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Primary
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Declaration of Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee brought what came to be called the Lee Resolution before the Continental Congress. This resolution stated "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states " Congress...
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Handout
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: When the Past Speaks to the Present: Thomas Jefferson,sally Hemings

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] An article about the need for careful interpretation of historical sources, especially in the area of slavery.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Was the Revolution Justified?

For Students 9th - 10th
A terrific look at the twenty-seven specific reasons Thomas Jefferson cited in the Declaration of Independence and the support for those reasons of why the colonists felt justified in breaking the bonds with Great Britain.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Formative Decade

For Students 9th - 10th
The first decade of the new American nation saw much development and progress, but there was still contention about what the national government's role would be. Read about the differing views of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton.
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Primary
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Early American Trade With China: Europe's Economic Tradition [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Most well-educated American colonists (including early American leaders like Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin) were familiar with the writings andideas of European scholars, so it makes sense that Americans came to...
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Article
Other

California State Univ.: Internet as Ethics Resource Tool

For Students 9th - 10th
Site from California State University, Fullerton addresses ethical use of the internet with hyperlinks to valuable sources from the US Supreme Court to Thomas Jefferson and John Stuart Mill.
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Website
Other

American Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
List of facts about John Adams and his presidency, with links to additional information, including the text of his inaugural address and a letter to Thomas Jefferson.
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Website
Other

Us Internet: Mischecanocquah/meshekinoquah (Little Turtle)

For Students 9th - 10th
This article begins with brief biographical data, but most of it is an address Little Turtle made to President Thomas Jefferson and Henry Dearborn regarding the American government's failure to live up to the conditions of the Treaty of...
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Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Introducing Students to Visual Analysis

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students will develop visual literacy skills by analyzing the images from John White Alexander's mural in the Thomas Jefferson building of the Library of Congress while learning about the history of the Library of Congress. Then,...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Two Parties Emerge

For Students 5th - 8th
Although George Washingon denounced the creation of political parties, they came roaring into play in the election of 1796 in which John Adams, representing the Federalists, ran against Thomas Jefferson, who represented the...
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Alexander Hamilton

For Students 9th - 10th
Alexander Hamilton is perhaps the most misunderstood and under-appreciated of the Founders. A proponent of a strong national government with an "energetic executive," he is sometimes described as the godfather of modern big government....
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Roger Sherman

For Students 9th - 10th
Although not the most charismatic or eloquent Founder, Roger Sherman was highly esteemed by his contemporaries. At Sherman's death, Ezra Stiles, president of Yale College, wrote, "He was an extraordinary man-a venerable uncorrupted...
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Handout
US Department of State

Biographies of the Secretaries of State: James Madison (1751 1836)

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical material on James Madison details his life and rise to become a prominent statesman, appointed Secretary of State by Thomas Jefferson in 1801.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking: Impact of Enlightenment

For Students 6th - 8th
The ideas of the Enlightenment began in Europe, but they were acted upon in the American colonies. See how the philosophies of John Locke and Rousseau influenced the thoughts and actions of Puritan clergy and political figures like...
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: George Mason

For Students 9th - 10th
George Mason's ideas helped to shape the Founding documents of the United States, but few Americans remember him today. The words he used when writing the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution of 1776 inspired the...
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Explore!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The Manifest Destiny of the 1800's began with Thomas Jefferson's dramatic political foresight of arranging the Louisiana Purchase. The stories of courage and determination from these lands began with the Lewis and Clark expedition. In...
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Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: John Locke Mini Lesson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Introduce students to the ideas and writings of John Locke that influenced the likes of Thomas Jefferson and other Founding Fathers.
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Activity
PBS

Lewis and Clark: Archives: A Timeline of the Trip

For Students 3rd - 8th
An easy-to-follow timeline of Lewis and Clark and their journey to the West beginning with Jefferson's ideas of an expedition in 1806 to the death of William Clark in 1838.
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Article
New York University

New York University: The Gross Clinic

For Students 9th - 10th
Good information from the New York University on Thomas Eakins' painting, "The Gross Clinic," including visual description of the painting, commentary, and some analysis of the painting and its relationship to the medical field.
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eBook
US Army Center

U.s. Army Center of Military History: Samuel Dexter

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biography of Samuel Dexter from the 1992 version of the Secretaries of War and Secretaries of the Army book.
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Activity
Other

4 Law School: Marbury v. Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
This article breaks down the facts of the Marbury v. Madison case, and briefly summarizes the Justices' opinions.
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Handout
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Historic Valley Forge: Who Served Here?: Aaron Burr

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief biography of Aaron Burr from the Independence Hall Associaton focuses on his military career in the Revolutionary War as well as his political career and his duel with Alexander Hamilton.
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Graphic
270 To Win

270towin: 1796 Presidential Election

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides detailed electoral facts for the presidential election of 1796 won by John Adams in the first contested American presidential election and the only one to elect a President and Vice President from opposing tickets.
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Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th
A fantastic resource where you can find biographies of historical figures. You can search by the person's name or by topics, such as Presidents, United States Leaders, Scientists, Inventors, Humanitarians, Explorers and Pioneers,...

Other popular searches