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.

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Website Reviews

Find quality websites & primary sources
Presidential Elections and the Electoral College

Look to the Library of Congress for your election and electoral congress [...] »

Yale Digital Commons
Wallpaper, Wallpaper sample, c. 1900, Yale University Art Gallery

A wheeled pull toy depicting Nixon with a crown? If you're looking for a [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
Stumbling Down the Road to Health

It seemed like a good idea at the time . . . which “healthful” ingredients [...] »

Europe Encounters the Western Hemisphere

Can you answer these questions about the "exploration race" that brought [...] »

First Impressions: The U.S. and Japan

In 1854, Japan signed a treaty with the U.S. How did the U.S. and Japan see [...] »

Beyond the Textbook

Question textbook narratives
Labor and Trade in Colonial America
Photo, Weavers at Colonial Williamsburg, May 29, 2010, animalvegetable, Flickr

Was colonial trade really triangular? What kinds of work did colonists do, [...] »

Rise of the Automobile
Photo, Model A Ford in front of antique gas pumps, August 4, 2007, Flickr

Americans today take cars for granted. How did they change American life? [...] »

20th-century Jewish Immigration
Dry plate negative, approx. 1920-1930, Jewish colonies and settlements, LOC

Divided into two waves of immigration by textbooks, the continuity of [...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
U.S. Navy

Who defends our seas, and how do they do it? Explore primary sources and [...] »

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency

How did recreational drug use grow into a U.S. drug culture? How did it [...] »

National Museum of Natural History
Photo, . . . trephining [sic]. . . , 1926, Library of Congress

Don't let "natural history" scare you away! The museum covers anthropology [...] »

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Old Political Cartoons
Tariff juggling at Washington, E. W. Kemble, Harpers Weekly, July 10, 1909

Poking fun and puncturing pomposity—how can you interpret political cartoons [...] »