Spotlight on Elementary Education

History has been shaped and influenced by the out come of ancient trials—such as the Trial of Socrates in 399B.C.—to Rosenberg Trial in the 1950s. This site offers a comprehensive look at 50 prominent court trials throughout history and its resources can be used to give young learners an introduction to the history of the modern judicial system.

FIND OUT MORE »

Website Reviews

Find quality websites & primary sources
Reston Collection Images

Explore the planned community of Reston, VA. Gain a better sense of the town [...] »

Woman's Legal History Biography Project

How many female lawyers can you think of in U.S. history?

[...] »
African Americans in the Harmon Foundation Collection

A collection of 20 portraits by African American artists from the Harmon [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
Back to the Future . . .

In the year 1900, what did Americans think the next century would bring?

[...] »
Early Telephone Etiquette

Should you leave your hat on when you talk on the telephone?

[...] »
The "Daisy" Ad

Johnson, Goldwater, and the politics of fear.

[...] »

Beyond the Textbook

Question textbook narratives
John Brown's Raid
Painting, John Brown, 1867, Thomas S. Noble, NYPL Digital Gallery

Did Northerners all respond the same way to Brown's infamous raid? [...] »

The Modern Civil Rights Movement: A River of Purposeful Anger
Dynamics of Idealism- Volunteers for Civil Rights, 1965-1982 432x240

Textbooks are silent about defining race and racism, even though the modern [...] »

Slavery
Photo, "An ex-slave," 1897, New York Public Library Digital Gallery

What was it like to be a slave in 19th-century America? Accounts contrast. [...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
U.S. Fire Administration
Photo, Angel Island Fire, Behind Alcatraz, October 12, 2008, LeeLeFever, Flickr

Give historical fires perspective through modern statistics.

[...] »
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Lithograph, [Patent medicine label for unnamed. . . ], 1830-1870, LoC

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has images of patents online [...] »

National Museum of American History

See our history come to life within the expansive exhibits and educational [...] »