Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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,...
Website
National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame: Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of First Lady Abigail Adams outlines her important roles, both politically and personally, during her husband's administration. Includes a description of her famous "Remember the Ladies" letter, espousing her strong belief...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson, 1743 1826

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief summary from the Library of Congress of Thomas Jefferson's involvement in the Declaration of Independence.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Election of 1800

For Students 5th - 8th
The election of 1800 was momentous for many reasons. Read about the defeat of John Adams and his Federalist policies, and see how Thomas Jefferson became president because of a crucial vote by a Federalist.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Life and Times of John Adams

For Students 5th - 8th
John Adams was an important Founding Father, whose importance was not appreciated when he was president. Read about how his early life shaped his strongly held beliefs, and see how he would not put partisan politics above those beliefs.
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...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief overview of the struggles taking place in politics in the 1790s. Even the honorable George Washington was not sheltered from contentious criticism. Read about the foreign and domestic problems that loomed in that decade.
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Short, overweight, and quick-tongued, John Adams hardly fits the model of the typical Founder. But Adams's contributions to American independence and the formation of the United States government were great. Adams penned defenses of...
Handout
The White House

The White House: Biography of Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Profile of First Lady Abigail Adams (1744-1818), wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams.
Website
BBC

Bbc History: Historic Figures: John Adams (1735 1826)

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical portrait of John Adams, second president of the United States, discusses, among other things, his role in the American fight for independence. Archived.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: u.s. Presidents John Adams

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about John Adams, the second president of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Remembering a Forgotten President

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] A biographical text about John Adams, second president of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
US Department of State

Office of the Historian: The United States and the French Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
The French Revolution had political consequences in the United States. It forced us to adopt a clear foreign policy of neutrality and to pass legislation concerning immigration. Examine how Jefferson and Adams responded to the French...
Unit Plan
Other

Left Justified: Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical accounts of fifty men who played a wide variety of roles in bringing about America's break with Great Britain, and in the creation of the documents and plans that created the new nation, like the Declaration of Independence,...
Primary
PublicBookshelf Corporation

Our Country: Election of 1796

For Students 9th - 10th
From the book "Our Country,", published in 1877, this site provides information of the Election of 1796. Electing a 2nd President of the United States was a huge political struggle, and these several paragraphs explains the struggle.
Website
A&E Television

History.com: American Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
This easy-to-navigate site has John Adams' biography, a timeline detailing some of the significant events in his life, an image gallery, and several video clips.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: A Letter to Thomas Jefferson

For Students 11th - 12th
A learning module that begins with "A Letter to Thomas Jefferson" by John Adams, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Boston Patriots

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about five famous Boston patriots who played a large role in the events prior to the American Revolution and the Revolution itself.
Study Guide
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: The Election of 1800

For Students 9th - 10th
This Khan Academy resource provides and overview of the issues surrounding the Election of 1800.
Primary
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Archiving Early America: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from Archiving Early America provides an explanation of the Naturalization, Alien, Alien Enemies and Sedition Acts, shows the original acts and provides transcribed texts of the Alien Enemies and the Sedition Acts.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Boston Massacre

For Students 5th - 8th
The Boston Massacre was a watershed event in the relations between the American colonists and their mother country. Read about what led up the shooting, the event itself, and its aftermath. Included is a contemporary account of the...
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Countdown to Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Begins with a description of the British system of mercantilism that was imposed on the American colonies along with the taxes levied through the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act. The Americans complained that it was taxation without...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Abigail Smith Married John Adams

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Former First Lady Abigail Adams is featured in this brief profile from The Library of Congress. Also contains a portrait of Abigail and her husband, President John Adams, as well as a photo of their home in Massachusetts.
Article
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Abigail Smith Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Encyclopedia Britannica provides a biography of Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818 CE), wife of President John Adams and avid letter writer. Additional content includes the full text to two of her letters.