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

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Albert and Vera Weisbord Archives
Screen Capture, The Albert & Vera Weisbord Archives, Passaic.

Learn about American radicalism and the communist movement with this [...] »

Our Documents
Treaty of Paris, 1783, Itnl Treaties and Related Records; National Archives.

Presents 100 milestone documents in American history, from the Richard Henry [...] »

Illinois During the Gilded Age

Listen to, read, and sing sources from the Gilded Age canvassing women, [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
Carriages and Wagons

Trade in your old Cabriolet for a new 1876 Landau? Test your knowledge of [...] »

Women in Blues (and Jazz)

In the early 20th century, the new music recording industry embraced [...] »

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 [...] »

Causing the Civil War
Postcard, Train Load of Cotton for Export, South, 1902-1903, NYPL

Did King Cotton cause the Civil War? Or should you look further?

[...] »
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
U.S. Postal Service
Photo, City Carrier, 1975, United States Postal Service

Come rain or shine, the mail must go through, bringing information and [...] »

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 Archives and Records Administration
Letter, . . . Flag Design Suggestion, 10/1958, Sheryl Byland, NARA

With more than 10 billion items addressing U.S. history, you're bound to [...] »

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East St. Louis Massacre

Raising "the terrible weapon of self-defense" during riots in 1917 Illinois [...] »