US National Archives
National Archives and Records Administration: America's Founding Documents
Original founding documents supported by explanations and articles. Includes the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Albany Plan of Union (1754)
Read the original text of Benjamin Franklin's early proposal for unification of the colonies in common defense against the French. Proposed in 1754, Franklin's framework is considered one of the founding documents of the American republic.
US National Archives
Our Documents: A National Initiative on American History, Civics, and Service
Our Documents is home to one hundred milestone documents that influenced that course of American history and American democracy. Includes full-page scans of each document, transcriptions, background information on their significance, and...
US National Archives
Docsteach: The Constitution at Work
In this activity students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to determine their connection to the U.S. Constitution. Students will then make connections between the documents they have examined and the big...
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Early America
[Free Registration/Login Required] The Revolution and Early America unit covers the standard eighteenth century topics that would appear in any textbook. These lessons, however, will push students to dig deeper as they read the documents...
Other
Neatline: The Digital Declaration of Independence
An interactive Declaration of Independence. Passages of the original document are accompanied by typed text, and each founding father has a biography, a portrait, and a map showing where they are from.
US National Archives
National Archives: Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution
The Constitution can be broken down into 6 main themes: Limited Government, Federalism, Republicanism, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Popular Sovereignty. Students will study background on the Founding Fathers and use...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Article Ii: The Creation of the Presidency
A scholarly discussion of Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the executive branch of the U.S. government. Discusses the origin of the article and the debates on executive power that took place among the Founding...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Interpreting Documents on the Ahsge
Students will explore the documents that were used in shaping the United States, before, during, and after its creation. While studying these documents, students will use reading skills to interpret and analyze documents. By the end of...
A&E Television
History.com: The Patriot Financier Who Bankrolled the Revolutionary War
A brash, self-made millionaire helped fund the fight for independence, but after the war, he ended up in debtor's prison. Without Robert Morris, the American Revolution may have been crushed under a mountain of debt and disarray. The...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Benjamin Franklin: Politician and Diplomat
In this activity, students will review and analyze the founding documents of the United States and understand Benjamin Frankin's contributions and connections to these founding documents. Franklin was the only man to help shape all of...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Founding Fathers
This site provides a very brief description of three of the founding fathers of the Constitution: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington. The site provides links to further biographies of all three men as well as...
Library of Congress
Loc: Religion and the Founding of American Rep.: Religion and the Federal Gov
This site from the Library of Congress presents selections of articles, writings, and pictures that summarize the beliefs of the early American politicians that morality and personal independence were essential for the country. Links to...
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The Charter of New England 1620
View the complete text of the 1620 British Charter for the settlement of New England granting authority to colonize and govern.
Children's Museum
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Dna the Action of Extraction
Middle schoolers extract DNA from wheat germ to learn about how DNA can easily be found in our food.
Children's Museum
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: What's in a Dinosaur's Name?
Students learn how dinosaurs are named for unique body parts or behaviors, for the location where they were found, or after a person and create their own dinosaur using the naming conventions they learn.
US National Archives
Nara: Charters of Freedom: The Bill of Rights
This site contains a complete transcription of The Bill of Rights, along with zoomable graphics of the original handwritten text. It also includes information about the historical context of the document, links to more constitutional...
University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina: Constitution 101 [Pdf]
Provides a good basic introduction to the Constitution. Explains the founding principles, checks and balances, the rationale for it, the accomplishments of the Constitutional Convention, the debate and ratification, the structure of the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Religion and Founding of American Republic: Religion and the Congress of the Confederation
This site from the Library of Congress offers descriptions of multiple events, people and beliefs that helped shape the government and culture of the U.S. Links to views of historical documents and pictures depicting the religious...
Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada: Community Stories: The Silver King From Discovery to Community
The founding and history of Nelson, B.C. is profiled. The discovery of rich mineral deposits led to a rush and the quick expansion and development of Nelson as well as a lasting impact on the entire area. Archival photographs and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Montana: Give Me Liberty the Montana State Constitution
Compare the meanings of "freedom" and "liberty." Students watch a video about what liberty meant to Thomas Jefferson, then consider different definitions of the word "liberty" by analyzing founding documents of both the United States and...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: Forward: The Naacp
In February 1909, to coincide with the centennial of Lincoln's birth, a group of northern white and black activists sent out letters calling for a national conference to address the problem of lynchings and mob violence. This site...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Purpose of the Bill of Rights
Text of the first ten amendments of the Constitution found in the Bill of Rights.
Northwestern University
League of Nations Statistical and Disarmament Documents
"Contains the full text of 260 League of Nations documents. The documents focus on three areas: the founding of the League, international statistics published by the League, and the League's work toward international disarmament."