National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
National Debt and Wars
Take a functional approach to the national debt. Learners collect information about the national debt by decade and plot the data. They determine whether an exponential curve is a good fit for the data by comparing the percent changes...
Curated OER
Understanding the Debt Ceiling Debate and the Budget Control Act of 2011
Upper graders listen to a podcast on the EconTalk website featuring economist Keith Hennessey. The podcast focuses on the Budget Control Act of 2011, the national debt, and government spending. They read specifics about the BCA, then...
Curated OER
Comics for the Classroom: Debt Ceiling
Upper graders examine the clichés that accompany this political cartoon, depicting how various people handle the national debt. They review several clichés quoted in recent times and write a 1-2 paragraph analysis of each.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Dems and dat dang debt
Warm up the class with this political cartoon analysis. They use the provided guiding questions to analyze a cartoon depicting issues of debate regarding Federal debt. Critical thinking is a must with this worksheet.
Curated OER
Chapter 18: Deficits, Surpluses, and the Public Debt
Sobering, informative, and relevant for today, this presentation is sure to fill in some of the gaps between the current financial crisis and the theories of economics. With explanatory graphs and strong discussion points, these slides...
Curated OER
Economics: Actions of Government
Students examine the susceptibility of legislators to agricultural lobbyists to support subsidy programs. In small groups, they role-play as members of interest groups that might be affected by inflation.
Curated OER
Cartoons for the Classroom: Between the Lines, National Debt
In this current events worksheet, students analyze a political cartoon about national debt and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Curated OER
Should America Balance the Federal Budget?
Young scholars analyze the federal budget of the United States. For this national debt lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the balancing the federal budget. Young scholars respond to...
Curated OER
Debt and Deficits
Learners identify, research and interpret the national debt and deficits of the past through today and why it has risen significantly in the last 20 years. They analyze the size and impacts and discuss the various policy measures for...
George Washington University
Birth of a Nation: The First Federal Congress 1789 1791
An exhaustive look at the first Congress during George Washington's presidency. Find out about the precedents that were set and the interpretations that had to be made about the new Constitution. A fabulous site from George Washington...
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: William Mc Kinley's First Inaugural Address
Read William McKinley's first inaugural address, which focused primarily on the economy, the nation's debt, and tariffs. In addition, he expresses the need for further civil service reforms.
Other
Tax history.com Federal Income Tax History
TaxHistory.com provides a detailed look at the development and history of the federal income tax. Content addresses the roots of the federal income tax with the 1894 Income Tax Act, the reasoning behind the 16th amendment, the two uses...
Other
Bureau of the Public Debt: Public Debt Reports
An excellent resource for information about our national debt.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Economics Usa: Control the u.s. Debt!
Learn about the different types of expenses that the U.S. budget must pay for and try your hand at balancing the federal budget.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: National Budget Simulation
How would you deal with the national budget if you were the President of the United States? What if there was a national emergency? This site includes a budget simulation on the computer that allows students to make real budget...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: The Role of Gov. National Debt v. Deficit
Using the website federalbudget.com, young scholars research information about the federal budget. Includes questions and links to other budget websites.
The Balance
The Balance: Interest on the National Debt and How It Affects You
The national debt is difficult to comprehend but this article explains it in layman's terms. It also provides a chart that projects the amount of public debt and the interest owed on it over the next ten years.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Presidency of Ronald Reagan
This site provides an extensive history of Reagan's administration including information on his presidential campaign, domestic policies, foreign policies, and domestic and international events of his presidency.
Digital History
Digital History: The New Nation [Pdf]
Many problems existed for the new United States. Read about issues facing George Washington as the new President, and find out about the major successes of the first Congress. [PDF]
Digital History
Digital History: Paying the National Debt [Pdf]
Read about Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, as he tried to find a way to pay off the national debt. See how his ideas were opposed by James Madison, and why the issue was not just economic, but political. [pdf]
Digital History
Digital History: Keynes and the Multiplier [Pdf]
John Maynard Keynes was an English economist who had definite ideas on how to end the Great Depression. Read about his economic theories and see whether Franklin Roosevelt followed his advice. Charts show information about the country's...
University of California
Regional Oral History Office: 1992 Presidential Election
A brief overview of the presidential election of 1992 which included a strong third party candidate, H. Ross Perot. See what the issues were and find out why an incumbent was defeated. Included is a video clip of one of the presidential...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Why Can't We Just Print Money to Pay Off Debt?
WonderWhy takes a look at why you can't simply print money to pay off debt. And what has happened when countries have tried to! And for that matter, why a country having debt isn't necessarily a bad thing. [10:08]
Other
University of Exeter: Money in North American History
This resource provides information about money in North America from Wampum to electronic transfer.