Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Preparing for the Oath: u.s. History and Civics for Citizenship

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is a great site for citizens and those learning to become citizens alike. Review the fifteen themes that deal with U.S. history and civics,...
Unit Plan
C3 Teachers

C3 Teachers: u.s. History Module: Did Founders Want Government to Work? [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A comprehensive learning module on the system of government established by the founders that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and primary source materials, followed by a summative performance task....
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Writing in u.s. History: The Bill of Rights

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Explore why the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution and its enduring impact on defining our rights. In this interactive lesson from WGBH, students develop a written argument in response to the question "How does the Bill of...
Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra for Students and Teachers

For Students 9th - 10th
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer offers specialized news resources for students and teachers. Content includes background information for the top stories of the week, full multimedia packages (video, audio, graphics, and text) which explore...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The u.s., Cuba, and the Platt Amendment [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
After the SpanishAmerican War the American occupation of Cuba and the adoption of the Platt Amendment, which was forced upon the Cuban government when it formed its constitution, showed the signs of imperialism on the part of the United...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Early Involvement

For Students 5th - 8th
The U.S. early involvement in Vietnam during the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations consisted of military aid to the doomed South Vietnamese government. Read about Ho Chi Minh and his leadership of North Vietnam.
Unit Plan
US Government Publishing Office

Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Ben's Ab Cs

For Students 2nd - 4th
Each letter of this alphabet is linked to an important aspect of the U.S. Government, e.g. "A is for Armed Forces" has a link to the Air Force. Links are made to the Bill of Rights, symbols, branches of government and The Constitution....
Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Constitutional Government

For Students 9th - 10th
Article outlining the events which ultimately led to the development and ratification of the U.S. Constitution. The author explains the components of the Constitution and how those pieces were debated and agreed upon.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Britain in the New World: The House of Burgesses

For Students 5th - 8th
The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first elected legislature in the New World. Find out why the governmental conditions in England led to this representative government and how it was so different from the governing of colonies in...
eBook
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: New England Colonies: Reaching to Connecticut

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about how the colony of Connecticut grew from an expansion of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. See how Thomas Hooker's idea of government resulted in a model of colonial charters, and find out how two very different settlements in...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Diversity of Native American Groups

For Students 5th - 8th
Look at the diversity in language, housing, government, and language among the Native American tribes that existed before the Europeans made contact. There is a brief discussion of the Navajo language and the use of Navajo code talkers...
Website
US Food and Drug Administration

U.s. Food and Drug Administration: Aromatherapy

For Students 9th - 10th
This government agency article states its view of aromatherapy and the claims of its effectiveness in promoting health.
Lesson Plan
Lin and Don Donn

Lin and Don Donn: u.s. History Lessons: Elections, Parties, Campaigns

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site provides suggestions for lesson plans and unit plans to teach about the U.S. system of elections, political parties, and campaigns.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History:the Cold War Continues

For Students 5th - 8th
A comprehensive look at U.S. foreign policy during the Eisenhower administration. The Cold War was at its height, and the United States used many tactics to fight and contain the spread of Communism. Be sure to watch the cartoon of Bert...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The New Tycoons: J. Pierpont Morgan

For Students 5th - 8th
J. Pierpont Morgan was not business tycoon who made his money from manufacturing. Read about how he accumulated wealth, how he helped the government through some economic panics, and why the government took him to court.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Politics of the Gilded Age

For Students 5th - 8th
Politics in the last half of the 19th century reflected mediocrity at best and corruption at worst. Read about the series of "forgettable presidents," beginning with Andrew Johnson. Find out how big business could buy the government that...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: After the Fact: Virginia, New Yok, and "The Federalist Papers"

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the necessity for Virginia and New York to support the ratification of the Constitution. See what influenced the vote in Virginia and how the legislature of New York was finally convinced.
Lesson Plan
National Cable Satellite Corporation

C Span Classroom: Free Resources for Teaching Civics and u.s. Government

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a site filled with current events that make connections to the relevant historical topics. There are six clickable topics, the videos of which are updated weekly. RealPlayer is needed and registration is required to stream or...
Graphic
Library of Congress

Loc: u.s. Presidents, First Ladies, Vice Presidents: Selected Images

For Students 9th - 10th
This chronological archive presents photographs of American presidents. Also includes images of first ladies and vice presidents.
Article
Constitutional Rights Foundation

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Constitution and Slavery

For Students 9th - 10th
Article and questions for discussion on the controveries surrounding slavery while writing the U.S. Constitution and forming a new U.S. government.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Age of Reason by Thomas Paine

For Students 9th - 10th
The original text of Thomas Paine's work,"Age of Reason," written in 1794, describing the principles of enlightened government and society.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Ida B. Wells and Anti Lynching Activism

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection uses primary sources to explore Ida B. Wells and anti-lynching activism.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Evaluating the Congress

For Students 5th - 8th
Although there were some glaring weaknesses for the central government under the Articles of Confederation, there were some stunning accomplishments. Read about the successes and think about how important they were for the future of the...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Articles of Confederation

For Students 5th - 8th
During the Revolutionary War, it was necessary to put together some sort of central government, primarily to raise and pay an army. Read about the rules finally passed by Congress in 1777, called the Articles of Confederation. See what...