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Lesson Plan
Other

Gunston Hall Plantation: "The Great Business Now Before Us"

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
In 1787, America was having big problems. There was no single type of money, or currency, in the new nation. States were arguing over trade issues and local boundaries. Each state seemed to see itself as independent and self-governing...
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Economics Usa: Control the u.s. Debt!

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the different types of expenses that the U.S. budget must pay for and try your hand at balancing the federal budget.
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Handout
Country Studies US

Country Studies: Russia

For Students 9th - 10th
A 29-page pdf file containing an enormous amount of information about Russia. Includes major cities, holidays, history, geography, climate, natural resources, population, religion, education, economy, government, budget, industry and...
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Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Founding Principles

For Students 9th - 10th
Below, you will find suggested definitions of each principle. Click here to read the words of James Madison, a primary contributor to the Constitution, and other Founders on these principles.
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Website
Other

Gov Track: Tracking the u.s. Congress

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A great resource for making current information about our government available to everyday citizens. Discover the status of federal legislation, voting records of members of congress, recent congressional votes, and more. Keep up to date...
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Interactive
US Mint

United States Mint: Branches of Power

For Students 3rd - 8th
Save the federal government from Oppressor Sam, and learn about the US Constitution to restore the three branches of government.
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Website
US Department of Education

U.s. Department of Education: Grants & Contracts

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. Department of Education provides numerous resources to learn about and attain federal grants or contracts from the government. This website is an EXCELLENT source for all material relating to ED grants.
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Website
Other

United States Global Change Research Program

For Students 9th - 10th
This government program integrates federal research on global climate change. Agency offers many resources regarding global as well as American climate change. For example, click on the section of the country where you live. Key issues,...
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Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Constitution: Article I

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete text of Article I, sections 1-10, of the U.S. Constitution, establishing the Legislative Branch of the Federal government.
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Website
Other

United States International Trade Commission

For Students 9th - 10th
The U.S. International Trade Commission administers U.S. trade law and informs U.S. international trade policies, for the U.S. government and the American people.
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Activity
Other

Fas: Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the Federation of American Scientists provides a detailed explanation of the Hatch Act Reform Amendments of 1993.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: John Quincy Adams

For Students 5th - 8th
John Quincy Adams was an enigmatic figure. Find out about the progressive ideas he had for the federal government under his presidency, but also read some quotes about how he felt about true democracy.
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Handout
Other

Justia: Luther v. Borden

For Students 9th - 10th
At the period of the American Revolution, Rhode Island did not, like the other States, adopt a new constitution, but continued the form of government established by the Charter of Charles the Second, making only such alterations, by acts...
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Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: Drafting the Constitution

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Essay covers from the Articles of Confederation and the problems of disunity of the new states after the Revolutionary War, internally as well as externally, to the Constitutional Convention, an attempt to address the Articles' problems....
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Article
CNN

Cnn: 'People Making Decisions Hesitated'

For Students 9th - 10th
Report that explores the reaction of local, state, and federal government officials to Hurricane Katrina. Report is from September, 2005.
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Unsettled Domestic Issues

For Students 5th - 8th
The new United States government faced many threats to its success. Read this overview of the possible problems.
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Article
Other

Certiorari Practice: The Supreme Court's Shrinking Docket

For Students 9th - 10th
Recent legislation has allowed the Supreme Court discretionary, rather than obligatory powers, in deciding which cases to decide. This in-depth and well-developed essay describes the process and criticizes the new system, while providing...
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: Hurricane Katrina

For Students 9th - 10th
Early in the morning on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States. While the storm itself did a great deal of damage, its aftermath was catastrophic Levee breaches led to massive flooding, the federal...
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
National Park Services provides an overview of the Trail of Tears, a nine state wide stretch of America the Cherokee Indians were pushed across by the Federal government in the 1830s.
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Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: President Obama's Allowance

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this lesson, students will identify different expenses in the US budget and will decide on the order of importance for different expenses.
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Activity
The Dirksen Congressional Center

Congress for Kids: Legislative Branch, the Senate

For Students 3rd - 6th Standards
Activities that students can use to understand the job of the US Senate, and become more engaged in the legislative process.
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Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Role of the Supreme Court

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This essay describes the power of the Supreme Court to 'check' the actions of both the President and Congress, with some historic documentation.
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Primary
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Founders Quotes

For Students 9th - 10th
Liberty must at all hazards be supported. We have a right to it, derived from our Maker. But if we had not, our fathers have earned and bought it for us, at the expense of their ease, their estates, their pleasure, and their blood. -...
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The United States Capitol Building

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A comprehensive site that provides three lesson plans which explain what takes place in the U.S. Capitol Building. This thorough site describes the function of the Capitol Building and includes many photos of both the building itself and...