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
Crisis at Fort Sumter
Drawing, Fort Sumter, 1864, John Ross Key, LoC

Work through the Fort Sumter crises alongside our nation's leaders.

[...] »
Mapping the National Parks
Print, Tertiary history of the Grand cañon district..., Dutton, LoC

Track the exploration and use of Acadia, the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and [...] »

Disability History Museum
Postcard, Charity Postcard of Irvin Malzi, 1910, Robert Bogdan Collection.

Explore the experiences of those with disabilities through documents and [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
Turkey Tracking

Thanksgiving—how much do you know about the history of this popular holiday [...] »

Presidential Moments: Inaugural Addresses

Can you match these famous first words with their presidential speakers?

[...] »
Constitution Day Count

How does the Constitution measure up to other important documents in U.S. [...] »

Beyond the Textbook

Question textbook narratives
Causes of the American Revolution
Broadside, A card, New York, 1774, LoC, rbpe 10700100

What were the causes of the American Revolution? They were more complicated [...] »

Women's Reform Movement
Print, A downright gabbler, or a goose that deserves to be hissed, 1829

The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments in 1848 reflected the voices of [...] »

The Atomic Bomb: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
photographic print, Second atomic bombing of Nagasaki, 1945 August, LOC

Controversial issues are often simplified in textbooks. Discover the facts [...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
National Portrait Gallery

Allow students to "meet" their favorite historical figures.

[...] »
Supreme Court of the United States

From John Jay to Sonia Sotomayor, the Supreme Court is the final word in law [...] »

Federal Judiciary

Can’t tell an affadavit from an acquittal? Learn the legal lingo.

[...] »

Ask a Historian

Boston's Bloody Affray
Broadside from Boston, 1770, "Horrid Massacre!"

A struggle over naming a struggle—when and where did the Boston Massacre [...] »