Unit Plan
University of Groningen

American History: Biographies: Alexander Hamilton

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is provided for by the University of Groningen. Alexander Hamilton represented the growing movement towards a strong national government. Read the beginning stages of the nationalist movement, the conflicting ideas of state...
Article
A&E Television

History.com: Minimum Wage in America: A Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
Since 1938, the U.S. federal government has established that workers are entitled to a base hourly wage. Which workers receive that minimum -- and how much -- has remained a political issue.
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Powers Denied to the States

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource explains how during the time of the Civil War the Supreme Court used Article I, Section 10, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution to show that the Confederation formed by the seceding States had no legal existence. The site also...
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Changing the Constitution

For Teachers 9th - 10th
America's constitutional government has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation, and other practices. Young scholars will use the seven basic principles found in our...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: The United States Capitol Building

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A comprehensive site that provides three lesson plans which explain what takes place in the U.S. Capitol Building. This thorough site describes the function of the Capitol Building and includes many photos of both the building itself and...
Handout
Travel Document Systems

Tds: Malawi: History

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Malawi's history from its paleological beginnings to its recent elections. Information is from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.
Handout
Travel Document Systems

Tds: Dominica: History

For Students 6th - 8th
Find out about Dominica's history from this information from the U.S. Dept. Background Notes. See how the interests of the planter class overrode representational government until Dominica was granted its independence.
Graphic
Other

Fedspending.org

For Students 9th - 10th
A free, searchable database of federal government spending.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Sherman Anti Trust Act and Standard Oil [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
As the influence of large corporations spread in the age of big business, push-back was inevitable. Read about the Sherman Anti-Trust Act and the government's attempts to rein in the laissez-faire attitudes of corporations and the lack...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: Republicanism

For Students 9th - 10th
The framers of the Constitution had a great distaste for the monarchial society of Great Britain. See how this was reflected in the checks and balances they wrote into the Constitution in an effort to create a working republic.
Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: What Is the Definition of Citizenship?

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief, easy to read definition of citizenship, with links to closely related subjects like how to become a citizen, the definition of naturalization, the Constitution on citizenship, and the history of citizenship in the United States.
Website
University of Groningen

American History: Outlines: The Constitution as Supreme Law

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of the history and structure of the U.S. Constitution as the "supreme law" of the land of which state and federal laws may not conflict and can only be changed by the American people.
Website
Other

Representative Democracy Has Failed

For Students 9th - 10th
This politically oriented site outlines the degeneration of American Democracy and the erosion of democratic principles as exemplified by unconstitutional actions on the part of the Federal and State governments, as in the examples of...
Article
Other

Certiorari Practice: The Supreme Court's Shrinking Docket

For Students 9th - 10th
Recent legislation has allowed the Supreme Court discretionary, rather than obligatory powers, in deciding which cases to decide. This in-depth and well-developed essay describes the process and criticizes the new system, while providing...
Activity
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: Supreme Court Filing Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains pertinent information needed when filing a case with the Supreme Court without legal representation. This page provides links to information about the filing time, what forms to file, page limitations, and others.
Website
US Department of Justice

Uspc:united States Parole Commission Homepage

For Students 9th - 10th
Homepage of the United States Parole Commission which is part of the Department of Justice.
Website
US Environmental Protection Agency

Epa: Learning and Teaching About the Environment

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The United States Environmental Protection Agency provides activities, tips, and lessons for students of all ages regarding the environment.
Website
National Institutes of Health

National Institutes of Health

For Students 9th - 10th
Home page for a professional organization of physicians dedicated to uncovering new medical knowledge. A division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, N.I.H is primarily responsible for the medical research of the Federal...
Primary
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: The Preamble

For Students 9th - 10th
The preamble is the introduction to the Constitution. It outlines the general goals of the framers: to create a just government and to ensure peace, adequate national defense, and a healthy, free nation. With its first three words, "We...
Lesson Plan
National Institutes of Health

Nidcd Health Information: Resources for Educators

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders offers classroom activities and other resources for students and teachers.
Website
National Institute on Drug Abuse

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Back to School

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers teacher information, student information, and shared resources for drug education.
Website
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Frontier Life: The Crow Indians and Montana Settlers

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how the Crow Indians were affected by the opening of the Montana Territory to white settlement. From a companion essay to the PBS series, Frontier House.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Nationbuilder in Chief

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn about some of the decisions and actions the first presidential administrations took to make sure the United States would be strong enough to last.
Handout
Digital History

Digital History: Eisenhower and Civil Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
Like other U.S. presidents before and after him, Dwight D. Eisenhower was only proactive in instituting civil rights in a very limited way, such as ending segregation in the District of Columbia, including the federal government, and any...