Did you know that the president of the Confederacy during the United States Civil War did not originally advocate for secession from the Union? Discover more interesting facts about the first and only Confederate president with this...

Students study the events in American history that affected the US Capitol Building. They name activities that happen in and around the Capitol by looking at primary source documents that are available online.

After the passage of the United States Constitution, the founding fathers faced a difficult question: What kind of country should we be? How democratic should we be, and much free speech should we have? Discover the different visions...

Middle schoolers gain understanding of economic history of United States in twentieth century by examining role of Department of Commerce. Student groups each analyze one quarter of twentieth century by researching role of Department of...

Fourth graders research the 50 U.S. states and create a HyperStudio Stack. In this United States geography lesson, 4th graders research the states and work on their family stack. Students construct their stacks using HyperStudio.

Prepare even our youngest citizens to participate in the democratic process with this powerful packet of materials. Kids consider what it means to be a good citizen, examine voter qualifications, investigate initiatives and referenda,...

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments are outlined in this PowerPoint. Each amendment is noted on its own slide, with a summary of its purpose and important sections of the actual document. Tip: Have students choose an amendment and write...

Students explore how Madeleine Albright made history by becoming the first female American secretary of state. This tough, talented and determined woman has had an unusual life that has well prepared her for her job.

Young scholars research the political aspects of the U.S. position in the Middle East, considering, for example, Truman's position in view of the 1948 presidential election. They examine a telegram sent by the Secretary of State, George...

Young scholars role-play as members of the United Nations and debate the formation of a Jewish state. They create national flags, research their nation's stance, create proposals, and form voting blocks. Students hold a two-day meeting...

In this Elaine L. Chao activity, students read a 1-page selection about the former Secretary of Labor and then respond to 12 short answer questions based on the selection.

High schoolers observe the procedures of the Michigan Supreme Court. They identify the processes and procedures being used. They debate a case that was presented to the Court and analyze the oral arguments of the case.

Students work together in groups to discover the situation in Sudan. They discuss what problems arise from helping a foreign country. They answer questions and watch a video as well.

Looking for a quick assessment to give to your class about the branches of government in the United States? This is a multiple choice activity that could be used as a quiz. There are 9 questions, some of which are a bit dated and should...

Students identify government officials and resources on a local, state and national level. They determine the structure of local, state, and national governments.

Why do people vote? Have you ever voted before? Get your English language learners interested in the history of voting and how it is used in the United States. A vocabulary list is provided along with several resource and video links....

Reinforce reading comprehension skills and learn about the ways Michelle Kwan represents the United States with a response to reading worksheet. Following a brief informational text, scholars show what they know through a series of five...

Get the class rolling with two short videos designed to launch research into and discussion of the role of the President's Cabinet. The first clip focusses on George Washington's vision for the Cabinet while the second looks at how the...

Twelfth graders study the California Constitution.  In this American History lesson, 12th graders analyze primary and secondary sources.  Students read and comprehend sections of a novel. 

Introducing one of the "darker periods" of both Chilean and U.S. history, the narrator details the 1973 Allende Coup in Chile. The attempted kidnapping/assassination of Rene Schneider is addressed, as is the degree of involvement of the...

Invite your learners to take a look at life during the term of United States president George Washington through analysis of an interesting primary source. The document summarizes American manufacturing capacities, as detailed by the...

Tenth graders, after reading two excerpts about contemporary child labor situations, discuss two broad questions in detail along with the industrial boom following the Civil War conditions in the United States. They investigate how the...

For history teachers, history buffs, or the would-be politicians in your class, this app offers up an insider's perspective on the day-to-day discussions that take place on the floor of the United States House of Representatives and...

How significant was the Cold War during the 20th century? After reading and analyzing speeches by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, learners consider the historical context of foreign policy decisions made during the Cold War by both...