January 6th Video
This classroom-ready video introduces secondary civics and U.S. history students to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and the congressional investigations that followed. Using January 6 as a case study, the video examines how intelligence and security failures contributed to the crisis, how Congress investigated attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, and why the event continues to raise difficult questions about democratic accountability and public trust.
Students have the opportunity to see primary-source evidence throughout the video, including eyewitness accounts, congressional testimony, and statements from journalists and public officials. They are encouraged to consider the role of Congress in hearing evidence, informing the public, recommending reforms, and holding individuals and institutions accountable. The video also asks students to reflect on the roles that elected officials, government employees, journalists, and ordinary citizens play in protecting democratic institutions.
What Were the January 6th Congressional Investigations?
On January 6th, 2021, following a speech by outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump, supporters marched to the U.S. Capitol building and breached the barriers and doors in an attempt to disrupt the certification of electoral votes for the 2020 Election. While ultimately unsuccessful in interfering with the election certification, the Capitol attack shocked the nation and Congress, leading to calls for the establishment of a 9/11 Commission-style (bicameral and bipartisan) investigation into how such an attack could have materialized and who was responsible. Echoing the deep divisions of the nation itself, Congress was unable to establish a joint committee. What ultimately emerged were two separate congressional inquiries: one led by the Senate, focused on intelligence failures in domestic law enforcement, and one led by the House, focused on accountability for the attack.
While both committees were technically bipartisan, the public and media did not see them that way, and their attempts to create a national consensus around the meaning of the events on January 6th, 2021 fell short. However, in their attempt to use the democratic process to achieve accountability, the committees established a valuable public archive of evidence, with the House committee alone holding eight public hearings over 18 months and conducting 1000 interviews. The Senate investigation led to meaningful security reforms at the Capitol, and the House investigations placed the ultimate blame for the attack squarely on the outgoing President and his closest supporters.
Content Standards
This video aligns with Michigan social studies content standards and supports instruction in U.S. history and civics by allowing students to learn how congressional oversight shapes a national narrative, holds government officials accountable, and informs the public.
All Learning by Hearings materials are fully funded by the State of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Education.
MI USHG – 9.1.2 Transformation of American Politics Analyze the transformation of American politics in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, including:
- the growth of the conservative movement in national politics, including the role of Ronald Reagan.
- the role of evangelical religion in national politics.
- the intensification of partisanship.
- the partisan conflict over the role of government in American life.
- the role of regional differences in national politics.