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This guide explores the relationship between secrecy and the First Amendment by exploring two interrelated legal problems: the rights of leakers and the press to publish secret information; and the bureaucratic process by which information is classified as secret in the first place. These issues are at the heart of recent conflicts about whistleblowers and classified information – individuals like Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden have faced jail time for sharing secrets with the public.

Free Speech Teaching Guide 3: The Problem of National Security Secrets

In Teaching Guides

Watercolor, Otto Dix, 1924, Assault under Gas, Deutsches Historisches Museum

How do you teach the effects of WWI on art and literature? Transforming a content standard into a solid lesson plan.

Forming Lesson Plans Around State Mandates

In Ask a Master Teacher

Photo, Flowers for soldier in a tank, 1945, Nationaal Archief, Flickr Commons

Whichever lesson you pick, make sure it meets your learning goals.

Setting the Tone: Introducing Students to World War II

In Ask a Master Teacher

Spotlight on Elementary Education

History is made by those who are unafraid to push the envelope and redefine the society in which they live. Encourage your students to examine the men and women who worked to make America what it is today with this creative activity. FIND OUT MORE »

Lesson Plan Reviews

Evaluate key elements of effective teaching Watch the INTRODUCTORY VIDEO

Locate Yourself on a Map of the Americas

Young students locate themselves on a map and explore spatial relationships [...] »

Roads to Antietam

You're a Union general on the eve of Antietam. You know Lee's plans. What [...] »

English Language Learners

Instructional strategies and resources for ELL

Using Primary Sources with English Language Learners

Primary source analysis activities can help include English Language [...] »

Supporting Text Comprehension and Vocabulary Development Using WordSift

Help English learners understand basic concepts with this interactive tool [...] »

Teaching Guides

Explore new teaching methods and approaches

Students Working in Local Historic Preservation

Engage your students in preserving local history! Use this teacher's [...] »

Incorporating 20th Century US Environmental History in the 6-12 Classroom

This guide consists of curated primary and secondary sources to help [...] »

9/11 and Commemoration: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers

Help students understand the events of 9/11 and how such events are [...] »

Religion and the Civil War: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers

Help students understand the how religious beliefs shaped Americans' [...] »

Housing and Houselessness: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers

Help students understand the how policy and structural forces have shaped [...] »

Ask a Master Teacher

Making Personal Connections to the Past by Finding Historians

Whether you use the telephone or Skype, there are a number of ways to [...] »

Browse Questions »