Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Half Right, Half Wrong: Analyzing a Letter About Ford Pardoning Nixon

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students will analyze a document sent from a child to President Gerald Ford in 1974. Anthony Ferreira wrote to the president to express his opinion regarding the pardon of Richard Nixon.
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: De Lome Letter (1898)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site features an online facsimile of the letter written by the Spanish Ambassador to the United States in which he criticized American President William McKinley. Its publication generated public support for a war with Spain over...
Website
American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise

Jewish Virtual Library: The 1967 Six Day War

For Students 9th - 10th
An archive of articles and documents relevant to the Six-Day War's causes, events, and results.
Primary
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of the English edition of Thomas Paine's "The Rights of Man" in a series of links including an introductory letter to President Washington.
Primary
US National Archives

Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum: Civil Rights: The Emmett Till Case

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a fascinating look into the governmental response to the killing of Emmett Till. Read the many pieces of correspondence, including a telegram from Emmett Till's mother to President Eisenhower, and several letters from J. Edgar...
Primary
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: Letters From Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
In this collection from the University of Virginia you can access a collection of letters written by Thomas Jefferson to his contemporaries.
Website
Other

American Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
List of facts about John Adams and his presidency, with links to additional information, including the text of his inaugural address and a letter to Thomas Jefferson.
Primary
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: Addresses, Messages, and Replies

For Students 9th - 10th
In this collection from the University of Virginia you can read miscellaneous kinds of correspondence by Jefferson, including letters about American Indian issues and annual addresses to the House and Senate.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: The Letters of Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
An enormous collection of the original text of the personal letters written by Thomas Jefferson between 1743 and 1826 to many influential political leaders and friends.
Primary
Curated OER

History Matters: Wilson and Lansing on the u.s. Invasion of Mexico

For Students 9th - 10th
Read Secretary of State Robert Lansing's letter to President Woodrow Wilson urging the President to avoid the term "intervention" to characterize the U.S. 1916 invasion of Mexico to capture the revolutionary Pancho Villa.
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Launching the New u.s. Navy

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The National Archives and Records Administration provides the original letter President John Adams sent to the U.S. Sentate on May 18, 1798 nominating Benjamin Stoddert as the first Secretary of the Navy to lead the newly created...
Primary
This Nation

This nation.com: Letter of Transmittal

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides the letter of the president of the Federal Convention to the president of Congress, transmitting the Constitution.
Website
Other

The Hermitage: Home of President Andrew Jackson

For Students 9th - 10th
In addition to a tour of the preserved Hermitage and discussion of its history, this site provides good biographies of both Jackson and his wife, and includes a letter he wrote about her final illness.
Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: New Birth of Freedom: Lincoln's Presidency and the Civil War

For Teachers 8th
In this lesson, 8th graders will examine primary source letters and speeches to learn about the lives of soldiers and leaders during the Civil War and about Lincoln as a leader. Student resources are included.
Primary
US National Archives

Hoover Online: Hoover and the Depression

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides 440 historical documents (including cartoons, clippings, messages to Congress, political broadcasts, and writings and letters) pertaining to President Hoover and the Depression. Explore these documents through the main...
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: The Thomas Jefferson Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the Thomas Jefferson Papers, a collection of more than 27,000 original documents from the life of Thomas Jefferson. Includes a portrait, a timeline and an overview of the collection. Click on "browse by series" to view the...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Letters of Thomas Jefferson to Edmund Pendleton

For Students 9th - 10th
In this letter, which he wrote shortly after the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson describes to Edmund Pendleton how to set up the Virginia Legislature.
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Japanese Segregation

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Young scholars use primary source documents to investigate a central historical question. In this investigation, students contextualize President Theodore Roosevelt's turn-of-the-century speeches and...
Lesson Plan
Stanford University

Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: Hamilton v. Jefferson

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read primary source documents to solve a problem surrounding a historical question. In this inquiry lesson, two letters to George Washington allow students to consider the competing politics...
Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Movement Comes of Age: Carrie Chapman Catt to Erminia Folsom, Jan 1909

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the life of Carrie Chapman Catt, who briefly served as the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association following Susan B. Anthony. This site also provides a letter she wrote to Texas suffragist Erminia Folsom.
Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Letter From Jackie Robinson

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), while focusing on his contributions to the Civil Rights, features a letter written by Jackie Robinson to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The letter responded to Presidential Civil...
Website
US National Archives

Nara: American Originals: President Nixon's Resignation Letter

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a short site that highlights the diary of Nixon on July 20, 1969, the day of the historic moon walk. There's also a picture of Nixon talking to the Apollo II astronauts while they are on the moon.
Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Battle of San Jacinto: Mrs. Henrietta Lamar to Mc Ardle, December 1, 1890

For Students 9th - 10th
Mirabeau Lamar's wife, Henrietta, writes about her late husband in a letter to Henry McArdle, the artist behind "The Battle of San Jacinto." Handwritten letter is accompanied by typed transcription for easier reading and is part of...
Primary
US National Archives

Nara: American Originals: Letter From Upton Sinlcair to President Roosevelt

For Students 9th - 10th
Click here to see an original page of a letter from Upton Sinclair to President Roosevelt regarding the conditions of meat-packing plants.