Have Fun With History
Have Fun With History: u.s. Presidents
Module in which students and teachers can find information through videos, library or museum sites on presidents of the United States as well as general information on the presidency and the White House.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: What Does the President of the United States Do?
Students will create a wiki page that reflects the President of the United States fulfilling five of his formal or informal roles. Students will use the Internet to visit the White House Photo Gallery and capture shapshots of the...
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Harry S. Truman Library: The President's Cabinet
Features a teacher-directed activity that explores the President's Cabinet and the duties of each secretary.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Listen and Read: Meet the President: Activity 1
Follow the President of the United States as he signs laws, meets with foreign leaders, and leads our armed forces in this audio article for young students.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: Abraham Lincoln and Executive Power
Explore the life of Abraham Lincoln from his childhood through his presidency. This module includes extensive background, review questions, critical thinking questions, a timeline, and links to resources and primary sources.
Other
President Gerald Ford's Special Message to Congress
Learn about the working relationship between the legislative and executive branches of government through Ford's address to Congress in 1976 addressing the need for improvements to programs for the elderly.
Library of Congress
Loc: Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
Describes the events on April 14, 1865, when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while attending a theater performance. His Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, was also attacked at his home that night but survived. Includes a timeline...
Harry S. Truman Library and Museum
Harry S. Truman Library & Museum: Three Branches of Government
Interactive teaching unit for Grades 5-8 that helps to explain the three branches of government and the the balance of power. Topics covered include balance of government, how a bill becomes a law, the amendment process, the Legislative...
Library of Congress
Loc: Topics in Chronicling America: The Mc Kinley Assassination
Find contemporary newspaper accounts of the shooting of President Willian McKinley, his death, the swearing of Theodore Roosevelt as president, and the capture, trial, and execution of the assassin.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Executive Order: Resulting in the Relocation of Japanese
Summarizes the background behind this order that moved people of Japanese ancestry to relocation centers in 1942. Provides a link to an image of the original document and a copy of the text.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Executive Branch
Article provides a guide to the Executive Branch of Government, its connection to the US Constitution, and its role as the branch that enforces the law and is responsible for the daily administration of the government.
Other
Roles of the President
Describes the roles that the President of the United States has as Chief of State, chief executive, economic leader, and chief diplomat. Uses PowerPoint format.
Center For Civic Education
Center for Civic Education: James Madison and Executive Power
This instructional activity examines the legacy of the "philosopher statesman," James Madison. Madison combined the intellectual knowledge and creativity of the scholar with the practical savvy of the politician, a man of strong...
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: Franklin Roosevelt: Executive Order 7649
Find the text of President Roosevelt's executive order for the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1937, which provided for the expenditure of funds to help the unemployed.
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: Franklin Roosevelt: Executive Order 7086
Read the text of President Roosevelt's executive order that established the National Youth Adminstration as part of the Works Progress Administration. Its purpose was to help young people find jobs.
American Presidency Project
American Presidency Project: Franklin D. Roosevelt: Executive Order 7037
Read the text of the executive order of Franklin Roosevelt that established the Rural Electrification Administration in order to bring electricity to the many rural areas in the United States with no electricty.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: So You Want to Be President
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews the three branches of government and the qualifications to become President of the United States. Student assessment items are included.
C-SPAN
C Span Classroom: Teaching About Gridlock
Learning module and lesson plan with C-SPAN video resources and related articles for students to examine and deliberate on whether or not the President should exercise executive powers during times of Congressional gridlock.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Establishment of the Peace Corps.(1961)
Shows the original document of the executive order that President Kennedy signed establishing the Peace Corps in 1961. Gives background information and the complete easy to read text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Desegregation of the Armed Forces(1948)
Read a brief overview of the history behind this executive order that integrated the segregated military and then read a copy of the complete original text.
Other
Executive Order Authorizing Military Tribunals
Summary of President George W. Bush's Executive Order authorizing the creation of military tribunals for the detention and trial of those thought to be linked to terrorism against the United States. Other helpful resources are also...
CNN
Cnn: Obama Plans Executive Order to Close Guantanamo Bay
President Barack Obama will issue executive orders concerning the closure of the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. The banning of torture and a review of detention policies are included. (January 22, 2009)
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Undoing a President
A good description of the Watergate affair, what led up to it, who was involved, and why it was such a big deal.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: United States Constitution: Article Ii
Full text of Article II from the U.S. Constitution, as well as detailed annotations that explain the reasoning and subsequent impact of each clause and section of the Article. Content explores everything from the nature and scope of...