Cranberries, oysters, lobster, deer, and cabbage were just a few of the foods found on the table at the First Thanksgiving. After reading a two-page passage about the historic meal, class members respond to 10 reading...

Newberry Library presents a lesson on the American Revolution in which students explore through primary resources, who identified as American and to what extent did the American Revolution serve the interests of its inhabitants.

A Native American Paiute man known as Wovoka, after seeing a vision, started the Ghost Dance religion which had many songs to carry on its oral tradition. Click on the tab "Ghost Dance Songs Activities" to explore activities and photos.

A complete transcript outlining the court case between Janet Reno, U.S. Attorney General, and the American Civil Liberties Union, in which the Communications Decency Act was declared unconstitutional.

This is the text of Abraham Lincoln's famous speech, "The Gettysburg Address," delivered November 19, 1863, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This page also offers audio readings by six famous people: Johnny Cash, Jeff Daniels, Jim Getty,...

This article focuses on the Ortelius atlas titled "Theatre of the World." A brief biographical sketch of the famous cartographer Abraham Ortelius (1528-1598 CE) is included.

From a son of Benjamin Franklin to a Mohawk leader to the governor of Massachusetts, these men chose to side with the British. In a way, the American Revolution was also a civil war. By 1774, American colonists were divided into two...

This is the text of General MacArthur's most famous speech that he gave on his arrival in Australia after his escape from Corregidor during WWII.

A wonderful resource on the lives and work of American authors, Louisa May Alcott and Samuel Clemens. You will get a unique look at them through the study of their portrait and their writing. Includes two great lesson plans.

This resource provides information about American artist Joseph Cornell.

This site from Modern American Poetry provides a review of the famous poem by Langston Hughes. The information that is provided is somewhat brief, but factual, and worth checking out.

A good review of the Western Federation of Miners and its actions in Colorado in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Find out why the organization was seen to have socialist leanings.

Focused on his personal racial and civil philosophy, Booker T. Washington moved mountains making the public aware of the injustices and inequalities of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Click "Booker T. Washington...

Summarizes the causes of the Mexican American war and provides facts about the history, famous people, and events surrounding it.

From the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this website provides an online version of an exhibition heralding the works of famous African-American artists.

This article provides facts about the Alcatraz Prison history, its famous prisoners, life in the prison, and the attempted escapes from Alcatraz.

The realistic writings depicting the cultures of Louisiana in the late nineteenth century are featured in this brief biography of fictional author Kate Chopin. See "Kate Chopin Activities" for related materials.

This is the text and audio of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first Fireside Chat "The Banking Crisis" on March 12, 1933, in Washington D.C.

This is the text of the testimony of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, a member of the USA Communist Party, who spoke in her own defense at her trial for being a Communist on April 24 1952, in New York.

This is mp3 audio and text of Gerald R. Ford's speech to the nation pardoning Richard M. Nixon for his part in the Watergate coverup. It was delivered on September 8, 1974, Washington D.C.

This is Eleanor Roosevelt's address to the United Nations on its adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights on December 9, 1948 in Paris, France; it is provided in a YouTube video, mp3 audio, and in text. [3:30]

This page presents the lyrics to a famous folk song of the nineteenth century.

A brief biographical sketch of John Quidor, an American romantic painter famous for his works based on literary themes. Includes a link to "The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane," a work by Quidor in Smithsonian's collection.

A very nice resource on Alger Hiss and his trial for perjury in 1949. Excerpts are provided from the HUAC hearings, the trial itself and information on the role of Richard Nixon is given.