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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William Steinway Diary, 1861-1896
Photo, C. F. Theodore Steinway with. . . ,  c. 1887, Henry Z. Steinway Archive

Daily life in 19th-century New York City, music history, and Civil War [...] »

Historical Thinking Matters
Image, rosa parks, Center for History and New Media.

Presents four guided investigations—on the Spanish-American War, the Scopes [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
Socks to War

Even humble, everyday artifacts have a rich place in history.

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Textbook Twisters: Salem Witch Trials

Burn the witch! Discover how historical coverage of the Salem Witch Trials [...] »

European Explorers in North America after Columbus

Who else left Europe following the call of wealth, fame, religion, or other [...] »

Beyond the Textbook

Question textbook narratives
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. [...] »

Coal and the Industrial Revolution
Photo, At the close of the day, January 1911, Lewis Hine, Library of Congress

How can the story of coal help students understand the nature of today's [...] »

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 [...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
National Museum of African American History and Culture

What does it mean to be an American? Answer this question through the lens [...] »

National Endowment for the Arts

Watch videos on jazz and opera history, courtesy of the National Endowment [...] »

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
Screenshot, "U.S. History Topics," Federal Resources for Educational Excellence

More than 1,600 learning resources from the federal government sorted by [...] »

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Defining Dred Scott
lithograph, The political quadrille--Music by Dred Scott, 1860, LOC

Who was Dred Scott, and what was the significance of his case?

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