Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: u.s. History: The Oregon Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
A glimpse at life on the Oregon Trail during 19th-century westward expansion. Written humorously with teen learners in mind, students can view original photographs and read excerpts from pioneer diaries for a sense of the arduous journey.
Primary
Other

So just.net: Historic Speeches

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from EdChange.org gives the speeches of many American speakers on various topics related to social justice.
Interactive
Other

Constitution facts.com: Which Founding Father Are You?

For Students 3rd - 8th
Answer five questions to learn which of six Founding Fathers you are most like.
PPT
Tom Richey

Tom richey.net: Adams Administration: Constitution in Crisis 1797 1801 [Ppt]

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents key ideas for examining the issues faced by the Adams Administration including sectionalism, political partisanship, the Alien and Sedition Acts, and more.
Website
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: History Now: The Early Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Read about the tremendous growing pains faced by the new republic of the United States from the presidency of George Washington up to the election of Thomas Jefferson. Find out about the domestic...
Primary
Digital History

Digital History: Impact of the Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
These four Digital History excerpts from primary source documents attest to the impact the Revolutionary War did (and did not) have upon society and the status of and attitudes toward women and slaves in the newly established United States.
Website
Other

American Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
List of facts about John Adams and his presidency, with links to additional information, including the text of his inaugural address and a letter to Thomas Jefferson.
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
A fantastic resource where you can find biographies of historical figures. You can search by the person's name or by topics, such as Presidents, United States Leaders, Scientists, Inventors, Humanitarians, Explorers and Pioneers,...
Website
National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame: Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of First Lady Abigail Adams outlines her important roles, both politically and personally, during her husband's administration. Includes a description of her famous "Remember the Ladies" letter, espousing her strong belief...
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Thomas Jefferson, 1743 1826

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief summary from the Library of Congress of Thomas Jefferson's involvement in the Declaration of Independence.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Election of 1800

For Students 5th - 8th
The election of 1800 was momentous for many reasons. Read about the defeat of John Adams and his Federalist policies, and see how Thomas Jefferson became president because of a crucial vote by a Federalist.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Life and Times of John Adams

For Students 5th - 8th
John Adams was an important Founding Father, whose importance was not appreciated when he was president. Read about how his early life shaped his strongly held beliefs, and see how he would not put partisan politics above those beliefs.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Two Parties Emerge

For Students 5th - 8th
Although George Washingon denounced the creation of political parties, they came roaring into play in the election of 1796 in which John Adams, representing the Federalists, ran against Thomas Jefferson, who represented the...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Politics in Transition: Public Conflict in the 1790s

For Students 5th - 8th
A brief overview of the struggles taking place in politics in the 1790s. Even the honorable George Washington was not sheltered from contentious criticism. Read about the foreign and domestic problems that loomed in that decade.
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Short, overweight, and quick-tongued, John Adams hardly fits the model of the typical Founder. But Adams's contributions to American independence and the formation of the United States government were great. Adams penned defenses of...
Handout
The White House

The White House: Biography of Abigail Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
Profile of First Lady Abigail Adams (1744-1818), wife of the second President of the United States, John Adams.
Website
BBC

Bbc History: Historic Figures: John Adams (1735 1826)

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical portrait of John Adams, second president of the United States, discusses, among other things, his role in the American fight for independence. Archived.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: u.s. Presidents John Adams

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about John Adams, the second president of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Remembering a Forgotten President

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] A biographical text about John Adams, second president of the United States. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
US Department of State

Office of the Historian: The United States and the French Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
The French Revolution had political consequences in the United States. It forced us to adopt a clear foreign policy of neutrality and to pass legislation concerning immigration. Examine how Jefferson and Adams responded to the French...
Unit Plan
Other

Left Justified: Founding Fathers

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical accounts of fifty men who played a wide variety of roles in bringing about America's break with Great Britain, and in the creation of the documents and plans that created the new nation, like the Declaration of Independence,...
Primary
PublicBookshelf Corporation

Our Country: Election of 1796

For Students 9th - 10th
From the book "Our Country,", published in 1877, this site provides information of the Election of 1796. Electing a 2nd President of the United States was a huge political struggle, and these several paragraphs explains the struggle.
Website
A&E Television

History.com: American Presidents: John Adams

For Students 9th - 10th
This easy-to-navigate site has John Adams' biography, a timeline detailing some of the significant events in his life, an image gallery, and several video clips.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: A Letter to Thomas Jefferson

For Students 11th - 12th
A learning module that begins with "A Letter to Thomas Jefferson" by John Adams, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...