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Article
US Department of State

Office of the Historian: The Xyz Affair and the Quasi War With France 1798 1800

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the issues and people involved in the XYZ Affair between the United States and France. This article explains both what happened and what some of the significant after-effects were for US diplomatic relations with European...
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Website
University of Virginia

Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: John Adams: A Life in Brief

For Students 9th - 10th
A good look at John Adams as president and the struggles he had both domestically and in foreign affairs. Read about how he kept America out of war and his political isolation because of his hard-held beliefs.
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Handout
White House Historical Association

The White House Historical Association: The Presidents

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete biographies and photos of all past presidents.
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Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: Six Important People From Our Nation's History

For Teachers 5th
In this instructional activity, 5th graders examine the lives of six people who were important in early American history. They include Abigail and John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and George Washington....
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: John Adams

For Students 3rd - 8th
An overall look at the life of America's second president, John Adams (1735-1826 CE). Contains small articles of information, as well as portraits, actual photos of inaugural addresses, obituary notices, and more.
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Website
Other

Restoring the Heart and Soul of America

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of quotes from famous Americans including: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson. Click on each of their names to get quotes from them.
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Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Abigail Smith Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover biographical facts on Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and an early advocate for women's rights.
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Index on John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A collection of documents written by John Adams while President, which includes the text to his Inaugural Address, his State of the Nation addresses, and his document on the XYZ Affair.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Ratification

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the University of Groningen provides a synopsis chronologically written on the ratification of the U.S. Constitution beginning with the first states who accepted the document to pressures exerted by the Federalists to...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Boston Massacre [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
This excellent recounting of the days that led up the Boston Massacre and the massacre itself fills in a lot of information that is lacking in textbooks because of space contraints. Read about the British soldiers' and the colonists'...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The New Nation [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Many problems existed for the new United States. Read about issues facing George Washington as the new President, and find out about the major successes of the first Congress. [PDF]
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Sedition Act and the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Read about the foreign policy problems the United States was having at the beginning of the Adams administration. See what led up the the passage of the Sedition Act and some ramifications of it, and the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Election of 1800 [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Perhaps the most important election in United States history, the election of 1800 pitted John Adams against Thomas Jefferson. Read about their differences and the differences in the political parties that supported them. [pdf]
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Samuel Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview on the early American radical, Samuel Adams, a political organizer who called for American independence.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Ratifying the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th
After the Constitution was written, debated, and finally adopted by the Constitutional Convention, it was sent to the states to ratify. Read about the fears of those who did not want to ratify it and see how their fears were addressed.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Presidency of John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
John Adams, early revolutionary and founding father, became the second president of the United States, only to face difficult foreign policy problems. Read about the XYZ Affair and the Federalists' preparation for war with France.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Revolution of 1800

For Students 9th - 10th
The election of 1800 was a revolution in a peaceful sense. Read about the election, how Thomas Jefferson became president, and the resulting 12th Amendment.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The Sedition Act: Certain Crimes Against the United States

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this Curriculum Unit, students will consider "The Sedition Act: Certain Crimes Against the United States" in 5 Lessons. The unit also includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Launching the New u.s. Navy

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The National Archives and Records Administration provides the original letter President John Adams sent to the U.S. Sentate on May 18, 1798 nominating Benjamin Stoddert as the first Secretary of the Navy to lead the newly created...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Images of the American Revolution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The National Archives and Records Administration provides a lesson plan on the American Revolution. Content includes excellent historical background, as well as several primary source documents, pictures, and engravings detailing various...
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Handout
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Presidents Biography 2. John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
A concise biography of President John Adams featuring his professional career. Sections highlight the era, domestic policy, foreign affairs, and his presidential politics.
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Handout
The History Place

The History Place: A New Nation (1784 to 1790)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides a timeline of American history between 1784 and 1790. Mentions many famous people and events of the era. Links to John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, James Madison, the Constitution, Bill...
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Handout
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Signers of the Declaration: John Adams

For Students 6th - 8th
This site provides an interactive biography of former President John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
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Primary
History Tools

History Tools: Abigail and John Adams Discuss Women and Republican Govt [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of four primary source letters written by John and Abigail Adams which reveal their position on the political role of women during the Revolutionary Era. Documents have been updated with modernized spelling.