Incorporating 20th Century US Environmental History in the K-5 Classroom
This guide consists of curated primary and secondary sources to help students connect environmental history to broader themes in twentieth century US history.
Abraham Lincoln and the Jews
Students learn about the sixteenth president’s relationship with Jewish Americans and his policy of religious tolerance.
For Us the Living
A series of five primary source based learning modules that encourage high school students to explore American history through the stories found in Alexandria National Cemetery.
Constitution Day 2012: Founding Documents
The Constitution and the Bill of Rights inspired many other important documents in U.S. history. This Constitution Day, trace its influence through primary sources.
Film Review: Prohibition
Historian Tona Hangen takes a look at Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s three-part documentary on Prohibition.
Establishing Connections: Teaching the Progressive Era
Students are often disconnected from the past. Why not immerse them in historic study by building off things they already know?
Manifest Destiny: Creating an American Identity
Discover how the concept of a “Manifest Destiny” shaped American perceptions prior to and throughout the 19th century.
IWitness
View testimonies on the Holocaust, create videos, and learn the importance of ethical editing.
World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response
Get out of the political arena and teach your students about the emergency response and human issues that resulted from 9/11.
VOCES Oral History Project
Ever wondered about the wartime experiences of Latinos and Latinas? VOCES seeks to help remedy the gap in U.S. popular historical narrative.
Civilian Public Service Story
Unearth an important part of U.S. military history—the conscientious decision not to fight.
Witness and Response: September 11 Acquisitions at the Library of Congress
If you’re searching for 9/11 materials, this website offers easy access to materials across the Library of Congress’s collections.
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Service-learning and history don’t have to be exclusive. Consider the opportunities.
Digital Resource Guide for the Labor Archives of Washington State
Making labor history access less of a chore.
Idea of America
The U.S. was formed on ideals, but how do these ideals manifest in reality? Are they ever at odds?
Red Cross: Exploring Humanitarian Law
Humanitarian law and history are hardly mutually exclusive.
Puerto Rico Encyclopedia/Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico
Connect with your ELL students with this bilingual Puerto Rico Encyclopedia!
Declaration of Independence
Historian Rosemarie Zagarri reads the Declaration of Independence closely, taking time to define its context and its effects.
September 11, 2001, Web Archive
What coverage did websites give the 9/11 attacks?
September 11, 2001, Documentary Project
Access children’s pictures and Italian oral histories regarding 9/11, among other sources.
9/11 Memorial
What does our choice of memorial design say about the U.S. today?
National Constitution Center: Explore the Constitution
Looking for resources on the Constitution? What better place to look than a center dedicated to its legacy?
Industrializing Women
Did industrialization result in more women working outside the home or in more women in domestic spheres only?
What Really Happened? Comparing Stories of the First Thanksgiving
Take a variety of perspectives into account before moving past the first Thanksgiving.
iCivics
Games can be more than mindless fluff. When content-rich, they can engage your students in learning during play.
Finishing the Dream: Learning from the Civil Rights Era
This collection of short videos recognizes the civil rights movement as ongoing struggle.
John Adams: Great or Not?
What does historical “greatness” mean, anyway?
Open Yale Courses
Looking for a little professional development? Miss your college classes? Try Yale’s.
HERB: Social History for Every Classroom
Find a wide variety of classroom resources focused on social history, from classroom activities to primary sources.
From Slavery to Freedom: The African-American Pamphlet Collection, 1822-1909
Peruse an extensive collection of pamphlets related to African-American life leading up to, during, and following the Civil War.
Freedom Riders
Meet the American men and women who traveled the South in the name of black/white equality.
Do I Have a Right?
Drill students on the constitutional amendments with this engaging game.
When Copyright Meets the Classroom
Understanding fair use and public domain are key to navigating through the labyrinth of copyright law.
American Resistance to a Standing Army
Americans of the 18th century took a much dimmer view of the institution of a professional army than current views of the U.S. military.
In Pursuit of Freedom
Frederick Douglass approached the abolition of slavery from within the confines of the Constitution.
Black-Robed Regiment
Not technically a military force, the “Regiment” proved integral to the success of the American Revolution.
Black Confederates
Most African Americans (free or slaves) never joined the ranks of the Confederacy. Are there cases where individuals did?
On Gendering the Constitution
The agitation among women’s rights activists over the language of the 14th Amendment.
Divining America: Religion in American History
Use this essay on Jewish immigration to flesh out a unit on the Civil War or immigration.
Examining the Korean War
Allow students to explore historical events through multiple perspectives with this lesson.
Dissent in the Ranks
George Washington’s military career and reputation were not pure successes. His military losses caused some to question his ability to lead a nation.
Civilization is All Relative
Common misconceptions of the classification of civilization are debunked.
Cold War Wrestling Match
How political cartoons illustrate international events and the artists beliefs.
Diversity in the 1920s
Segregation and equality in America was a case of double standards.
Separation of Church and State
The Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Naming Colonial History
Everyone knows what “American Revolution” means. But can you identify these other labels used in naming colonial history?
Taxation to Revolution
It was reasoned that no colonists could fear an act that made them drink cheaper tea.
Great Expectations for the Civil War
Many believed the Civil War would be a short, bloodless battle. The reality of the drawn out combat led many soldiers in the North and South to desert the military to return home to farm and family.
Lone Wolf v Hitchcock
Part of a series of laws that displaced Native Americans from land allotted to them through treaties with the U.S. government.
History of the Occult in America
Historians studying the hidden spirits of religion in America
Picturing the American Revolution
Looking for a creative way to teach the American Revolution to struggling readers? Check this out!
Old Political Cartoons
Poking fun and puncturing pomposity—how can you interpret political cartoons?
Amy Trenkle on Experiencing the First Amendment
For Constitution Day, DC teacher Amy Trenkle’s 8th-grade class carved out their thoughts on the First Amendment.
Students Working in Local Historic Preservation
Engage your students in preserving local history! Use this teacher’s successful service learning activity to guide you.
Researching for a Research Topic
Paring down a larger idea to answer one specific question.
Booth's Reason for Assassination
In an attempt to salvage a failed Confederate agenda, John Wilkes Booth swore to destroy President Abraham Lincoln’s policy of extending civil liberties to African Americans.
We the People . . . Rarely Agree
What does the Constitution mean to you? Match each quote to the historical figure whose view of the Constitution it reveals.
The Era of Reform
Was the antebellum period the height of reform movements in U.S. history?
Iroquois and the Founding Fathers
Historians argue over whether the Founding Fathers’ knowledge of Native American forms of confederation influenced their early plans for the government of the United States.
Jefferson versus Hamilton
Their differing philosophies of government set the stage for the permanent growth of political factions.
New Jersey's Quakers and the American Revolution
Did you know the Quakers were pre-Revolution abolitionists?…
Close Reading for Vocabulary, Context, and Tone
Analyzing a source requires context for a more complete understanding.
Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment
Relive the dream of the women’s vote through roleplay or interfacing with primary documents.
True Americans in the Cold War
Looking for the Red in the Red, White, and Blue?
The U.S. and Egypt in the 1950s
Creating political blowback in the Middle East
All Wrapped Up in the Flag
Flinging the first American flag to the breeze.
A Life of Strenuous Endeavor
T Roosevelt: “Let us pay with our bodies for our souls’ desire.”
Thomas Jefferson's Library
Basic information and several images of 41 books once in Thomas Jefferson’s library.
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
This presidential library presents sources from the 35th President’s life and times.
Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Design embodies both artistic ingenuity and responses to everyday problems.
Teaching Public Issues in the Classroom
Teach your students to learn, care, and think internationally.
Peace Corps
Explore world and U.S. history simultaneously through universal development issues.
Jefferson's Confidential Letter to Congress
Jefferson, surprised by the Louisiana Purchase? Maybe not. Historian Leah Glaser looks at a letter from Jefferson requesting funding for the Corps of Discovery.
John Brown's Holy War
A variety of resources focused on the life and times of infamous abolitionist John Brown.
Trial of The Chicago Seven
Explore radical activism and 1960s culture through the trial of the Chicago Seven.
Bisbee Deportation of 1917
Learn about labor history through the infamous Bisbee Deportation.
The Leonard Bernstein Collection, ca.1920-1989
An extensive collection of primary resources concerning renowned composer Leonard Bernstein.
Thomas Jefferson Papers
The largest collection of original Jefferson documents in the world. Really, we’re serious.
Bartleby, Great Books Online
A collection of American and European literary classics, made available free of charge.
Material History of American Religion Project
Learn about American material culture and its relation to the nation’s religious history.
Liberty! The American Revolution
The companion site to a PBS documentary, this website is a useful resource for scholars of the American Revolution.
Carrie Chapman Catt Girlhood Home and Museum
A useful gateway site for materials on Carrie Chapman Catt and the women’s suffrage movement.
Divining America: Religion and the National Culture
A comprehensive history of religion and major religious events within the United States.
Inside an American Factory: Films of the Westinghouse Works, 1904
A collection of resources pertaining to the Westinghouse Works company, including films and articles.
The American Colonist's Library
This extensive database contains influential documents and literature spanning from 500BC to the 1800s.
Classics in the History of Psychology
Explore the subject of psychology through this full-text archive of classic works in the field.
The Underground Railroad
Travel the Underground Railroad with this interactive website.
The Whole World Was Watching: An Oral History of 1968
An oral history of 1968, as told by a variety of Rhode Island residents, focusing on Civil Rights and Vietnam.
Talking History with Bryan LeBeau
Listen to past episodes of Bryan LeBeau’s weekly radio program, entitled “Talking History.”
John Brown and the Valley of the Shadow
A comprehensive collection of primary source materials which cover the infamous Harper’s Ferry raid.
U.S. Women's History Workshop
A collection of primary source material for teaching women’s history and mid-19th century culture.
Liberty Rhetoric and 19th-Century American Women
Compare early women’s rights campaigns to the rhetoric of the American Revolution.
Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans, 1639-1800
Looking for a one-stop spot for all your quick 1639-1800 research needs?
The Crisis of the Union
An impressive array of tracts (and more) brought together for your convenience.
Civil Rights Oral History Interviews: Spokane, Washington
From racism to civil rights movement music, listen to the memories of these eight individuals.
The Perilous Fight: America's World War II in Color
Explore World War II’s color film footage.
Philip S. Hench Walter Reed Yellow Fever Collection
Discover the men, ideas, and process behind discovering that mosquitoes transfer yellow fever.
University of Missouri-Columbia: Digital Library Collections
A hodge podge of history: England, Missouri, and the greater U.S.
North Carolinians and the Great War
How did World War I effect the lives of the everyday North Carolinian?
Freedom: A History of Us
What exactly is freedom, and who possesses it?
Jacob Lawrence: Exploring Stories
Frame your lessons on the Great Migration with the life and works of Jacob Lawrence.
Communism in Washington State--History and Memory Project
Communist Russia. Communist China. Communist Washington?
ECHO (Exploring and Collecting the History Online)
Introduce yourself to the history of science, or learn to make your own history website.
African-Americans--Biography, Autobiography, and History
Read a selection of the world’s greatest speeches by prominent African American figures.
African Americans in Massachusetts
Compare perspectives on educational desegregation. How did it affect the community?
U.S. Intelligence Policy Documentation Project
Read up on the NRO, NSA, and the use of satellite imaging for intelligence collection.
World War I History Commission Questionnaires
How did World War I change soldiers’ attitudes, religious beliefs, and employment prospects?
RFK in the Land of Apartheid: A Ripple of Hope
Examine the impact of Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-apartheid trip to South Africa.
Encyclopedia Britannica: The 1911 Edition
Find out what people thought of everything from ablation to vinegar in 1911.
History of American Education Web Project
Explore the history of education within the U.S, through writings and images.
George Washington: A National Treasure
What can you learn from the Lansdowne portrait of George Washington?
Thomas Jefferson Papers
What did Thomas Jefferson read?
Labor Arts
What role has art had in the depiction and reality of U.S. labor?
Interpreting the Declaration of Independence by Translation
Is the Declaration of Independence the same document when in a foreign language?
Democratic Vistas: The William Clyde DeVane Lecture Series
Look to the past to consider the prospects of democracy in the U.S.
Free Speech Movement: Student Protest, U.C. Berkeley, 1964-65
Explore primary documents concerning the Berkeley Free Speech Movement.
An American Family: The Beecher Tradition
Did you know that Harriet Beecher Stowe’s family was also involved in abolitionism?
A Visual Journey: Photographs by Lisa Law, 1965-1971
Check out the music scene, communes, and protests of the 1960s.
Jo Freeman.com
Explore women’s political history and activism from the 1960s onward.
Papers of John Jay
Read the correspondence of lesser known founding father John Jay.
Historical Atlas of the Twentieth Century
Compare global statistics on topics from infant mortality to literacy.
Civics Online
Gain inspiration for new ways to approach political history.
Hannah Arendt Papers
Do you read German? Not to worry. Select documents are available in English.
The 19th Century in Print: Books
What were people reading around the time of the Civil War?
Florida Heritage Collection
Explore Florida state, regional, and local history.
Conversations with History
Brush up on your understanding of international relations with these interviews.
Common-Place: The Interactive Journal of Early American Life
Immerse yourself in early U.S. history with this scholarly journal.
Earliest Voices: A Gallery from the Vincent Voice Library
Hear the conviction and charisma of seven renowned turn-of-the-century speakers.
Across the Generations: Exploring U.S. History through Family Papers
Experience Caucasian, middle-class Northeastern life through the collections of four families.
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
More than 50 virtual exhibits ranging from Julia Child to West Point.
WTO History Project
Take a peek at Seattle protest history through the WTO Ministerial Week.
The Church in the Southern Black Community, 1780-1925
How did the Protestant Church become central to Southern African American communities?
SDA: Survey Documentation and Analysis
Observe statistical trends in U.S. beliefs and demographics from free speech to zodiac signs.
The Star-Spangled Banner
What does the flag mean in the terms of forging a cohesive U.S. identity?
The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden
Unsure how to teach presidential history in an engaging manner? Try these activities and lessons.
A More Perfect Union
Was Japanese American internment constitutional? Explore the Japanese American experience.
Samuel F. B. Morse Papers, 1793-1919
Explore the thoughts of Samuel F. Morse, artist and father of the electromagnetic telegraph.
Humor's Edge
Use modern political cartoons to introduce analysis of recent events.
Washington History
Make this your first stop for topics related to Washington state history!
Woman's Legal History Biography Project
How many female lawyers can you think of in U.S. history?
With an Even Hand: Brown v. Board at Fifty
Examine the events which led to and the aftermath of Brown v. Board of Education.
Brown v. Board of Education 50th Anniversary Digital Archive
Explore Brown v. Board of Education through interactive activities and personal recollections.
The Pill
How has the birth control pill altered sexuality and feminine gender expectations?
Jonathan Edwards Online
Jonathan Edwards was the grandfather of Aaron Burr, and entrenched in the Great Awakening movement.
Women Working, 1800-1930
What did women think of their work at home, in the arts, and in business?
American Memory Learning Page
Try lesson plans based on the Library of Congress’ American Memory collections.
Women of Valor
Meet international anarchist and women’s rights activist Emma Goldman.
American Photography: A Century of Images
How has photography altered our perception of and the actuality of reality?
Civil Rights Movement Veterans
Access the human stories of the civil rights movement.
Founding Documents
History lessons on the founding documents invariably include the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Hard Hat Riots: An Online History Project
Learn about the Hard Hat Riots of New York with this innovative website.
Pluralism and Unity
Explore the clash of ideas and ideologies in early 20th century America.
Building an Archives
Learn about the history of the National Archives as well as how to start your own archives.
Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
Learn about the history of the United States up to 1815 with this website dedicated exclusively to early American history.
Cold War: Postwar Estrangement
A collection of Soviet archival documents which take visitors inside the highest levels of the Soviet Government.
The Alexis de Tocqueville Tour: Exploring Democracy in America
Everything you never knew you wanted to know about Alexis de Tocqueville’s trip through the United States. You’re welcome!
American Treasures of the Library of Congress
A collection of special documents and artifacts held within the Library of Congress.
Women's History: The 1850 Worcester Convention
Learn about the First National Women’s Rights Convention and the greater women’s rights movement.
American Museum of Photography
View fantastic photography throughout the ages in over 15 exhibits.
Freedmen and Southern Society Project
Follow the emancipation process through the eyes of its participants.
By Popular Demand: "Votes for Women" Suffrage Pictures, 1850-1920
View photographs, cartoons, and campaign items from the women’s suffrage movement.
Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s-1960s
Learn about race in American sports history through the life of Jackie Robinson.
Political Thought Page
Use the links on this website to explore political thought from the ancient past to the present day.
Living the Legacy: The Women's Rights Movement, 1848-1998
Learn about the women’s rights movement through the secondary sources offered by this website.
African American Women
Read the memoirs and letters of three 19th-century African American women on this website.
Documents from the Women's Liberation Movement
Explore over 50 documents which chronicle the history of the Women’s Liberation Movement.
Thomas Jefferson on Politics and Government
Learn about Jefferson’s political views through this collection of quotations from his writings.
Sixties Project & Viet Nam Generation
Learn about the Vietnam anti-war movement through this website.
Hiroshima Peace Site
Learn about Hiroshima and the history of nuclear warfare and non-proliferation through this website.
A Cybrary of the Holocaust
Visit this website for a firsthand view into the horror of the holocaust.
People with a History: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans* History
Use this extensive resource as a starting point for all inquiries into homosexual and transgender history.
Archiving Early America
Explore the early history of America with reproductions of important documents and newspapers.
Drafting the Documents of Independence
View documents relating to the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
Charters of Freedom
Explore documents that helped to shape the history of our nation.
New Jersery History Partnership Project
Use New Jersey during the American Revolution as a national microcosm.
Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection
Explore campus protest ephemera and the youth movements of the 1960s and 70s.
A Century of Progress: The 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair
Browse official publications from the 1933-1934 World’s Fair.
Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery
Explore slavery in America from nine thematic perspectives.
Say it Plain: A Century of Great African American Speeches
Hear 12 renowned speeches by African Americans, including Marcus Garvey’s only known recording.
Rebellion: John Horse and the Black Seminoles
What role did runaway slaves and free African Americans play in the Second Seminole War?
Adams Family Papers
You probably know about John Adam’s political career, but what of the Adams’ domestic life?
Slavery and the Making of America
An extensive glimpse into slave life and the history of slavery in the United States.
Freedom Now! An Archival Project of Tougaloo College and Brown University
Immerse yourself in the historical struggle for the African American vote in Mississippi.
Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words
Get to know Benjamin Franklin through his own writings, cartoons, and letters.
NASA History Division
Ever wonder what lunar surface crew members and mission control said to each other?
Library of Congress: Webcasts
Access more than 500 webcasts from the Library of Congress.
Dolley Madison Project
Read the letters of Dolley Madison while learning about her life—from childhood to widowhood.
Anne Sullivan Macy: Miracle Worker
When teaching about Helen Keller, why leave out her friend and educator Anne Sullivan Macy?
The History Box
Have a question about New York City or state history? More than 750 articles available.
The Malcolm X Project
Read FBI files on and watch interviews about Malcolm X, human and African American rights activist.
Folkstreams
View streaming videos on American folk culture from fox hunting to Zydeco.
Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution
What roles have Jewish women played in the Second Wave of feminism?
NOVA: Einstein's Big Idea
E=mc2. What does it mean? How has it changed society? What was Einstein’s life like?
New Jersey Public Records and Archives
Familiarize yourself with New Jersey history using images, maps, and official documents.
The Lives and Writings of Antebellum Students at UNC
What did college students think about their lives and larger issues in the 19th-century?
Illinois During the Gilded Age
Listen to, read, and sing sources from the Gilded Age canvassing women, religion, and more.
Women of Protest: Images from the Records of the National Woman's Party
See the suffragettes who gave over 50% of U.S. citizens the right to vote.
Turning Points in Wisconsin History
Primary documents, background information, and lesson plans for Wisconsin history.
World War I Sheet Music
What can the music of World War I tell us about its era?
Walt Whitman Archive
Get to know the life, mind, works, and criticisms of poet Walt Whitman.
Historic Missouri Newspaper Project
Peruse articles, images, and advertisements drawn from 14 Missouri newspapers, 1835 through 1988.
Wright on the Web
Follow architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s career with these summaries and images.
Tennessee Documentary History Collection, 1796-1850
Geared toward K-12 education, this site presents antebellum life in Tennessee through letters and images.
Negroes With Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power
Do you think armed resistance is a justifiable reaction to racism? Explore Rob William’s motives.
Seattle Black Panther Party History and Memory Project
Who exactly were the Black Panthers? Explore the history and memories of the Seattle chapter.
Dickinson Electronic Archives
Learn about Dickinson’s family through their own writings and wider critical response to her poetry.
Liberian Letters
What was life like for freed slaves returned to Africa? Read letters to former owners.
Coming of Age in the Twentieth Century, Stories from Minnesota and Beyond
What can oral histories tell us about girlhood, adolescence, and more in the United States?
Dolley Madison Digital Edition
Read Dolley Madison’s personal correspondence from her youth through her widowhood.
McKinley Assassination Ink: A Documentary History
Explore the assassination of President McKinley and the social context thereof.
Getting the Message Out! National Political Campaign Materials, 1840-1860
What were common presidential campaign strategies between 1840 and 1860?
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
Review litigation studies ranging from mental health facilities and jail conditions to equal employment.
Early American Imprints, Series II: Shaw-Shoemaker, 1801-1819
Uncover novels, readers, hymnals, almanacs, diaries, maps, treaties, and more from between 1801 and 1819.
American State Papers, 1789-1838
Access Congressional documents from the first 25 Congresses.
Life After the Holocaust: Stories of Holocaust Survivors After The War
Can you imagine starting your life over in the U.S. following the Holocaust?
The Lincoln Institute
Explore Lincoln’s presidency; and access related classroom resources, including lesson plans.
North American Women's Letters and Diaries: Colonial Times to 1950
Read the personal correspondence and diaries of women such as Phyllis Wheatley and Margaret Fuller.
Atlanta in the Civil Rights Movement
What was Atlanta’s role in the larger African American civil rights movement 1940 through 1970?
Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage
Explore the history of Maryland, from Edgar Allen Poe to the War of 1812.
The Case of Sacco and Vanzetti
Criminal history, the Jazz Age, and the Red Scare all in one legal case. Understand the early 20th century through the Case of Sacco and Vanzetti.
Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Discover the life of pragmatist and education reform advocate John Dewey (1859-1952).
LBJ Oral History Project Online
What better way to explore Johnson’s presidency than through the words of his associates?
Red White Blue & Brimstone: New World Literature and the American Millennium
Texts throughout U.S. history have featured imagery from the Book of Revelations, including the the documents on this site.
First Century of the First State University: The Creation of UNC
Primary sources document the history of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the first U.S. public university.
Historical Agency in History Book Sets (HBS)
Looking for ways to use fiction in your elementary history curriculum? Read on for suggestions!
John Brown, Harpers Ferry, Students, History and Technology
Middle school students interpret history at Harpers Ferry.
Papers of Justice Tom C. Clark
Tom C. Clark served as Supreme Court Justice from 1949 to 1967, a time of legal shift and reform. Learn more about cases from these years from his papers.
Why Did President Polk Want War with Mexico?
During the 1840s, Manifest Destiny remained an effusive spirit rather than an agenda for empire.
Can You Recommend Three Texts on Historiography?
Sifting through books for college courses about historical inquiry.
Another Kind of American Idol
Explore the history of America’s most iconic image—the American flag. But remember: lip-syncing is not allowed!
Is the Story of George Washington and the Colt a True Story?
Is it all right to make up stories about real people to teach children about honesty? In the 19th century, some people thought so.
Why Was the Boston Tea Party Not Stopped by British Troops?
To some extent, the Boston Tea Party was the result of unintended consequences.
Abraham Lincoln
This lesson leads students to see how Lincoln’s life in Springfield influenced important national issues.
Declaration of Independence: Rough Draft to Proclamation
How did the final version of the Declaration differ from Jefferson’s draft?
Namesake of a Peacekeeper
Historians have attempted to account for the great admiration that whites had for Tecumseh.
From Medieval Europe to Colonial America
What did Colonial America and Medieval Europe have in common?
Court Packing Controversies
What do Presidents Ulysses Grant and Franklin Roosevelt have in common? Both were accused of packing the Supreme Court.
A Look at Slavery through Posters and Broadsides
How to identify the author, audience, date, and message of historical posters.
"Join or Die"
Think the “Join or Die” snake first appeared during the American Revolution? Think again!
Literature and Culture of the American 1950s
Explore the cultural, intellectual, and political trends of the 1950s in a diverse array of primary and secondary sources.
Dynamics of Idealism: Volunteers for Civil Rights, 1965-1982
Learn about the volunteers who participated in a 1965 Southern Christian Leadership Conference voter registration effort.
CWIHP: Cold War International History Project
Covering 1945 through the late 1990s, sources from the former Communist bloc provide a different perspective on the Cold War.
The Jack London Online Collection
From White Fang to short stories and speeches, read more than 40 works by renown author Jack London.
Eugenics Archive
Traces the history of the eugenics movement in the United States.
African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders and organizations.
Wright American Fiction, 1851-1875
Digitizing 19th-century American fiction, this site offers close to 3,000 texts by 1,456 authors.
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection
With over 300,000 pages available for full-text searching, this is one of the richest collections of anti-slavery and Civil War materials in the world.
Race and Place
Discover connections between race and place in this archive documenting the effects of Jim Crow on a Virginia town.
Emma Goldman Papers
Learn more about Emma Goldman, radical and feminist activist, through this collection of primary and secondary sources.
American Radicalism Collection
From the Ku Klux Klan to the IWW, examine 129 historical documents from radical organizations.
Alcohol, Temperance, and Prohibition
More than 1,800 primary sources provide a window into the Temperance Movement and Prohibition.
Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860
Delve into the complex history of slavery and the law with this collection of primary sources.
Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis and Clark and the Revealing of America
180 documents and artifacts interpret 19th-century westward exploration and the concept of Manifest Destiny.
Television News of the Civil Rights Era
View contemporary coverage of the Civil Rights Movement from two Roanoke, VA television stations.
Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project
Primary and secondary sources document the minority struggle for civil rights in Seattle’s history.
Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) Photographs
Close to 200 photographs document the work of Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA).
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
A variety of primary sources and background essays explore the 1911 fire, a hallmark tragedy of the industrial age.
Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project
Presents the life and work of black activist Marcus Garvey, leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).
Chicago Anarchists on Trial: Evidence from the Haymarket Affair, 1886-1887
The court proceedings surrounding the Haymarket Affair look at the event that led to the first “Red Scare” in America.
Anti-Saloon League, 1893-1933
Printed materials preserve the public campaigns of the Anti-Saloon League from 1893 to 1933.
Thomas Paine National Historical Association
Explore the life and works of one of the most famous revolutionaries—Thomas Paine.
Territorial Kansas Online
Primary and secondary sources examine the growing divisions in Kansas and the nation prior to the Civil War.
Mexican-American War and the Media
More than 5,500 transcribed newspaper articles related to the Mexican-American War.
Making of America
Provides more than 1.5 million pages of text in an effort to digitize more than 11,000 volumes and 100,000 19th-century journal articles.
Evolution of the Conservation Movement, 1850-1920
Documents the birth of the conservation movement through published works, manuscripts, images, and motion picture footage.
Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark
Follows Jefferson’s life, political participation, and accumulation of scientific geographical knowledge from 1735 to 1804.
Century of Lawmaking: Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873
Covers Congressional documents from the nation’s founding through early Reconstruction.
American Transcendentalism Web
Presents texts by and about the major figures of American Transcendentalism.
Abraham Lincoln Papers
Approximately 20,000 documents provide a window into President Abraham Lincoln’s life.
Lakota Winter Counts
Displays, explains, and interprets the Lakota pictorial histories known as winter counts.
Documenting the American South
Nearly 1,400 documents covering Southern life from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
Africans in America
Trace the history of Africans in America through Reconstruction, with 245 images, maps, and documents.
Nineteenth-Century American Children and What They Read
Examines 19th-century children in America: what they read, what was written about them, and what was written for them.
Teach Women's History Project
Provides teaching and reference materials on the women’s rights movement of the past 50 years.
Flint Sit-Down Strike
Provides a multimedia introduction to “the greatest strike in American history.”
Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000
Offers 45 mini-monographs on U.S. women’s history, each organized around an analytical question concerning a social movement.
Marchand Archive
Memorializes Roland Marchand with more than 6,100 images, including more than 2,000 advertisements, and 48 lesson plans drawn from his collection.
Florida State Archives Photographic Collection
Presents more than 137,000 photographs of Florida on specific localities from the mid-19th century to the present.
Selling the Computer Revolution: Marketing Brochures in the Collection
Presents more than 250 computer marketing brochures from 1948 to 1988.
Map Collections: 1500-2003
16th-century to present-day maps, focusing on Americana and cartographic treasures.
Making the Macintosh: Technology and Culture in Silicon Valley
Preserves the history of the Macintosh through interviews with designers, technical writers, Apple employees, and others.
Herblock's History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium
View 150 cartoons drawn between 1929 and 2000 by Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Herbert Block.
Women in Journalism
Archives 44 “full-life” interviews with American women journalists.
Presidential Recording Program
Offers over 2,500 hours of White House recordings by six American presidents between 1940 and 1973.
Posters from the WPA, 1936-1943
Showcases more than 900 Work Projects Administration (WPA) posters produced as part of the New Deal.
Parallel History Project on Cooperative Security
More than 350 recently declassified documents reveal previously hidden aspects of Cold War military strategy.
NSA and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Provides access to facsimiles of 100 declassified documents relating to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
History and Politics Out Loud
Captures significant events and personalities of the 20th century through 107 audio items, including speeches, addresses, and private telephone conversations.
Historical Thinking Matters
Presents four guided investigations—on the Spanish-American War, the Scopes Trial, Social Security, and Rosa Parks—designed to teach students to read primary sources and construct historical narratives.
Historic Government Publications from World War II: A Digital Library
Includes more than 300 U.S. government pamphlets and books on home front issues from World War II.
Disability History Museum
Explore the experiences of those with disabilities through documents and images dating from the 18th century to the present.
The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War
A wonderful collection of chronologies, images, maps, and other materials on the Spanish-American War.
Photographs from the Chicago Daily News: 1902-1933
Presents more than 55,000 Chicago Daily News photographs taken in the early 20th century.
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
Explore this archive of over 110 video interviews on Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Chinese in California, 1850-1925
Browse more than 8,000 objects related to Chinese immigrant life in California.
Amateur Athletic Foundation Digital Archive
Official documents and articles from periodicals record the history of the Olympics and sport.
1896: The Presidential Campaign
Follow the contentious election of 1896 with close to 100 political cartoons related to the presidential campaigns.
Without Sanctuary: Photographs and Postcards of Lynching in America
An assemblage of more than 80 photographs and postcards of lynchings, from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963
Peruse this collection of over 900 items relating to Chicago’s Hull House to discover its influence on 20th century urban development.
Margaret Sanger Papers Project
Selected materials by and about the “birth control pioneer” Margaret Sanger.
Thomas A. Edison Papers
A vast database of Thomas Edison’s papers, including correspondence, technical drawings, and clippings about the inventor.
Red Hot Jazz Archive: A History of Jazz before 1930
Discover over 200 jazz bands and musicians active from 1895-1929, captured here in countless audio and video files.
American Leaders Speak: Recordings from World War I and the 1920 Election
Access 59 sound recordings of 1918-1920 speeches by American leaders.
Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture
Explore Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin as the American cultural phenomenon it was.
Sunday School Books: Shaping the Values of Youth in 19th-Century America
Provides full-text transcriptions and page images of 1815–1865 Sunday school books addressing religious instruction for youth.
Mark Twain in His Times
Focuses on Mark Twain’s life and career, including creation of his popular image, marketing and promotion of his texts, and live performances.
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
Scanned images of more than 18,000 pieces of sheet music, including covers, published prior to 1923.
Great Chicago Fire and the Web of Memory
Commemorates the 1871 Great Chicago Fire with an array of primary sources.
California as I Saw It: First-Person Narratives of California, 1849-1900
40,000 written pages and more than 3,000 illustrations provide accounts of California history from the Gold Rush to the end of the 19th century.
Virtual Jamestown
Experience firsthand accounts of Jamestown and colonial history, dating from 1570 through 1720.
Trails to Utah and the Pacific: Diaries and Letters, 1846-1869
Get up close-and-personal with western migrants. Explore personal accounts of westward treks from the perspective of 45 men and four women.
Raid on Deerfield: The Many Stories of 1704
Documents the 1704 raid on Deerfield, MA, by 300 French and their Native American allies.
Documents from the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention
274 sources focusing on the work of the Continental Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.
Online Archive of California
Explore California from Japanese American internment or the Free Speech Movement to oral histories.
Watergate Revisited
The Washington Post looks back at the Watergate scandal in this exhibit of primary sources.
Brown v. Board of Education
Examine segregation and desegregation through summaries and the court’s opinions for two major cases.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Website
The Holocaust must be remembered. This site will give your students a closer look at the atrocities of this genocide.
The Stars and Stripes, 1918-1919
Peruse every edition of the “official newspaper” of the U.S. Army fighting forces during World War I.
Reclaiming the Everglades: South Florida's Natural History, 1884-1934
Contains 10,000 pages and images on Everglades reclamation efforts and the history of south Florida.
Civil Rights in Mississippi Digital Archive
150 oral history interviews and 16 collections of documents address the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi.
Ansel Adams's Photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar
Ansel Adams’s photographs preserve life at the Manzanar War Relocation Center during World War II.
Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War
Take a closer look at the Civil War with this extensive database that offers a comparison of two Shenandoah Valley counties—Augusta County, VA and Franklin County, PA.
Thomas Jefferson Digital Archive
Peruse more than 1,700 texts written by or to Thomas Jefferson—from correspondence to books and papers.
Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project
Examine the verbatim transcripts of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.
Geography of Slavery in America
Provides transcriptions and images of more than 4,000 newspaper advertisements for runaway slaves and indentured servants between 1736 and 1803.
Accessible Archives
Presents articles from 18th- and 19th-century newspapers, magazines, and books, with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic region.
Gifts of Speech: Women's Speeches from Around the World
More than 400 speeches by women—politicians, scientists, and celebrities.
Typical in the 1930s
A panel of judges enlisted by the New York World’s Fair Corporation looked to Texas to find this family.