Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

Huntington Library: New Birth of Freedom: Lincoln's Presidency and the Civil War

For Teachers 8th
In this lesson, 8th graders will examine primary source letters and speeches to learn about the lives of soldiers and leaders during the Civil War and about Lincoln as a leader. Student resources are included.
Interactive
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: Truman vs. Dewey

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about one of the most surprising political defeats in American history. The election of 1948 between President Harry Truman and Thomas Dewey was supposed to be a landslide. Find out about Truman's stand on policies, and read about...
Primary
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: The Peacemaker

For Students 9th - 10th
Find a document containing President Wilson's plan for peace after World War I, known as his Fourteen Points, as well as photographs with captions, and the audio of one of his speeches in which he lays out his ideas and garners support...
Lesson Plan
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: America in Class: "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explores the argument made by Frederick Douglass and his appeals to convince northern whites to oppose slavery and favor abolition. Lesson content includes resources for both teachers and students.
eBook
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: Our Rights

For Students 9th - 10th
This book uses historical case studies to explore the rights in the Constitution. Supreme Court cases are used to demonstrate how a right received its modern interpretation, how the right applies today, and how courts and other...
Website
Other

Behind the Scenes: The Mc Carran Internal Security Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the origins and impact of the McCarran Internal Security Act which President Harry Truman called "the greatest danger to freedom of speech, press and assembly, since the Alien and Sedition Laws of 1798." Find out how a fear of...
Primary
University of South Florida

Lit2 Go: Sojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?

For Students 1st - 9th
Audio [2:26] and text of speech made by Sojourner Truth, Ain't I a Woman? (1851)
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 9th - 10th
This timeline provides links to the texts of the Alien and Sedition Acts, and the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions that protested them.
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)

For Students 9th - 10th
The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed by Congress in 1798 because of feared war with France. This engaging page gives you the opportunity to see a complete copy of the original document and also gives links to a typed transcript,...
Activity
Other

A Guide to Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has A Complete Guide to the Supreme Court Decision for this Supreme Court case. It can be downloaded as a PDF file. The article explains many different aspects of the case, including What the Decision Says, What the Decision...
Unit Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Persuasive Writing

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this library of mini-lessons, students will learn how to "argue on paper" or write persuasive essays using a fictional case about a school dress code rule against band t-shirts.
Lesson Plan
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: The National Woman's Party

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will examine documents to determine if the justice system was fair and Constitutional in its treatment of the National Women's Party picketers.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Founding Fathers' Notions of Religious Liberty (Lesson Plan)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Explore founders' views, particularly the views of George Washington, on the role of religion and religious liberty in public life. Includes excerpts from Washington's writings and speeches to give students opportunities to include...
Primary
Other

Janet Reno vs. American Civil Liberties Union

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete transcript outlining the court case between Janet Reno, U.S. Attorney General, and the American Civil Liberties Union, in which the Communications Decency Act was declared unconstitutional.
Primary
Thomson Reuters

Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Joseph Burstyn, Inc. V. Wilson (1952)

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about the Joseph Burstyn v. Wilson Supreme Court case.
Primary
Boston College

Boston College: Bigelow v. Virginia

For Students 9th - 10th
Complete syllabus and decision on the Supreme Court case Bigelow v. Virginia (1975).
Primary
Boston College

Boston College: Dennis v. United States (1951)

For Students 9th - 10th
Full syllabus and decision from the Dennis v. United States Supreme Court case.
Handout
Other

The Stoa Consortium: Classical Athenian Democracy [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive descriptions of all facets of the Athenian Assembly - membership, freedom of speech, exclusion, payment, meeting places, schedule of meetings, the conduct of the meetings, voting, foreign affairs, and their decision making in...
Primary
American Rhetoric

American Rhetoric: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: "The Four Freedoms"

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text and audio of President Franklin Roosevelt's speech to the 77th Congress entitled "The Four Freedoms" on January 6, 1941.
Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Classroom: First Amendment

For Students 9th - 10th
Check out this interactive timeline on first amendment of the United States Constitution.
Primary
Teaching American History

Teaching American History: The Four Freedoms

For Students 9th - 10th
A transcribed portion of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to Congress on January 6, 1941.
Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: The First Amendment

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this activity learners will analyze documents that span the course of American history to determine their connection to the different phrases found within the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Norman Rockwell

For Students 9th - 10th
Norman Rockwell is profiled at this site in a format that begins with a brief biographical sketch of his life. His works are then listed by appearance in the museum's database. Each work is presented in thumbnail format with brief...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Alien and Sedition Acts

For Students 5th - 8th
A great description of the Alien and Sedition Acts, passed by the Federalist Congress in 1798. See how the Federalists tried to hang on to power by restricting voting privileges and infringing on free speech and freedom of the press.

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