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American Experience
The Triumph of Alternating Current from Tesla
Direct current required thousands of little power plants at every mile, while alternating current allowed one source to power a much larger area. Alternating current transformed daily life in the 20th century, and made Tesla famous.
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52:35
The story of the polygraph, the controversial device that transformed modern justice.
1:51:34
The Iran hostage crisis through the stories of those whose ordeal riveted the world.
1:52:24
The Iran hostage crisis through the stories of those whose ordeal riveted the world.
1:52:39
Discover how bubonic plague in 1900 set off fear and anti-Asian sentiment in San Francisco
Earth Month
52:45
Explore the 1928 dam collapse, the second deadliest disaster in California history.
52:43
Three Black diplomats who broke racial barriers at the State Department during Cold War.
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52:39
Discover the fascinating and surprising story of this iconic American garment.
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1:52:04
William Randolph Hearst continued his rise to power and expansion into Hollywood.
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1:50:14
The life of William Randolph Hearst, who transformed the media’s role in American life.
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1:51:28
Discover the story of the Supreme Court’s first female justice - Sandra Day O'Connor.
1:51:41
One of the best-known and most influential religious leaders of the 20th century.
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1:52:47
Part Two examines the mounting dispute over strategies and reveals the pervasive racism.