Digital History
Digital History: Rockefeller's Millions [Pdf]
With the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania in the mid 1800s brought a boom to the economy. Read about the beginning of the oil industry, and particularly, John D. Rockefeller's role in it. See how his control of many parts of the...
Digital History
Digital History: Civil Rights Act of 1964
A brief description of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the opposition against it, and how the law prohibited discrimination in voting, housing, public facilities, and employment.
Digital History
Digital History: The Transformation of the Rural Countryside
Read about the household industries that provided work and hard currency for farm families in the early 1800s. Find out why these industries declined within 30 years.
Digital History
Digital History: Antislavery Timeline
A timeline of actions tied to the prohibition of or ending of slavery from the meeting of the Continental Congress in 1774 to John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859.
Digital History
Digital History: American Transcendentalism
A detailed look at the philosophy behind American Transcendalism, and a discussion of many of those who practiced it.
Digital History
Digital History: What Caused the Depression [Pdf]
Look at the factors that led to the Great Depression.The site begins with a narrative about a toy company that went bankrupt which highlights some causes of the Depression, and discusses the flow of goods and services through an economy....
Digital History
Digital History: Popular Culture During the Great Depression
A great description of the tension in popular culture during the Great Depression with a focus on tradition abutting modernism in the arts and architecture. Read about the new comic book and radio superheroes, and commonality in American...
Digital History
Digital History: Jobs Programs
The major aspect of the Great Depression was the rampant unemployment. Read about the many jobs programs that were part of the New Deal that provided employment for millions of needy Americans.
Digital History
Digital History: The Farmers' Plight
Read about the plight of American farmers in the Great Depression. Franklin Roosevelt instituted several programs to help the rural population, the most important of which was the Agricultural Adjustment Act. Find out whom this act...
Digital History
Digital History: Why It Happened
How did a country with such a booming economy in the 1920s sink into economic disaster in the 1930s? Prosperity was just an illusion. See the many causes of the Great Depression, and find out how all the signs were missed or disregarded.
Digital History
Digital History: Articles of Confederation
A good look at the government under the Articles of Confederation. See what powers the central government had, the powers of the state governments, and discover the problems that ensued.
Digital History
Digital History: The Southernmost Colonies: The Carolinas and Georgia
Read about the colonization of the Carolinas and Georgia, find out about the role of slavery in those colonies, and see how the Native Americans were treated.
Digital History
Digital History: Amending the Constitution
The Constitution can be amended, but it is tough to do. Read about the routes that can be taken to add amendments and look at some of the amendments that have succeeded.
Digital History
Digital History: Why Has the Constitution Survived?
Has the U.S. Constitution survived partly because it is so brief? See how the Constitution has changed through judicial interpretation, but stays remarkably the same.
Digital History
Digital History: Defining the Presidency
George Washington, as the first president, molded the office in a way that served as a model for later leaders. Read about the precedents he set forth
Digital History
Digital History: Alexander Hamilton's Financial Program
Young Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury. Read about his ideas for reducing the huge national debt, and see how his views of the nation and national government were so different from Thomas Jefferson's.
Digital History
Digital History: An Affair of Honor
A sitting vice-president indicted for murder? Read the story of the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Vice-President Aaron Burr. Additionally, find a quick overview of some of the issues that needed to be dealt with in Jefferson's...
Digital History
Digital History: Jefferson in Power
Thomas Jefferson believed in simple government and simple behavior. Read about his first inaugural address where he reinterated his Republican principles and see how he conducted himself as president.
Digital History
Digital History: The War's Significance
Find out why the War of 1812 was such a significant victory for the fledgling United States. See how it resulted in greater territory for expansion, and why it brought about the demise of the Federalists.
Digital History
Digital History: Shifting Political Values
A description of the changing ideas of the young Democratic Republicans and the three men who, in the 1820s, supported those values. These three men would be important players in the national government for the next 40 years.
Digital History
Digital History: Origins of the Cold War
A look at the origins of the Cold War by examining primary sources. Questions to think about are included to check understanding.
Digital History
Digital History: Newsies
Read about the real lives of young, poor urban boys who tried to make a living selling newspapers on the street corners of American cities.
Digital History
Digital History: Detente
One of the most remarkable foreign policies of the 20th century, Nixon pursued detente in hopes of easing tensions with the Communist world.
Digital History
Digital History: Radical Feminism
Much like the civil rights movement, the women's movement also splintered during the 1960s. From these new radical groups emerged new ideas, new organizations, and some new vocabulary.