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Unit Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson Exhibit

For Students 6th - 8th
The Library of Congress has created an exhibit which focuses on the extraordinary legacy of Thomas Jefferson--founding father, farmer, architect, inventor, slaveholder, book collector, scholar, diplomat, and the third president of the...
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Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: The Corps of Discovery: The Lewis and Clark Expedition [Pdf]

For Teachers 5th
In this lesson, 5th graders learn about westward expansion and the Lewis and Clark expedition. Includes background information for the teacher. Students explore primary and secondary resource readings on the Louisiana Purchase, President...
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Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

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

For Teachers 5th
In this lesson, 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. Readings include...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
By analyzing the first draft of Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence through primary source documents, students can proceed to understand why a first draft was required, and why there are changes in the final version. There are...
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Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Declaration of Independence: July 4,1776

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the words for independence penned by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence. Then link to a discussion of the document by Jefferson in his own autobiography.
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PPT
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] A marvelous look at the life of Alexander Hamilton shown through primary documents in this interactive site.
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Lesson Plan
University of Maryland

Howard County History Labs: Westward Expansion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Lesson plan assesses historical thinking skills by providing two primary sources on Thomas Jefferson's views on the constitutionality of the Louisiana Purchase.
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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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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Account of the Declaration: Jefferson's Story

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Jefferson's account of events leading up to and the actions of the First Continental Congress, including information about the Committees of Correspondence which communicated through Circular Letters.
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Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: Age of Jefferson and Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] After a brief description of Thomas Jefferson's and James Madison's contributions to the early ideology and government of the new United States in their authorship of the Declaration of Independence and...
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Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 3: The Growing Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines how the United States' efforts to increase foreign trade, add new territory, and isolate itself from Europe affected its foreign policy and other initiatives. It investigates how advances in...
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Lesson Plan
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Sally Hemings

For Students 9th - 10th
By dividing Sally Hemings' life into four major stages, students will encounter the difficult choices forced upon enslaved women by an evil institution.
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Activity
US Mint

U.s. Mint: Circulating Coins: Five Cent Coin (Nickel)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the complete history of the current circulating nickel. Find out about the symbols, size, and the metal composition of this coin.
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Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Letters of Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton

For Students 9th - 10th
In this letter, which he wrote shortly after the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson describes to Edmund Pendleton how to set up the Virginia Legislature.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Aaron Burr Jr. (1756 1836)

For Students 9th - 10th
This university-related site presents a detailed biography of Aaron Burr. Provides insights into the conflict between him and Alexander Hamilton, whom Burr eventually killed in a duel.
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Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Drafting the Documents

For Students 9th - 10th
The Library of Congress provides us with a detailed description of what follows the drafting of the original Declaration of Independence. It provides us with information about what happens to the document after Thomas Jefferson's rough...
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Primary
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: School Publishers: An Interview With Thomas Jefferson

For Students 3rd - 5th
"What do you think Thomas Jefferson was like as a person? What were his interests and hobbies? Where did he go to school? Imagine yourself as a reporter in 1826, about to interview Mr. Jefferson at Monticello, his home."
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Website
Cengage Learning

Houghton Mifflin: Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826)

For Students 9th - 10th
Houghton Mifflin provides biographical information regarding Thomas Jefferson, including his involvement in the Declaration of Independence, the presidency, and much more.
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a biography of Thomas Jefferson that includes information on his early career, prelude to the presidency, and his presidency.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Whiskey Rebellion [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
The Whiskey Rebellion was an early challenge to the new United States government. Read about the importance of whiskey in the back country and the need for the United States to find sources of revenues. This is a story of east vs. west,...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: By What Right [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Two opposing philosophies concerning the relationship between government and its citizens were expressed by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in the 17th century. Compare these two philosophies and see how they were related to the colonists'...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Declaring Independence [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Follow the steps that Americans took before declaring their independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence set out the ideals and reasons behind this stunning move. Use the student exercises to understand the different levels...
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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: Hamilton and Jefferson the Men and Their Philosophies [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton played a huge role not only in crafting important documents in U.S. history, but also by serving as secretaries in George Washington's first cabinet. Read about their diametrically opposing...