Library of Congress
Loc: Arthur st.clair (1736 1818)
A brief description of the military career of Arthur St.Clair, including his roles in the American Revolution and against the Indians in the Northwest Territory.
Curated OER
Wikipedia: United States Bill of Rights
This encyclopedia article from Wikipedia gives some background history to the creation of the Bill of Rights and contains a transcription of the first 10 amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Royal Wedding Highlights Challenges for Modern Monarchies
Article provides an easy-to-understand description of the royal family in Britain and an explanation of the term constitutional monarchy. April, 2011
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Seventh Amendment
Text and summary of the 7th Amendment to the Constitution. From Annenberg Classroom with links to related materials including videos, timeline and news article.
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Lesotho: Government
Learn about the government of Lesotho in this article from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes. Find a list of the current government officials and read about the political parties.
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Malaysia: Government
Read this informative article about the government and politics of Malaysia from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes. Learn how the government is attempting to help the economy and the people of Malaysia.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Who Shall Judge?
Well-written description of the process, qualifications, and constitutional background on selecting Supreme Court justices.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Political Experience
Read about how the state governments in the new American nation served as the laboratory to try out new ideas of governing and treating citizens. See how remarkably similar the ideas put forth in state constitutions were to each other.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Politics in Colonial Virginia
This site explores the politics involved in Colonial Williamsburg, leading up to the American Revolution. Content focuses on famous speeches, documents, and influential people.
Ohio Test Prep
Ohio Test Prep: Module 3: Historical Documents
Ohio test preparation material on the important historical documents from which the principles of U.S. democracy are reflected. With video tutorials, practice, and assessment.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Forever Free: The 1860s: The 1858 69 Constututional Convention
With the freeing of slaves following the Emancipation Proclamation, African-Americans, including former slaves, began to take part in the government. Read about African-American Charles W. Bryant, Constitutional Convention delegate, and...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Annotation 10: Sixth Amendment: Assistance to Council
This article uses specific court cases to show how the right to counsel at trial was developed into the present day standard.
Scientific American
Scientific American: What Is an Exothermic Reaction
Scientific American magazine, in the person of Dr. Gerald R. Van Hecke, gives a wonderfully complete answer to this question. Complete with very many hot words for additional background. And a wonderful NASA launch photo.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Winning the Vote
Three lesson plans that take learners through three different steps in our election process.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Tenth Amendment
Annenberg Classroom resource on the 10th Amendment which attempts to create a balance of power between federal and state government. With links to related news articles and resources.
University of California
Back on the Chain Gang
This is a very short article but is an argument against the chain gang as a method of punishment, an idea that is regaining popularity.
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Anti Railroad Propaganda Poster
From the National Archives and Records Administration site, this lesson, focusing on a poster circulated in Philadelphia in 1839 to discourage the coming of the railroad, relates to the struggle to define the powers of the national and...
Other
Representative Democracy Has Failed
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...
BBC
Bbc News: Peru's Shining Path: Who Are They?
BBC profile on the terrorist group in Latin America, Shining Path. Includes collection of related articles and images. (15 July 1999)
Travel Document Systems
Tds: Ghana: Government
This article gives a good look at the government of Guinea and its problems since 2003. Read about the dictatorial president and the recent rebukes to his presidency. Information from the U.S. State Dept. Background Notes.
Digital History
Digital History: Creating New State Governments
See how state constitutions were the incubator of ideas that eventually became embodied in the U.S. Constitution.
Read Works
Read Works: Helping Hands
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text written by ten-year-old Rose Brooks about her trip to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in understanding...
Library of Congress
Loc: Richard Henry Lee
The Library of Congress provides a brief biography of Richard Henry Lee. Select "Return to Essay" to explore his role within the context of America's fight towards independence.
Library of Congress
Loc: Thomas Jefferson, 1743 1826
Brief summary from the Library of Congress of Thomas Jefferson's involvement in the Declaration of Independence.