Examine the rights and responsibilities of a citizen in a democratic system and those guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Consider the conditions of war and debate the pros and cons of the wartime curtailment of civil liberties.

Do your students think that white supremacy groups still exist? This news story from March 2005 can be used as a tool for discussion and debate.

[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart allows for many discussions of Lucky Child by Luong Ung. Students will read this novel that describes a sister's arrival in America as a Cambodian refugee. Another sister is left behind....

Shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War, American leaders realized that the nation needed a new, stronger Constitution. But what would the new system of government look like?

This site provides historical information and pictures regarding the Fifth Lincoln Douglas debate in 1858.

For this lesson, learners examine the impact of weapons of mass destruction, e.g., the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in World War II. They look at nuclear proliferation and treaties, and debate the pros and cons of nuclear weapons.

When the Revolutionary War ended, there was an ongoing conflict between the Native Americans and American settler in the Northwest Territory. Students will study two documents from each side of the issue and answer questions and/or hold...

A learning module on the emancipation of African American slaves after the Civil War. It includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Students will...

This site has a comprehensive overview of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S., including information on Osama bin Laden's background, the formation of Al Qaeda, the attacks themselves, the US response, civil liberties and national...

Webisode 5 - A Fatal Contradiction. The history of the United States is presented in a series of webisodes, within each are a number of segments.Included are links to lesson plans, teacher guides, resources, activities, and tools.

Northern Illinois University provides audio, visual, and text documents about Abraham Lincoln's Illinois years. You can search historical themes that relate to Lincoln and a biography of Lincoln. The site offers both primary and...

Discusses Kennedy's rise to power and the challenges he faced from within the government, his focus on foreign policy, the conflict with Cuba, American involvement in Vietnam, support for racial equality and civil rights, and Kennedy's...

As with most other debates leading up to the Civil War, the debate about states' rights in reference to nullifying federal laws, ostensibly about tariffs, was really about the future of slavery in the South. Read about the issues of...

The author uses an excellent example of a debate he had with Field Marshall Montgomery (of World War 2 fame) in which "Monty" argued it was the Normans who have made England what it is today. The author points out the contributions of...

In mythology, it was Eris that sparked the quarrel ultimately resulting in the Trojan War. It was fitting then that Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology should name this highly debated object Eris. Learn more about...

Harriet Tubman is best known for the Underground Railroad, but she also served critical roles in our federal government during the Civil War and requested a federal pension for her work. Congress debated whether or not to extend to her a...

Writing in the 1840s, Lydia M. Child tells the story of ex-slavers living in Virginia. Demonstrates the complexity of the abolition debate in Pre-Civil War America.

Several lesson plans covering a range of topics from the 1830s through 1860. These plans will give your students experience using primary sources.

Explains the background for the Dred Scott case and its journey through the court system, finally reaching the US Supreme Court.

A collection of lesson plans centered around President Abraham Lincoln that helps students understand some important events in America's history. The purpose of the page is present some major themes in American history from mid...

This program from Voice of America, The Making of a Nation, presents events in American history. This segment begins with a review of the Eisenhower administration as a background to the campaign and election of 1960. Read or listen to...

Take this eleven question unit test over US history during the period of 1754 and 1800.

This site discusses two international issues President Bush encountered during his time in office. They were the "War on drugs," and what to do with countries and/or leaders that played a role and the hotly-debated North American Free...

Henry Cabot Lodge (1850-1924) was a lifelong resident of this house. Lodge, as United States Senator from Massachusetts, was a critical voice in foreign policy debates of the early 20th century; he supported a wider role for the United...