Library of Congress
Suffragists and Their Tactics
Young scholars research the fight for voting rights. In this women's history lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the strategies employed by the suffragists to gain voting rights.
Curated OER
King Phillip's War: A Primary Source, Exploring Options, and Sachem's Speech Writing Activity
Students study the causes and effects of King Philip's War. In this Native American history lesson, students examine the options that the Native Americans had in 1676 New England. Students weigh the pros and cons of the situation and...
Curated OER
Wanted, a Substitute
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze an American Civil War song. Students respond to 5 short answer questions about the song and its lyrics.
Curated OER
Native American Gender Roles in Maryland: A Second Look
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students examine Native American history to complete the graphic organizer about gender roles in Native American societies.
Curated OER
Boston Abolitionists Warn of Slave Catchers
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze the advertisement that features a call for African-Americans to beware of slave catchers. Students respond to 6 short answer questions about the advertisement.
Curated OER
Document Based Essay Question: World War II
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students examine 4 documents from World War II and then respond to the essay questions that accompany each of them.
Curated OER
The First Vote
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze the political cartoon that features African-Americans waiting to vote. Students respond to 1 short answer question about the cartoon.
Curated OER
Runaway Slave Advertisement from Antebellum Virginia
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze the runaway slave advertisement. Students respond to 5 short answer questions about the advertisement.
Curated OER
FDR's Tree Army: The Civilian Conservation Corps
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze the a short documentary video clip about the CCC. Students respond to 3 short answer questions about the documentary.
Curated OER
CCC Boys Serve a Meal in California
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students examine a photograph of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. Students respond to 3 short answer questions about the photograph.
Curated OER
Americans All, Let's Fight for Victory: Americanos Todos, Luchamos por la Victoria
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students analyze a World War II propaganda poster. Students then respond to 2 short answer questions about the poster.
Curated OER
Primary Source: Churchill Speaks to the British People
In this World War II worksheet, students read an excerpt of a speech from Winston Churchill to the British people. Students then respond to 5 short answer questions based on the speech.
Middle Tennessee State University
Preparing for Revolution
Class members create a timeline of actions by both the British parliament and the colonists that led to the outbreak of the American Revolution. Groups use the provided Primary Source Analysis Tool to examine and...
Simon & Schuster
A Teacher's Guide to 1776 by David McCullough
David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, 1776, is the focus of a 28-page teacher's guide. The guide includes pre-reading questions, background information about key British and American figures, and chapter-by-chapter lessons.
New York State Education Department
US History and Government Examination: January 2013
While the 1950s seemed to be a time of peace and prosperity, Sputnik, the Korean War, and the Montgomery bus boycott were symptoms of the turmoil that loomed under the surface. Using documents, class members investigate what these events...
American Battlefield Trust
John Brown
How did the raid on Harper's Ferry contribute to the start of the Civil War? Curated for high school historians, the activity explains John Brown's contribution to the start of the Civil War by using violence to demand an end to slavery....
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Westward Expansion: Image and Reality
As your young historians study Westward Expansion, practice in-depth primary source analysis with the documents and guidelines presented in this resource. They will examine a lithograph and excerpts from two letters written by a Nebraska...
American Battlefield Trust
1862: Antietam and Emancipation
Was the Emancipation Proclamation a revolutionary document or just a military strategy? It proclaimed that all those enslaved in Confederate states would be "forever free." Logistically, though, it did little. The order, however,...
Center for History Education
Lincoln and the Republicans: The Cause of the War?
In today's political rhetoric, many forget the pivotal role the Republican Party played in the causes of the Civil War. The party's formation was the final straw for Southerners who saw the enslavement of people of African descent a...
Huntington Library
Religion & Spirituality - Exploring the California Missions
The California missions were built with the hope of converting the local Native Americans to Catholicism, but exactly how different were their beliefs to begin with? Through analysis of a series of primary source documents,...
Crafting Freedom
Thomas Day's Letter to His Daughter, Mary Ann
Why is a letter a better way to learn about a person than a different primary source? Explore Thomas Day's ideas and advice to his daughter in a letter from 1851, which details the struggles of the American South before the Civil War....
Code.org
Introduction to Data
Data, data everywhere. Challenge your class to begin thinking about data, the ways people collect information, and what we can learn from this data. Class members discuss sources of data and then individuals answer questions in the...
Daughters of the American Revolution
Lesson 1: How Do Society’s Expectations Influence Education?
The history of women's education can be traced back to the delicate stitching of student samplers from the 19th century. Modern-day pupils examine and analyze four primary sources, three of which are images of embroidered samplers, which...
National Endowment for the Humanities
How "Grand" and "Allied" Was the Grand Alliance?
Learn more about the Grand Alliance with a scaffolded lesson plan that includes four activities. Class members use primary sources to complete a map exercise, understand the goals and objectives of each individual nation, and participate...