Skip to main content

TED-Ed

The dark history of Graham crackers - Stephanie Honchell Smith

644,799 Views

529 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

In the 1800s, minister Sylvester Graham believed Americans had a big problem— not just with their bodies, but their souls. He argued that overindulgence was fueling their baser desires, making them immoral and oversexed. To curb this corruption, puritanical reformers advocated for foods they thought curbed a variety of appetites. Stephanie Honchell Smith details the invention of Graham crackers.

Watch the video and finish the Think section to complete the lesson.


About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

Educator
Stephanie Honchell Smith
Director
Anton Bogaty
Narrator
Susan Zimmerman
Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Salil Bhayani, cAMP Studio
Sound Designer
Amanda P.H. Bennett, cAMP Studio
Director of Production
Gerta Xhelo
Produced by
Abdallah Ewis
Editorial Director
Alex Rosenthal
Editorial Producer
Cella Wright
Fact-Checker
Charles Wallace

More from The World's People and Places