived during a critical period of growth. The Convention of 1818 (1818) This event resolved several important issues that followed the War of 1812. It defined the northern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase; it set the U.S.-Canada border at the 19th parallel west to the Rockies; and, as an interim agreement, it established the northern boundary of the Oregon Country. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Under the guidance of Chief Justice John Marshall, this landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision determined that the federal government had a right to legally establish a national bank and that a state (in this case Maryland) could not levy a state tax on a federal bank. The Missouri Compromise (1820) When Maine and Missouri applied for statehood in 1819, the question of slave or free state arose. Henry Clay proposed the compromise that Maine be a free state and Missouri a slave state. The debate over slave states versus free states would continue and finally erupt into the Civil War 40 years later. The Monroe Doctrine (1823) The United States announced to the world its intent to defend its own liberty and the freedom of other nations in this document, signed by President James Monroe. The document warned other nations not to try to extend their political systems to our shores. It is one of the most important documents of American political philosophy. The Indian Removal Act (1830) This act opened lands to settlers by forcing the removal of Indian tribes from the Southeast to Oklahoma. The Cherokee fought for their rights. The U.S. Supreme Court, in Worcester v. Georgia (1831), ruled in favor of the Indians. But President Andrew Jackson, in an unprecedented move, ignored the court’s ruling and ordered the Cherokee to move west by 1838. The terrible Trail of Tears journey was the result. Educators from noted American universities share their insights.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A note from the editor, May 29, 2004

By 

John Rodgers (Westlake Village, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Just the Facts: Documents of Destiny - Nationalism [VHS] (VHS Tape)

First of all, the Documents of Destiny series is an awesome teaching tool of American history spanning from the Magna Carta (1215) to the 19th Amendment (1920). Each of the eleven programs that make up the series can stand alone as a great show to watch and learn from. Quite frankly, the best programs in the series are volume 7, Compromise & Conflict and volume 8, The Civil War and Reconstruction. They consist of changes in women's rights, the great expansion of our country to the western shores, the ugliness of Dred Scott v. Sandford, the terrible Civil War and most importantly, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments giving blacks the rights and freedom they deserve.
Many of the quotes I like to remember from the series are voices of people from the past that are actually my voice and thus I remember them well but in DOD 8 as I like to call it, it is Clarence Walker, Professor of History, UC Davis that I remember. In speaking about the reconstruction of the south after the civil war, he very vehemently explains, "The problem here is that the southerners were extremely proud people and they felt that they were being treated in a fashion in which no other white people had been treated in the history of the world. That is that they were being forced to live with black people as their equals and in 1866 and 1867 they made it quite clear that this was completely unacceptable!" He and all the other educators that are featured throughout the series should be awarded for giving us their great knowledge so we can understand our history better to make our country stronger.

Documents of Destiny Nationalism & Change (1818-1830)provides five great examples of American power even at such an early stage in the developement of our nation. The Convention of 1818 shows American diplomacy making progress, McCulloch v. Maryland provides insight to the great power of the U.S. Supreme Court. The Missouri Compromise gives us Henry Clay and American democracy in action. The Monroe Doctrine is one of the most important documents of American political philosophy. The Indian Removal Act. This really needs an ! behind it. I may someday find out why we gloify Andrew Jackson by keeping his face on the twenty dollar bill but I will never agree with it. According to the rules of reviewing programs, I can not say what I really think of Andrew Jackson or The Indian Removal Act. I can say that it is all covered in the program very nicely.

The last thing I'd like to say is that even though I edited all the Documents of Destiny programs and even though I prefer Comedy Central, I know someday when these shows are not so fresh in my memory, I'll be watching them again strictly for entertainment. These programs are not just for junior high and high school kids, they are for everyone. I'd buy them all but I already have them all.

Sincerely,
John Rodgers
Cheif Editor, Full Circle Entertainment