Library of Congress
The Alaska Purchase: Debating the Sale from Russian and U.S. Perspectives
Seward's Folly or brilliant strategic move? Class members investigate primary source documents from each country to determine the rationales behind the sale and purchase of Alaska, and then stage a debate.
Library of Congress
After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans in the South
Lynchings, race riots, and Jim Crow laws were just a few examples of antagonism that African Americans faced after Emancipation. Class groups investigate these and other events, and prepare a presentation to inform the class about the...
Library of Congress
Women's Suffrage Movement Across America
An engaging resource provides many primary source materials to inform a study of the Women's Suffrage Movement. Suggestions include building a timeline of the fight, using the documents as the basis of a DBQ, and/or using a Venn diagram...
Library of Congress
Investigating the Building Blocks of Our Community’s Past, Present, and Future
As Ken Jennings said, "There's just something hypnotic about maps." Certainly, the longer you look at them the more you can learn. In this project-based learning lesson plan, individuals study both historic and present-day maps of their...
Library of Congress
Understanding Immigration Through Popular Culture
Class members are introduced to a project-based learning unit on US immigration with an activity that asks them to analyze sheet music and other primary source materials to uncover issues raised by immigration.
Library of Congress
Determining Point of View: Paul Revere and the Boston Massacre
If you're teaching point of view, this is the lesson for you! First, decipher the writer's point of view from a primary resource, then compare and contrast the primary source with a secondary source to explore the Paul Revere's engraving...
Library of Congress
Stars, Stripes and Symbols of America: Comparing Our Flag, Past and Present
Your young historians will compare and contrast the details of the American flag today with an an image of the nation's flag from the post-Civil War era, and identify the flag's importance as a national symbol through analysis worksheets...
Library of Congress
The Conservation Movement at a Crossroads: The Hetch Hetchy Controversy
Should wilderness areas be preserved or managed? Class members examine primary source documents, including lecture notes, articles, essays and congressional records to better understand the Hetch Hetchy controversy that created a split...
Library of Congress
Oral History and Social History
Students examine the Great Depression. In this oral and social histories instructional activity, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the America in the 1930's.
Library of Congress
Suffragists and Their Tactics
Students research the fight for voting rights. In this women's history lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the strategies employed by the suffragists to gain voting rights.
Library of Congress
Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: Carl Albert
This brief biography outlines the career of Oklahoma born lawyer and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Carl Albert,
Library of Congress
Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: Thomas Gore
This brief biography discusses the career of Oklahoma sentor Thomas Gore.
Library of Congress
Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: Congress: Robert S. Kerr
Learn about the senate and military career of Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Great Depression and the 1990s
This site includes a unit about the Great Depression. Students will create a creative writing based on Dorothea Lange's 1936 "Migrant Mother" photograph. They will also write a position paper on the United States' current welfare issue....
Library of Congress
Loc: Law: War Powers
Find the reasoning behind the War Powers Act, passed over President Nixon's veto in 1973. Presidential actions taken during the Vietnam War were the impetus for Congress to make a declaration of war more codified. See the times...
Library of Congress
Loc: Topics in Chronicling America: The Mc Kinley Assassination
Find contemporary newspaper accounts of the shooting of President Willian McKinley, his death, the swearing of Theodore Roosevelt as president, and the capture, trial, and execution of the assassin.
Library of Congress
Loc: Ancient Manuscripts: From the Desert Libraries of Timbuktu
This is a collection of primary, historical documents from Timbuktu, Mali during the the 16th through 18th century. The documents cover all aspects of this advanced African civilization.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Constitution Drafting a More Perfect Union
Set the class up for reading a primary source of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States in 1787. This lesson demonstrates the value of identifying and drafting documents the process to achieve the final document.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: The Frederick Douglass Papers
Walk into the life of Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, through his autobiography found here. Discover a time line of Douglass's life, papers he'd written, as well as his family tree.
Library of Congress
Loc: With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition
Through a vast collection of articles, photographs, etc. the Library of Congress is offering an exhaustive exhibition in honor of the bicentennial celebration of President Abraham Lincoln.
Library of Congress
Loc: Thomas Jefferson's Library
Resource showcases the holdings of Thomas Jefferson's personal library built around the themes of memory, reason, and imagination.
Library of Congress
Loc: Gettysburg Address
An exhibition showcasing key documents linked to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Included are drafts of the address, transcriptions of the address in English and 28 other languages, Lincoln's invitation to Gettysburg, the only...
Library of Congress
Loc: Naacp: A Century in the Fight for Freedom 1909 2009
An exhibit featuring the accomplishments, people, and events that helped to form the NAACP from 1909-2009.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Bill of Rights: Debating the Amendments
Help students grasp the idea of making amendments with this instructional activity on the debates of the amendments to the US Constitution. Use primary sources to have the students choose their own amendments, give them opportunity to...