University of Virginia
Miller Center at Uva: u.s. Presidents: Franklin Pierce: Campaigns and Elections
An interesting account of the political conventions which had trouble choosing a candidate, and the lack of campaigning for president in the election of 1852. From the Miller Center.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: African Unity Activity
Students will be able to discuss and debate current issues for a specific African country, then develop solutions to these issues by participating in a simulation of a meeting of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
A&E Television
History.com: 8 Memorable Protests by American Athletes
Stars Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King have used their platforms to seek change. Before a preseason game on September 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to call...
PBS
Pbs Online News Hour: Open Season
This Online NewsHour forum features a law professor and a political scientist debating the value of open primaries in the states.
Curated OER
President Reagan at Podium in Debate
This edition of National Public Radio's exploration of American cultural icons focuses on the evolution of "Spin," the "Deliberate shading of news perception; attempted control of political reaction" that became a part of our vocabulary...
Other
Project Vote Smart: Homepage
Project Vote Smart provides an excellent page of links related to issues which are of interest in American politics.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: The Mask of Lincoln: Stephen A. Douglas
A captioned portrait of Stephen Douglas encapsulates his political career and reputation in a few short paragraphs.
Social Studies Help Center
Social Studies Help Center: What Caused the Beginning of the Civil War
Discusses what caused the Civil War, including a section on the political parties of the mid 1800's.
Claremont Institute
Founding.com: John C. Calhoun
A collection of speeches given by John C. Calhoun on why slavery should not be abolished.
Other
The Forum: America First Political Handbill/poster
This site shows a poster for the America First Committee.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Working in a Global Economy
Debating the theories of globalization? Take advantage of the reading recommended here as well as the possibilities for discussion topics.
Other
Encyclopedia.com: Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice: Gender and Crime
Examines male and female patterns of criminal activity, looks at theories that have been developed to try to explain why males offend at a much higher rate, and at the debate over the reasons for increased female crime in recent decades....
The Washington Post
Washingtonpost: Rewriting the Rules
Washington Post article dealing with ethics and guidelines of journalists reporting hard news. Provides material for debate and discussion. Interesting article.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Is the Republican Party on the Verge of a Crackup?
Article reports on the chaos in the Republican party, and the long term effects this presidential election season could have on the GOP.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: The Christian Right
Essay defines the Christian Right and explores its cultural significance in American society, including why and how it emerged, religious and political goals, and who is included. Section for guiding students in discussion, scholar...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: A New Coalition
Overview of Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration after his decisive re-election in 1936. Discusses political party organization and the debate over government responsibility to citizens.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: African American Protest Poetry
Learn about African American protest poetry and what was motivating it. This article takes a look at protest poetry during slavery, during the period of segregation and Jim Crow, and after political obstacles to equality were removed....
US National Archives
National Archives: Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution
The Constitution can be broken down into 6 main themes: Limited Government, Federalism, Republicanism, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Popular Sovereignty. Students will study background on the Founding Fathers and use...
US National Archives
National Archives: Prohibition and Its Consequences
Was prohibition necessary to protect family values or was it an over-reach by the government? Students will debate this question while analyzing documents from this era. Documents include political cartoon, photos, letters from citizens,...
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Read Like a Historian: Civil War Reconstruction
[Free Registration/Login Required] In the Civil War and Reconstruction unit, students engage in contentious historiographic debates about the period: Was Lincoln a racist? Was Reconstruction a success or failure? Was John Brown a...
Choices Program, Brown University
Choices: Teaching With the News: The Iran Nuclear Deal
Learning module uses mult-media resources to help students understand the role of the U.S. in the debate about the Iran nuclear deal and examine how political cartoons are used to express opinion.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Teaching History: Beyond the Textbook: Causing the Civil War
An essay that looks at other, more complex reasons for the outbreak of the Civil War, beyond the traditionally accepted ones related to the Northern industrial economy versus the Southern agricultural one.
Library of Congress
Loc: The Conservation Movement at a Crossroads
The debate over damming the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park marked a crossroads in the American conservation movement. Until this debate, conservationists seemed fairly united in their aims. San Francisco's need for a...
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Voters to Choose Between Economy and Environment
Although this lesson plan deals with the a California vote for 2010 Elections, the subject matter will need to be addressed time and time again: economy vs. environment. Green energy is more expensive. Many companies would have to go out...