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
Freedom: A History of Us
Photograph, Inside the Tenement, ca. 1890s, Freedom: A History of Us.

What exactly is freedom, and who possesses it?

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Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850-1920
Illustration, Jell-O: America's Most Famous Dessert, 1925, Jell-O Company, Inc.

Follow the rise of professional advertising with these advertising items and [...] »

Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship

Discover the rich history of DC's cherry trees and what they reveal about U. [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
Women in Blues (and Jazz)

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

Celebrate More Than St. Patrick

The Irish contributed more to the U.S. than shamrocks and folktales.

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Yo, Ho, Ho and a . . . Bushel of Oysters?

Shellfish pirates stole from the rich to feed themselves—and make a little [...] »

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?

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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? [...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation

Looking for a way to fund graduate education related to teaching the U.S. [...] »

Mine Safety and Health Administration
Photo, Mule driver, adolescent. . . , 1915, U.S. Bureau of Mines, MSHA site

Ever considered using mining to teach labor history?...

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Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

Service-learning and history don't have to be exclusive. Consider the [...] »

Ask a Historian

Founding Documents
1776 newspaper publishes the Declaration of Independence

History lessons on the founding documents invariably include the Declaration [...] »