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Most In-Depth Documentaries About America
It has been said that history gets written by the victors. When one thinks about the United States, there is a distinctly pro-colonist view of what gets taught in the history books.
If you were part of the tribal culture during the initial settlement period, your feelings about the United States could be very different than what is societally “acceptable.” The same truth applies to the descendants of those who came to America due to slavery.
When we think about in-depth documentaries about America, we must look at the country’s individual stories. Here are some of the best ones out there.
1. The Overnighters
This documentary shows what life is like in a North Dakota small town after it draws a massive influx of oil workers. These people live on day labor, call their cars home, and often receive little support. It profiles one pastor who welcomes them into a shelter at the dismay of the congregation.
2. The Hand That Feeds
After suffering years of abuse from their bosses, undocumented immigrants decide to unionize for better working conditions and fair wages. The employees partner with some young activists in NYC to fight against their managers and the well-connected investors who support the bakery where they work.
3. True Son
After an African-American man graduates from Stanford University, he returns to Stockton to run for the city council. The town is bankrupt, but that doesn’t mean race or socioeconomic circumstances exclude you from your community. The documentary’s main character talks to people that anyone can have a seat at the table, even if your father is in jail, and your mother was in her teens when she had you.
4. Lady Valor: The Kristin Beck Story
After managing a transgender transition, Kristin (formerly Christopher) discusses her challenges that range from military service to becoming the person she knew she could be. It’s a unique take on the concept of what it means to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.
5. If You Build It
This documentary follows two designers who teach a 12-month class in the poorest county of North Carolina. The film concludes with the group building a structure while ten students learn how to be successful in the construction industry – and much more.
What are some of your favorite documentaries about America?
Essays about America to Learn More About the Country
To learn more about America, it’s always a good idea to read an essay about it. A well written and detailed essay can give you all the information that you need to know about any country. An essay about America can contain everything from history, to the politics, and the people of the country and how they live and what they do.
But to understand the key details and then put them in a way that is understandable for the reader and makes it easier for them to remember is a skill that a writer should have. Most writers, though good at writing for other niches, fail to comprise an essay about the country in an ideal way, which makes it harder for the reader to comprehend anything about America at all.
A good essay not only talks about the positives of a country but also sheds light on the negative aspects of the country as well. There has to be a suitable and harmonious balance of pros and cons about America in the essay.
Before starting your essay, make sure you know what direction you plan on taking it. There are a few genres to consider:
- Non-fiction
- Comedy
- History
- Current events
- Personal reflection
- Romance
- Instructive
- Biography
Also, don’t forget that an essay can also tell a story. When thinking about storytelling, remember that, as a general idea, there are seven plot types:
- Overcoming the monster.
- Rags to riches.
- The quest.
- Voyage and return.
- Rebirth.
- Comedy.
- Tragedy.
A writer needs to put informative points in the essay on America, such as talk about the rich history of the country and the people who are part of it. They can talk about the freedom of the country and the journey that the country has taken. Hard work and endurance of the early Americans finally paid off when they were given independence in the year 1776 from British rule.
Next, they can talk about the political and economic strengths of the country, and what progress the country is making as compared to other countries in the world. America is the most financially stable and developed country in the world, which makes it one of the most powerful as well.
Moving on, mentioning some facts about the country that are lesser known can also add to the descriptive essence of the essay and inform the reader about many things that they did not know before. These facts don’t necessarily need to be good or bad, but they need to be true.
Not sure where to start? Here are a few of the best-known writers and essayists who have written about America.
- James Baldwin
- Scott Fitzgerald
- Norman Mailer
- Joan Didion
- Ernest Hemingway
- Robert Atwan
- Stephen King
- David Foster Wallace
- John McPhee
- Susan Sontag
Many American writers have written about America, but not all of them succeed in finding an audience. You are free to write as you wish. People may dismiss your essay or even claim you are unpatriotic. Thankfully, the freedom to write as we please (with only some exceptions, is one of this country’s advantages.
Along the way of writing your essay, you may also hopefully stumble across some interesting facts about America.
America Quizzes to Test Your Knowledge
The United States of America is a leading country in the world. No person lives today who doesn’t know what America is. But can you claim that you know everything that there is to know about this country?
People from all over dream of visiting America. We’re sure there are a lot of facts that you are already aware of about America, but we can guarantee you that there is still so much that is not known to you.
Below are some lesser known facts about America to test your knowledge. We hope you enjoy them and share them with your friends and family.
- Did you know that the 4th of July is not the actual date of America’s independence? It’s actually July 2nd, which was when congress voted on the measure. The Declaration of Independence, which liberated America from British rule, was signed on the 4th.
- Being a President of the United States of America makes you a target of many people. Four presidents have been assassinated while holding office.
- Did you know that out of the 50 states in America, some have more cows than people living in them?
- In 2017, 1 out of every 18.6 people brought a brand new car; there are more than 260 million cars registered in the United States!
- Abraham Lincoln was the tallest president out of all the presidents of America.
- Many films made in New York City open with a shot of the Statue of Liberty. But did you know that the Statue is not technically in New York, but actually in New Jersey? France gifted the Statue to America in 1886.
- The oldest President, Ronald Reagan, was elected at the age of 78 at the time of his second term.
- If someone asks you the capital of America, you may quickly answer Washington D.C., but did you know that Philadelphia was previously the capital?
- Did you know that the first university in the country was Harvard University?
- Americans love pizza, and you will be amazed to know that a total of 100 acres worth of pizza are eaten daily!
- The famous Mall of America in Minnesota is actually owned by Canadians.
- New York City is the most populated city in America, with 8.6 million people living in 302.6 square miles; Los Angeles, the second largest city, has just 4 million people.
There you go, just a few interesting facts and tidbits to test your knowledge of America. The country is relatively young, but is full of little details throughout its history that you may not know.