Your home? Not anymore...
In 2005, the US Supreme Court took on the most important property rights case in the history of our country. The Kelo v. New London case pitted homeowners in New London, CT against city officials who wanted to use the power of eminent domain to redevelop the area in the hope of creating jobs and increasing tax revenues. The homeowners resisted, arguing that eminent domain power should only be used for public projects like roads and schools. Ultimately, however, the Court upheld the city's right to turn over the homeowners' property to private land developers.
Since that ruling, the use of eminent domain to transfer property from one private owner to another private owner has increased dramatically. The controversial Kelo decision sparked a nation-wide debate about the importance of property rights that continues today.
Eminent Domain tells the real-life stories of three Americans fighting to prevent their property from being taken in the name of redevelopment.
EMPixx Award Winner
ALA Award Winner
Telly Award Winner
Business / Family & Consumer Science
Economics
U.S. History / Government & Civics
Property Rights
Supreme Court
U.S. Constitution/Bill of Rights
Teacher's Guide (also included on DVD)
izzit.org Programs MapEminent Domain is done very well using a teen narrator. The examples and focus on recent Supreme Court case is excellent and relative to students. The line of thought provoking questions encourages discussion, debate, and further research. Students depart with a wider understanding of constitutional dilemmas and powers of local boards.
Craig Dean
Social Studies - 11,12
Corry Area Senior High School, Corry, PA
This was a great video....short and to the point with great stories that my students could relate to. It took what I once thought was a difficult topic to teach and made it completely understandable for my high school students. Thank you!
Jennifer Mileski
History - 11
Unatego Junior And Senior High School, Otego, NY
My students connected with the real people in the video. Before the video, they didn't understand how property could be taken away from it's owner. After the video, we had such an interesting discussion! They really learned a lot from the video. It was awesome in that it assisted me in teaching this confusing topic. Thank you.
Rhonda Southerland
Goverment/Civics - 12
Fort White High School, Fort White, FL
This is a fabulous video It presents a fantastic opportunity to illustrate the fifth amendment and how it is not necessarily being applied the way our founding fathers had intended. It lead to a great conversation and the follow up info provided by izzit added greatly to the presentation. Thanks you for a fantastic film.
Michael Eklund
Social Studies - 8
Kenilworth Junior High School, Petaluma, CA
This is a wonderful production that explains very clearly a concept that can be difficult to grasp . My students would not have understood the problems with eminent domain as thoroughly without the actual cases that were highlighted and the questions that were raised by the program. Thank you for another excellent video!
Helen Bradley
Goverment/Civics - 12
Chester W. Nimitz High School, Irving, TX
This video is excellent in teaching our unit for 7th grade social studies and relates to the DE State Standard relating to eminent domain in which the Kelo case is the main focus. I would reccommend this video be used in all State of Delaware middle schools to accomplish the goal of teaching eminent domain.
Peggy Dawson
Social Studies - 7
Gauger Cobbs Middle School , Newark, DE
Related Videos
