This site from the Medieval Sourcebook answers the question: Why Study History Through Primary Sources? It provides complete information, a list of review questions, and bibliography information.

This activity can be used as an introduction or for a closer study of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Students will learn that the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803 and President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and...

Fifth graders will learn different strategies that will help them to analyze the overall meaning of a political cartoon. The cartoons are focused on the Reconstruction Era. They will then design their own political cartoon that a peer...

In this activity, students will analyze primary sources to determine the role and activities the federal government undertook in an attempt to 'Americanize' or assimilate Native Americans.

Learners will analyze primary sources related to Congress to learn the specific powers of the Legislative Branch. Included is a chart to download and print, worksheets, materials, and an answer key. Primary sources to be examined are...

Students will follow the legislative process for how a bill becomes a law by analyzing primary source documents. Included are worksheets that include a chart to be filled out in small groups, worksheets, materials, and an answer key....

Lesson in which students analyze primary source photos and answer questions based on photos and informational text to learn about life during the Great Depression.

Lesson on U.S. Imperialism and Revolution in which students analyze primary source text to understand the debate over the Philippines, 1898-1900.

This activity is intended to get students thinking about where information comes from, how it is presented, how its presentation affects understanding, and how information is used. Because the featured document relates to the Japanese...

This set of lessons - comprised of five 45-minute sessions - will engage students in researching and understanding how individual Jewish communities and lives were affected by the Holocaust. By researching and analyzing family...

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...

In this activity, students will compare and contrast two documents from the Revolutionary period written by 1) a combined group of Native American tribes and 2) an American territorial governor, Arthur St. Clair. Students will analyze...

Students will analyze specified passages from the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Libellants of Schooner Amistad to explore the concept of jurisdiction and how a case travels through the federal court system.

Examine the power of Congress to make war by studying primary source documents from various wars throughout U.S. history. Young scholars will analyze how the balance of authority between the legislative branch and executive branch has...

Hitler used art and images as propaganda during WWII. Students will use these primary sources to recognize the manipulation used by the Nazi regime. They will learn how to analyze and recognize the propaganda techniques used by...

Students will analyze the impact of the frontier on American life and the role Congress played in settling the frontier. Included are worksheets, Turner's Thesis, and reflection questions. Primary sources provided are petitions for...

Primary source material with lesson and classroom activities in which students analyze the causes and effects of the African American Great Migration to Chicago between 1915 and 1950.

The early 1960s saw a rising tide of criticism of American society, mainly by college students. They criticized repression, corruption and racism as basic flaws in the entire structure of American government and society. This lesson plan...

This lesson provides the background for the decision by President Roosevelt to attempt to expand the number of Supreme Court justices from nine to twelve. Students are to use sections from provided primary source documents to analyze the...