December 7, 1941 is a "day which will live in infamy." Read about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the entrance to World War II by the United States.

This article details a key event in the civil rights struggle--the demonstration organized by the Rev. Martin Luther King in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965, when 525 people met a police blockade on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Archaic Period Indians built impressive mound structures. Find out out the huge earthworks built at Poverty Point in Louisiana.

This site provides a brief account of Brigham Young and his Mormon followers as they settled in the Great Salt Lake Valley.

A part of America's Story on the Gilded Age: gives brief information on the Metropolitan Opera House, and opera houses in general.

When did we develop the phrase "seven seas"? Read about the arguments over the concept and find out how many seas may truly exist.

Why did Germans immigrate to the Upper Midwest in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century? What contributions did they make to the region's cultural heritage? Students use American Memory photographs and documents to answer these...

This 4-page article discusses the Homestead Act of 1862 and its effects.

This lesson will analyze Civil War photographs and explore how and why the American Civil War was photographed.

A brief description of the 15th Amendment.

A careful analysis of political cartoons can provide a glimpse into key moments of U.S. political history. In this activity, students will closely examine political cartoons about the Stamp Act; make inferences about the political,...

Most people in Central Florida came from somewhere else. Students first analyze life histories from American Life Histories: Manuscripts from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936-1940 to learn oral history techniques. They then interview...

"One of the original 13 states, Connecticut is known as the 'Constitution State.'" How did Connecticut get its nickname? Who developed the first American hamburger? These answers and more are waiting for you at the Library of Congress...

Dwight D. Eisenhower's life is chronicled on this fascinating site by the Library of Congress. Provides brief articles, as well as historical photos, and a timeline of events taking place during his life.

A fascinating look at the life of President James Monroe, and his impact on history. Provides brief articles, portraits, as well as photos of documents from the archives of The Library of Congress.

Use this site to learn more about the Cherokee's journey from their home and why it's called the Trail of Tears.

The early years of Hawaii were very different from the way it is today. A man with a broken leg was the founder of the railroad that changed Hawaii's growth.

This 4-page article provides an overview of the first American cotton mill put into operation in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, and the history of textile industry.

Jump back in time to October 24, 1861, when the first transcontinental telegraph was completed, thus hastening the end of the Pony Express.

This lesson plan introduces the practice of using primary sources; where to find primary sources, what they are, how to examine them, and how to construct a context to tell more of the story.

Read about the settling of Oregon country and how westward expansion prompted Congress to make it a territory.

This project investigates and examines the impact transportation has had on peoples' lives. We chose to compare and contrast the turn of the centuries. This lesson introduces primary documents, specifically visuals. We intend for this...

Students often think of history as tattered documents, worn photographs, and musty books, all of which have little or no relevance to their lives. Maps provide an often-overlooked source of information and a new and compelling...

The story of how Joseph Jenkins Roberts, an African American from Virginia, developed Liberia into an independent country.