Curated OER
The Brief American Pageant: Launching the New Ship of State
The two images in this presentation - a graphic depicting American's financial structure and debt, and a map showing American posts that were still held by the British after 1783 - could be helpful for a class lecture on the emerging...
Curated OER
The Whiskey Rebellion and the New American Republic
Young scholars examine the implications of the passage of the Whiskey Tax of 1791. In this Whiskey Rebellion lesson, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the rebellion. Young scholars respond to...
Curated OER
Building the State (1781-1797)
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 9 short answer and essay questions about the vision of the Republicans and the Federalists.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lesson 2: Chief Executives Compared: The Federalist Papers
Fix the Articles of Confederation or develop a new constitution? That was the question facing the Founding Fathers. Several of those in favor of a new constitution published a series of essays, collected in the Federalist...
Curated OER
Loyalists and Loyalism in the American Revolution
Learners engage in activities to understand how ideologies were constructed before and during the Revolutionary War. How and why were some "reluctant revolutionaries" turned into whig patriots willing to fight against the British empire,...
Curated OER
The Constitutional Convention: Four Founding Fathers You May Never Have Met
Students study the biographies of Ellsworth, Hamilton, Paterson, and Randolph. They study roles of these men during the Constitutional Convention.
Independence Hall Association
American History: From Pre-Columbian to the New Millennium
Need an online resource to supplement the paper textbook in your classroom? An all-encompassing website covers historical events throughout the last half of the second millenium, leading right up to the third. From the pre-Columbian...
Curated OER
The Federalist Debates: Balancing Power Between State and Federal Governments
Students explain the basic positions of the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. They chart the differences and similarities between state and federal governments. They write a persuasive essay in response to an open-ended question.
Curated OER
Worksheet #42 Questions - Shay and Rebellion
In this Shay and Rebellion quiz instructional activity, students increase their knowledge through ten fill in the blank questions that relate to the aforementioned topic.
Curated OER
The Alien and Sedition Acts: Defining American Freedom
Students analyze the Alien and Sedition Acts. In this Bill of Rights activity, students listen to their instructor present a lecture regarding the details of the Alien Act and the Sedition Acts. Students examine Supreme Court...
Shell Education
Leaders from the 1790s
The Founding Fathers contributed to the United States in many ways. Class members explore various Founding Fathers through research, group work, and realia. The final product of group work are posters and artistic representations of...
Curated OER
The Alien and Sedition Acts: Defining American Freedom
Eleventh graders explore the purpose of the Alien and Sedition Acts. In this US History lesson, 11th graders analyze primary source documents. Students write an essay using writing prompts.
Curated OER
Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. In this essay history lesson, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
Curated OER
Philosophical Conflict and the Founding of New Societies: Gandhi and Nehru in India, and Jefferson and Hamilton in the United States
Students explore the foundations of "new societies" such as those created by figures like Jefferson & Ghandi, The evaluate the differences between what was intended and the actual reality of these societies including where the...
Curated OER
Online Lesson Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks
Learners explore historical political parties and their platforms. After studying the origins and functions of political parties, students create their own platform to address current issues. In groups, learners design an ad campaign...
Curated OER
Political Parties, Platforms, and Planks
Ninth graders examine the origins and functions of political parties. In this American Government lesson, 9th graders create a party platform to address political issues that are likely to arise during a national election. ...
National Endowment for the Humanities
The President Under the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation sounds like one big, fancy title to middle schoolers. Here, scaffolded steps help to ease novices into understanding this all-important American document. Discussion questions, lesson activities, and ideas...
Humanities Texas
Primary Source Worksheet: Letter Regarding the Whiskey Rebellion
Analyze the federal government's direct response to the Whiskey Rebellion through this fantastic primary source analysis activity worksheet.
Curated OER
Good Brother, Bad Brother: The Story of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth
Students examine the lives of Edwin Booth and John Wilkes Booth. They create a "found" poem using the voices of both brothers and perform the poem for the rest of the class.
Curated OER
Early Presidents and Politics
Students investigate early presidents of the United States. Students complete a series of lessons in which they research the contributions and political climate during the terms of U.S. presidents from George Washington to Andrew Jackson.
Curated OER
Trade Barriers
Students write an editorial piece which takes a position supporting or opposing the free trade policy during the 1790s. After identifying barriers to trade in the 1790s they analyze how their position on the free trade would fit into...
Curated OER
George Washington: The Precedent President
Students investigate precedents set during George Washington's term in office. They conduct Internet research, develop a list of the responsibilities of the President, match Washington's accomplishments with the list, and play a game.
Curated OER
Early Presidents
Students are introduced to the lives and contributions of the first seven presidents of the United States. They, in groups, conduct further research on one of these president and his political platform and design a presentation for the...
Curated OER
Presidential Faces Worthy of Recognition
Using dollars and cents to study the biographies and achievements of America's past presidents.