+
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a link to 13,000+ members who have served in the United States Congress, 1774 - present. Accompanying biographies and pictures, when available, are very informative. This site is well-designed and easy to navigate.
+
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs:the Evolution of Congress

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This extensive lesson used in conjunction with the Ken Burns documentary "The Congress" is designed to develop an understanding of how the U.S. Congress functions by examining its evolution. Links and downloadable materials are provided.
+
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The u.s. Congress: Resources a to Z

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Start your research of the U.S. Congress here! Superb links to any information you may need on history, current profile of Congress, and many other sites.
+
Activity
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Major Debates at the Constitutional Convention

For Students 9th - 10th
Activity on the orgins of the U.S. Constitution and the debates surrounding it. Includes questions for discussion and small group learning activity in which students evaluate the fairness of state representation within the structure of...
+
Primary
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Archiving Early America: Jack Rakove and Original Meanings

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This interview with Pulitzer Prize Winner Jack Rakove about his book Original Meanings is very informative. He discusses the ideology of the framers of the US Constitution and the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
+
Activity
US Senate

U.s. Senate: Oath of Office

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
At the start of each new Congress, certain members of Congress perform the constitutional rite of take the Oath of Office. Here is the history of this ritual.
+
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Senators' Pay in the First Congress

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
In this activity, students will analyze a primary source document to find relevant historical data and calculate how much United States Senators were paid in the first Federal Congress.
+
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: American History Through Congressional Documents: 1774 1873

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Timeline of American history as seen in Congressional documents, 1774-1873.
+
Article
A&E Television

History.com: What Did the Three Continental Congresses Do?

For Students 9th - 10th
During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress became America's de facto government. Over a period of 15 years, from 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress underwent a profound evolution. Starting out as a temporary group that...