CPALMS
Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Colonists: What Were They Thinking?
This tutorial looks at the British political traditions that influenced the American colonists as they gained their independence from Britain and created their own form of government. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence, made by the second American Continental Congress and adopted July 4, 1776, announced the separation of the original thirteen North American British colonies from Great Britain making them into the United...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Samuel Adams
Overview on the early American radical, Samuel Adams, a political organizer who called for American independence.
C-SPAN
C Span American Writers: Thomas Paine
Read about Thomas Paine's revolutionary publication "Common Sense" of 1776. Be sure to click on 'featured place' and 'classroom resources' for more facts and information about Paine.
Other
Media History Digital Library: Government & Law Collection (1912 1995)
A collection of original documents that deal with the interactions between the film industry and the government. They cover such issues as censorship, film industry regulation, labor issues, juvenile delinquency, and the blacklisting of...
Ohio Test Prep
Ohio Test Prep: Module 3: Historical Documents
Ohio test preparation material on the important historical documents from which the principles of U.S. democracy are reflected. With video tutorials, practice, and assessment.
Civil War Home
Home of the American Civil War: u.s.sanitary Commission and Other Relief Agencies
The origins of the United States Sanitary Commission is discussed and its work in the aid of Union soldiers of the Civil War, trying "to do what the Government could not" for soldiers. From "The Photographic History of the Civil War" by...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Boston "Tea Party"
In 1773, however, Britain furnished Adams and his allies with an incendiary issue. The powerful East India Company, finding itself in critical financial straits, appealed to the British government, which granted it a monopoly on all tea...
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Independence Day: Fundamental Ideas About Government
In this lesson, students will examine some of the fundamental ideas about government that is contained in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. When the lesson is completed, students should be able to...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Native American Relations in Texas: Don Ramon Musquiz to Jose Maria Letona
Read a letter from 1831 that relays the efforts of the Cherokees to keep their land through negotiations with the Mexican government. This site includes images of the original letter as well as line-by-line transcription of the...
Other
The Royal Proclamation of October 7, 1763
The original text of the British Royal Proclamation, 1763 - the document that dealt with the governance of the new colonies of British North America. The author of the site has published the text of the document as well as an annotation...
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Connecticut Constitution, 1639 1789
Develops the concept of "constitutionalism" as related to the U.S. Constitution and Connecticut's role in the Constitutional Congress and Convention. An overview of Connecticut's colonial history, and judicial origins and organization,...
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The 13th Amendment
An original 13th amendment restricting lawyers from serving in government that was supposedly ratified in 1819 and removed from the U.S. Constitution during the Civil War.
Digital History
Digital History: By What Right [Pdf]
Two opposing philosophies concerning the relationship between government and its citizens were expressed by Thomas Hobbes and John Locke in the 17th century. Compare these two philosophies and see how they were related to the colonists'...
Other
Common Sense Complete Text
Text of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense." Click onto introduction for full text or if you are looking for a specific section, then click onto the heading.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Theory of the American Founding: Why Government? (Lesson Plan)
A lesson that considers how the American founders answered the question, What is government? Examines why, from the point of view of the founders, government is not only necessary, but good for human beings.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Virginia Plan (1787)
Read the complete text of the Virginia Plan that proposed a strong central government consisting of three branches. You can also view images of the original drafts.
Library of Congress
Loc: Indian Land Cessions in the United States 1784 1894
This site from the Library of Congress provides links to the original land cession deals between Indians and the Federal Government are provided. Search for documents can be accomplished by searching for Indian tribe, state/territory, or...
A&E Television
History.com: How the u.s. Constitution Has Changed and Expanded Since 1787
Through amendments and legal rulings, the Constitution has transformed in some critical ways. The U.S. Constitution, written in 1787 and ratified by nine of the original 13 states a year later, is the world's longest-surviving written...
A&E Television
History.com: 10 Things You May Not Know About the Nuremberg Trials
The post-World War II trials marked the first-ever prosecutions for genocide and crimes against humanity. Held directly after World War II, the Nuremberg Trials were a series of 13 military tribunals in which nearly 200 German...
Library of Congress
Loc: Thomas Jefferson Papers (Quotes)
Selected quotes from writings of Thomas Jefferson on the Library of Congress site. Each quote is linked to photo of original document in Jefferson's handwriting to show source of quote. Page of quotes is also linked to home site which...
Other
Schoolhouse Rock: The Preamble
This site from Schoolhouse Rock, History Rock, provides the lyrics to a song called The Preamble. Need to learn the Preamble and what it means? This catchy tune from the popular 1970s cartoon series, Schoolhouse Rock, will help you to...