Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: A Biography of America: A New System of Government 1776 1826
This module examines America's efforts to form a new government after the War for Independence and to draft the Constitution. Includes an interactive activity comparing Thomas Jefferson's and Alexander Hamilton's visions for America, a...
Wessels Living History Farm
Living History Farm: Farming in the 1940s: The Gi Bill
Find a summary of the benefits offered to veterans of World War II through the GI Bill. See how college attendance was affected by the return of veterans and their enrollment in post-secondary education.
Other
Kingwood Library: American Cultural History: 1940 1949
Take a walk through this part of American history surrounding World War II. Each section includes cultural history of the time, with links pertaining to art and architecture, books and literature, education, fads and fashion, historic...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Nation Building: Different Visions for Vietnam
Collaborative learning activity on the concept of nation-building in which students examine historical events in Vietnam and use what they learn to develop a vision for 21st Century America.
Digital History
Digital History: Challenges Facing the Nation
The new United States had no blueprint to follow in establishing a new democratic government. Read about the challenges facing the new nation, and how it dealt with ways to make the government work.
Other
Founding Fathers
Find information about the founding fathers and what they accomplished. Presents the Federalist Papers, The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The U.S. Constitution. Also includes images, quotes, a history of the...
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.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Constitution
This site provides extensive information regarding several American constitutional issues such as: impeachment, war powers, interstate commerce, and the amendment process. Hyperlinks can be found throughout each constitutional issue to...
PBS
Pbs: American Roots Music
If teaching a unit about the history of popular music in America, this PBS web site supporting their four-part TV broadcast of a few years ago would make a great resource. Includes lesson plans and oral histories too.
Other
Common Sense Americanism: Schenck v. United States
This summary provides the background for Schenck v. United States, a World War I-era Supreme Court case involving free speech. Schenck is an example of what can happen to basic constitutional rights in time of war.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Domestic Challenges
The American soldiers returning from World War I had a huge impact on the economy. Read about President Truman's domestic policies and find out about the surprise of the election of 1948.
Read Works
Read Works: u.s. Presidents James Madison
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Library of Congress
Loc: Arthur Szyk: Artist for Freedom
A great biographical site on the caricaturist and cartoonist Arthur Szyk (1894-1951 CE). There are nice images of religious, war, political and personal caricatures.
Other
Everett Dirksen Papers, 1932 69
Collection of papers and notebooks of Everett Dirksen, an conservative politician and proponent of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.