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...

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.

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.

Activity in which students act as detectves to investigate an historical issue. In this activity students analyze primary source material to learn about controversy surrounding the U.S. Constitution when they are asked to find out what...

African Americans were not able to take advantage of the booming industries as Americans were mobilizing for WWII. The FEPC was established to make sure Roosevelt's executive order providing for equal opportunities in defense industries...

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, learners 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...

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...

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...

Activity in which students play the role of detective and follow the life story of a slave to investigate changing slave laws and conditions in the 1600s. Through their investigation, students read and analyze the evidence in the form of...

A lesson in analyzing historical documents on religious freedom and in assessing the historic impact of diverse religious groups on the United States. Pupils examine current separation-of-church-and-state issues and decide if diverse...

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...