How the USA Grew: From 13 Colonies to 50 States

Watching this video is a lot like watching a champion athlete make an appalling blunder: you cringe and shake your head in disbelief. While there have been several videos on how the 13 colonies became 50 United States (the mediocre United States Expansionism [VL-3/02], and the not-recommended America, the Living Dream: America's Beginning (VL Online-8/01) being the most recent), How the USA Grew: From 13 Colonies to 50 States, with its excellent narration, clear graphics, good use of artwork, and comprehensive teacher's guide, should have slam-dunked its competitors. Unfortunately, the program sports egregious factual errors. According to this tape, President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to take a position on the north shore of the Rio Grande--instead of the south shore of the Neuces River--during the Mexican War (a minor point perhaps--unless, of course, you're a Texan or a Mexican), but viewers are also told that “Virginia voted to secede from the Union in 1863”--which was two years after the battle of the First Bull Run near Manassas, Virginia. My ten-year-old nephew knows better than this; how hard would it have been to have a historian check the script first? Unfortunately, not recommended. Aud: I, J. (R. Reagan)