9/11 and Commemoration: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers
Help students understand the events of 9/11 and how such events are commemorated via informal and formal memorials.
Hawaiian Statehood
Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1898. Why did it take more than 60 years for it become a state?
On a Mission: Junípero Serra in New Spain
Discover how missionary work impacted Native Americans.
Internationalizing History
Discover the resources you need to “globalize” your U.S. history lesson plans!
Olympic Spirit: Teaching with the Olympics
Summer or winter, the Olympics bring together countries worldwide—including the U.S. How can you teach with Olympic history?
Exploring Historical Fiction
Make the Lewis and Clark expedition and life on the Oregon Trail come alive with these suggestions!
Westward Expansion: Image vs. Reality
East or West? See if you can determine which region produced these images on westward migration!
Organizing History Through Images
In this lesson, students will organize photographs both chronologically and conceptually in order to construct a narrative of the Holocaust.
Success and Failure in the New World
Why did some colonies in the New World succeed while others faded away?
A Symbol of Friendship
The cherry trees in Washington, DC were a gift from Japan. What does their history tell us?
Manifest Destiny: Creating an American Identity
Discover how the concept of a “Manifest Destiny” shaped American perceptions prior to and throughout the 19th century.
Letters from the Philippines
Letters from U.S. soldiers during the Philippine-American War reveal perspectives very different from the official language of liberation.
The New World: A Stage for Cultural Interaction
Religion and profit were driving motivations behind European colonization. Discover how Spanish, French, and Dutch explorers differed in their attempts to accomplish these goals.
African American History Month: Civil Rights Worldwide
These African American civil rights activists affected more than the U.S.
Mapping the Past
A map can tell you more than east, west, north, and south.
The Road to Pearl Harbor
Explore the rise of animosity between the U.S. and Japan through primary source documents and related classroom activities.
Teaching Thanksgiving 2011
Prepare for Thanksgiving with our spotlight page on the holiday!
Guampedia
Guam is often left out of discussions of U.S. history. Remedy the situation!
European Explorers in North America after Columbus
Who else left Europe following the call of wealth, fame, religion, or other lures?
Resources for Columbus Day
Is Columbus Day just another school day (or day off), or a teachable moment?
Columbus Day: Stories of Exploration
Which tales of daring exploration do you believe?
What Really Happened? Comparing Stories of the First Thanksgiving
Take a variety of perspectives into account before moving past the first Thanksgiving.
Yale Digital Commons
A wheeled pull toy depicting Nixon with a crown? If you’re looking for a unique object to bring up in class, start with the digital commons.
Divided Allegiance
Being born in the United States was not always a guaranteed path to citizenship.
Airplane Meals
Think you’re a post-WWII expert? Test your knowledge with this quiz on the Berlin Airlift.
War of Invaders
What do these biased narratives of the French and Indian War tell us?
Children and Youth in History
Bring history home to young students with sources they can relate to—and prompt older students to think about the construction of concepts like “child” and “teenager.”
Laura Jernegan: Girl on a Whaleship
Make whaling, a rich part of New England history, relevant to young students with the diary of a six-year-old at sea.
First Impressions: The U.S. and Japan
In 1854, Japan signed a treaty with the U.S. How did the U.S. and Japan see each other during this exchange?
Dissent in the Ranks
George Washington’s military career and reputation were not pure successes. His military losses caused some to question his ability to lead a nation.
Cold War Wrestling Match
How political cartoons illustrate international events and the artists beliefs.
Diversity in the 1920s
Segregation and equality in America was a case of double standards.
Taxation to Revolution
It was reasoned that no colonists could fear an act that made them drink cheaper tea.
From War to Revolution
Can you answer these questions on figures who took part in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution?
Freedom's Story: Teaching African American Literature and History
Slavery, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights Movement—you have to teach these topics, so check out these essays to enrich your curriculum!
Jennifer Orr on Teaching Thanksgiving
How do you broach the complicated issues surrounding Thanksgiving with early primary students? First-grade teacher Jennifer Orr doesn’t have all of the answers, but she has some suggestions.
Understanding and Appreciating World War II Veterans
Immerse your students in World War II battles, veterans, and services for Veteran’s Day projects with these handy websites.
Understanding and Appreciating WWII Veterans
Websites that assist students in compiling information on WWII battles, veterans, and services for Veteran’s Day projects.
Trade Routes and Emerging Colonial Economies
The direct and indirect impacts of various trade routes during the 16th through 19th centuries.
Forming Lesson Plans Around State Mandates
How do you teach the effects of WWI on art and literature? Transforming a content standard into a solid lesson plan.
Amy Trenkle's Columbus in the Capital
Come Columbus Day, DC 8th-grade teacher Amy Trenkle introduces her class to the man himself—or, at least, one of the nation’s many memorials to him.
Charters for Colonies
To legally exist, English colonies needed charters from the monarchy. Answer these questions about colonies and charters.
Discovering Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus—a legend without a face? Answer these questions about depictions of Columbus.
Jennifer Orr on Questioning Columbus
First-grade teacher Jennifer Orr answers the question, how do you teach when you don’t have the answers to all the questions? Answer: Be honest! Here, she suggests sources for opening up the story of Christopher Columbus.
Europe Encounters the Western Hemisphere
Can you answer these questions about the “exploration race” that brought Europeans to North and South America?
New World Wonders
How did explorers describe the plants and animals they discovered in America?
American Myths: Christopher Columbus
In 1492, what did Columbus really do?
The Royal We: Princesses of the Past
Daughters of rulers and subjects of history…are these statements on women of monarchical lineage true or false?
Jamestown: The Starving Time
Only 60 settlers out of 600 survived the winter of 1609–1610 in Jamestown Virginia. Was “the Starving Time” due to natural circumstances or planned extermination?
Alien Invasions
For each pair of animal and plant species, identify the one that is not native to America.
Exploration and Innovation
Crossing vast oceans required specialized tools and knowledge. Discover more about navigation and exploration.
Architectural Homage
American Reproductions and Appropriations of Old World Monumental Architecture
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
Teaching modern presidencies and politics? Take advantage of the virtual resources of the Foundation and Library.
Rock Paper Scissors
Gamester extraordinaire Comte de Rochambeau?
America Abroad
Isolated and expansive at the same time.
Missouri Digital Heritage
Missouri teachers looking for primary sources, look no further. Explore this portal for resources from libraries, universities, archives, and heritage sites throughout the state.
National Museum of Natural History
Don’t let “natural history” scare you away! The museum covers anthropology as well.
Anacostia Community Museum
What is community? What does it do for us, and how does it shape who we are?
Peace Corps
Explore world and U.S. history simultaneously through universal development issues.
Jefferson's Confidential Letter to Congress
Jefferson, surprised by the Louisiana Purchase? Maybe not. Historian Leah Glaser looks at a letter from Jefferson requesting funding for the Corps of Discovery.
Virginia Historical Society
View the Virginia Historical Society’s extensive collection of materials documenting Virginia history.
Discovery and Exploration [Maps]
A collection of maps which chronicle the age of European discovery.
Map History/History of Cartography: The Gateway to the Subject
A collection of 3,000 historical maps and information about the history of cartography.
Spain, The United States, and The American Frontier: Historias Paralelas
If you need primary sources on the Spanish in North America, try this site.
The Pilgrims in American Culture: Thanksgiving
Were the Pilgrims really shorter than us? Discover the answer to all your Thanksgiving queries here!
The Luso-Hispanic World in Maps
Peruse maps of Spanish and Portuguese colonization, exploration, and military ventures.
The Capital and the Bay, ca. 1600-1925
What picture have people painted of the Washington, D.C. in written works?
Private Passions, Public Legacy: Paul Mellon's Personal Library
Enjoy this sneak peek at the Mellon Collection of Virginia history.
A Maritime Perspective on American Expansion, 1820-1890
We all know the role of the wagon in westward expansion, but what of ships?
Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Rare Books c. 1820-1910
Explore Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin life through rare books.
American Memory Learning Page
Try lesson plans based on the Library of Congress’ American Memory collections.
The United States and Brazil: Expanding Frontiers, Comparing Cultures
How are Brazil and the U.S. similar? How are they different?
New France, New Horizons: On French Soil in America
Explore French Louisiana, Canada, and the Great Lakes region.
Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
Visit the companion site to the Ken Burns documentary which chronicles the Lewis and Clark expedition.
Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture
Learn about the history of the United States up to 1815 with this website dedicated exclusively to early American history.
1492: An Ongoing Voyage
Featuring a variety of secondary sources, this website chronicles the history of early American exploration.
Archiving Early America
Explore the early history of America with reproductions of important documents and newspapers.
The American 1890s
Explore a unique website dedicated to American history during the 1890s.
Sullivan Clinton Campaign, 1779-2005
Explore the 1779 Sullivan-Clinton Campaign to destroy the Seneca, Cayuga, and Onondaga.
Lest We Forget: The Triumph Over Slavery
Explore slavery in America from nine thematic perspectives.
Perry Visits Japan
Explore the official beginning of U.S.-Japan international relations.
Tennessee Documentary History Collection, 1796-1850
Geared toward K-12 education, this site presents antebellum life in Tennessee through letters and images.
Native American Constitution and Law Digitization Project
Tie civics into units involving Native American history using relevant full-text legal documents.
Liberian Letters
What was life like for freed slaves returned to Africa? Read letters to former owners.
Dolley Madison Digital Edition
Read Dolley Madison’s personal correspondence from her youth through her widowhood.
Early Recognized Treaties with American Indian Nations
Inspect nine early land dispute treaties between the Native Americans and the British or U.S.
The African-American Mosaic
Let the Library of Congress introduce you to African-American history from colonization to the WPA.
California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties
Sit back and enjoy folk and popular music recordings from 1930s California natives and immigrants.
George Catlin and His Indian Gallery
Explore the meeting of the Plains Indians and Anglo Americans through the fine arts.
Historical Agency in History Book Sets (HBS)
Looking for ways to use fiction in your elementary history curriculum? Read on for suggestions!
Why Did President Polk Want War with Mexico?
During the 1840s, Manifest Destiny remained an effusive spirit rather than an agenda for empire.
Evaluating the Validity of Information
Did the Chinese discover America before Columbus? How would or does this impact our understanding of European explorers and exploration?
What Happened to the Royal Family of Hawaii After the U.S. Took Over?
In Hawaii today, a large number of people might be considered heirs or pretenders to the Hawaiian throne, were it ever to be revived.
Why Was the Boston Tea Party Not Stopped by British Troops?
To some extent, the Boston Tea Party was the result of unintended consequences.
The Debate in the United States over the League of Nations
Documents and audio files explain the range of early political viewpoints on the League of Nations.
What Happened to the Fenians After 1866?
Ireland’s revolutionary struggle against Britain played out in North America as well as in Europe.
Integrating Material Culture into the Classroom
Use this guide developed by PBS and the Antiques Roadshow to teach about material culture.
From Medieval Europe to Colonial America
What did Colonial America and Medieval Europe have in common?
Lewis and Clark: Same Place, Different Perspectives
How geography influenced interactions among Lewis, Clark, & Native Americans.
Literature and Culture of the American 1950s
Explore the cultural, intellectual, and political trends of the 1950s in a diverse array of primary and secondary sources.
Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research
Social science data offered to member colleges and universities here covers a range of sociological and political areas.
Indian Peoples of the Northern Great Plains
Artifacts preserve the lifestyles of current and former American Indian tribes of the Northern Great Plains, 1870-1954.
CWIHP: Cold War International History Project
Covering 1945 through the late 1990s, sources from the former Communist bloc provide a different perspective on the Cold War.
Gulf War
Participants in Operation Desert Storm talk about their experiences in oral history interviews.
African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders and organizations.
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection
With over 300,000 pages available for full-text searching, this is one of the richest collections of anti-slavery and Civil War materials in the world.
Oral History Digital Collection
In full-text narratives, more than 2,000 people from northeast Ohio discuss issues significant to the state and the nation.
Native American Documents Project
Four collections of data and documents address Federal Indian policy in the late 19th century.
Multilaterals Project
From environmental agreements to rules of warfare, read the text of international multilateral treaties, agreements, and conventions.
Slaves and the Courts, 1740-1860
Delve into the complex history of slavery and the law with this collection of primary sources.
Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis and Clark and the Revealing of America
180 documents and artifacts interpret 19th-century westward exploration and the concept of Manifest Destiny.
Osher Map Library
History can be revealed through the study of maps, as these exhibits containing more than 600 maps and related documents explain.
In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience
Secondary and primary sources describe 13 African American migration experiences.
Images of Native Americans
Illustrations follow European interpretations of Native Americans, through images from popular culture, literary and political observations, and artistic representations.
France in America
In French and English, explore the history of the French in North America from the 1500s through the 1800s.
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Follow historical trends in national, international, and regional economic activity using the Bureau’s data.
AIDS at 20
New York Times articles from 1981 to 2001 follow the development of the AIDS epidemic.
Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures
See how early film was used to capture and communicate the Spanish-American War.
Frontera Collection of Mexican American Music
Listen to clips from more than 100,000 recordings of Mexican American vernacular music.
Digital Archive Collections at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa Library
Covering topics ranging from the annexation of Hawaii to World War II, 29 collections document the history of Hawaii and Micronesia.
Touring Turn-of-the-Century America
This database of images literally offers snapshots of late 19th to early 20th century America.
Slavery in New York
Nine galleries explore the history of slavery in New York City.
Mexican-American War and the Media
More than 5,500 transcribed newspaper articles related to the Mexican-American War.
First American West: The Ohio River Valley, 1750-1820
Explore sources from the mid-18th-to-early-19th-century European migration into the Ohio River Valley.
Envisaging the West: Thomas Jefferson and the Roots of Lewis and Clark
Follows Jefferson’s life, political participation, and accumulation of scientific geographical knowledge from 1735 to 1804.
David Rumsey Map Collection
More than 15,800 rare historical maps focus on North and South America.
USC Archival Research Center
With over 126,000 photographs, maps, and other documents, this site offers a comprehensive look at the history of Los Angeles and southern California.
Colonial Connecticut Records, 1636-1776
Explore the 15-volume Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, from April 1636 to October 1776.
Center for Archaeological Studies
Showcases archaeological excavations at Mobile and elsewhere in Alabama through images and exhibits.
Battle Lines: Letters from America's Wars
More than 30 letters cover conflicts from the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 to war in Iraq.
American Journeys
Firsthand accounts of exploration range from Viking stories to early 19th-century trappers’ journals.
Africans in America
Trace the history of Africans in America through Reconstruction, with 245 images, maps, and documents.
Using Maps as Primary Sources
A 4th-grade teacher shows strategies for encouraging and supporting student analysis of maps.
Rutgers Oral History Archives
Listen to oral history interviews with Americans who served overseas and on the home front during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Cold War.
Diary, Correspondence, and Papers of Robert "King" Carter, 1701-1732
Offers letters and diary entries by Robert “King” Carter (1663–1732), wealthy Virginian landowner and public figure.
Northwestern European Military Situation Maps from World War II
Displays 416 situation maps from World War II.
Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000
Offers 45 mini-monographs on U.S. women’s history, each organized around an analytical question concerning a social movement.
Tangled Roots
Primary sources point out cultural connections between the experiences of African and Irish Americans.
Marchand Archive
Memorializes Roland Marchand with more than 6,100 images, including more than 2,000 advertisements, and 48 lesson plans drawn from his collection.
Vietnam Center and Archive
Browse through a multitude of resources on Vietnam and the Vietnam War, including oral histories, video interviews, and primary source documents.
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, 1992-2001
Digitized versions of 20 volumes of Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, from 1992 to 2004.
Map Collections: 1500-2003
16th-century to present-day maps, focusing on Americana and cartographic treasures.
Herblock's History: Political Cartoons from the Crash to the Millennium
View 150 cartoons drawn between 1929 and 2000 by Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Herbert Block.
CIA Electronic Reading Room
Digitally serves thousands of formerly secret documents in compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests.
Presidential Recording Program
Offers over 2,500 hours of White House recordings by six American presidents between 1940 and 1973.
Parallel History Project on Cooperative Security
More than 350 recently declassified documents reveal previously hidden aspects of Cold War military strategy.
NSA and the Cuban Missile Crisis
Provides access to facsimiles of 100 declassified documents relating to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
History and Politics Out Loud
Captures significant events and personalities of the 20th century through 107 audio items, including speeches, addresses, and private telephone conversations.
Historical Thinking Matters
Presents four guided investigations—on the Spanish-American War, the Scopes Trial, Social Security, and Rosa Parks—designed to teach students to read primary sources and construct historical narratives.
Historic Government Publications from World War II: A Digital Library
Includes more than 300 U.S. government pamphlets and books on home front issues from World War II.
Experiencing War: Stories from the Veterans History Project
Presents video and audio oral histories and additional material from American veterans of 20th-century wars.
After the Day of Infamy
Listen to more than 12 hours of oral interviews taken in the first three months after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The World of 1898: The Spanish-American War
A wonderful collection of chronologies, images, maps, and other materials on the Spanish-American War.
Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project
Explore this archive of over 110 video interviews on Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Chinese in California, 1850-1925
Browse more than 8,000 objects related to Chinese immigrant life in California.
American Shores: Maps of the Middle Atlantic Region to 1850
Explore the mid-Atlantic region with more than 1,852 maps created before 1850.
Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull-House and Its Neighborhoods, 1889-1963
Peruse this collection of over 900 items relating to Chicago’s Hull House to discover its influence on 20th century urban development.
Ad*Access
Archives more than 7,000 newspaper and magazine advertisements printed in the U.S. from 1911 to 1955.
Kate and Sue McBeth, Missionary Teachers to the Nez Perce
Presents the letters and diaries of Kate and Sue McBeth, late 19th-century missionaries and teachers among the Nez Perce Indians.
American Leaders Speak: Recordings from World War I and the 1920 Election
Access 59 sound recordings of 1918-1920 speeches by American leaders.
American Family Immigration History Center
Records of more than 25 million passengers and crew who passed through Ellis Island 1892-1924.
Sunday School Books: Shaping the Values of Youth in 19th-Century America
Provides full-text transcriptions and page images of 1815–1865 Sunday school books addressing religious instruction for youth.
Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music
Scanned images of more than 18,000 pieces of sheet music, including covers, published prior to 1923.
Virtual Jamestown
Experience firsthand accounts of Jamestown and colonial history, dating from 1570 through 1720.
The Kraus Collection of Sir Francis Drake
Peruse 60 primary and secondary materials concerning the voyages of Sir Francis Drake.
Raid on Deerfield: The Many Stories of 1704
Documents the 1704 raid on Deerfield, MA, by 300 French and their Native American allies.
Plymouth Colony Archive Project
Documents and analytical essays emphasize the social history of Plymouth Colony from 1620 to 1691.
Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS), 1861-1960
Presents digitized selections from the official record of major declassified U.S. foreign policy decisions and diplomatic activity.
Digital Library of Georgia
Examines the history and culture of the state of Georgia, presenting an extensive range of primary sources.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Peruse 11 exhibits, from the Gold Rush of 1849 to Japanese American internment during WWII.
Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties
Digitizes Indian Affairs, a seven-volume compendium of treaties, laws, and executive orders relating to U.S.-Indian affairs from 1778 to 1970.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Website
The Holocaust must be remembered. This site will give your students a closer look at the atrocities of this genocide.
The Stars and Stripes, 1918-1919
Peruse every edition of the “official newspaper” of the U.S. Army fighting forces during World War I.
South Texas Border, 1900-1920: The Robert Runyon Collection
This site showcases over 8,000 images documenting the history and development of South Texas and the border.
Reclaiming the Everglades: South Florida's Natural History, 1884-1934
Contains 10,000 pages and images on Everglades reclamation efforts and the history of south Florida.
Around the World in the 1890s: Photographs, 1894-1896
Explore this archive of over 900 images by American photographer, William Henry Jackson.
Ansel Adams's Photographs of Japanese-American Internment at Manzanar
Ansel Adams’s photographs preserve life at the Manzanar War Relocation Center during World War II.
American Indians of the Pacific Northwest
Documents the lives of Native Americans in the Northwest Coast and Plateau regions of the Pacific Northwest in text and photographs.
Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Presents the complete text of the Nebraska edition of the Lewis and Clark journals, along with supplementary secondary sources.
Geography of Slavery in America
Provides transcriptions and images of more than 4,000 newspaper advertisements for runaway slaves and indentured servants between 1736 and 1803.
Atlantic Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Americas: A Visual Record
Showcases more than 1,230 images depicting the enslavement of Africans, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and slave life in the New World.
Our Documents
Presents 100 milestone documents in American history, from the Richard Henry Lee Resolution of June 7, 1776, to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Archive of Early American Images
Collects more than 4,000 images from books created in Europe between 1492 and 1825.