Curated OER
Social Studies: Indian Land Claims
Students examine the Maine Indian Land Claims Case and determine the equity of the settlement. In groups, they evaluate and defend various topics related to the case and complete worksheets clarifying their positions. After presenting...
Curated OER
The Great Migration: Two American Tales
Students compare and contrast experiences of European immigrants and African American migrants in U.S. cities. After examining the topic, they write essays evaluating the differences and similarities of the groups' experiences.
Curated OER
Petition Signed by Thomas A. Edison for Sunday Openings at the World's Columbian Exposition
Students research and discuss the features and controversies of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.
Curated OER
Make an Uncle Sam Folk Art Figure
Students create an Uncle Sam art figure. In this patriotic lesson, students use wood, paint, twigs, and glue to create a folk-art style figure of Uncle Sam.
Curated OER
Inquiry and the Nature of Science
Students identify questions that can be answered through scientific investigations, design and conduct a scientific investigation. They also use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, analyze, and interpret data.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: National Versus State Government Federalism
Gives the difference between the two different types of federalism in the United States government.
Other
Lacba: Dueling Federalisms
Article examining rulings by the Supreme Court and Chief William Rehnquist over the meaning of the Tenth Amendment. The author contends that Supreme Court decisions have favored states' rights over federal rights, and cites several cases...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Federal System
Outline of the principles embedded in a Federal System of government attempting to balance states' rights with the need for a central government.
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Federal v. Consolidated Government
This chapter introduction describes the historical context in which the issue of federalism was discussed by our nation's Founders. Discusses the Federalist and Anti-Federalist points-of-view.
University of Washington
University of Washington in Seattle: The Great Depression in Washington State
This website provides a large collection of resources, many of them primary resources, for studying about the impact of the Great Depression on Washington State.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: The Marshall Cases: Cohens v. Virginia
Read the text of the Supreme Court decision, Cohens v. Virginia, which was limited states' rights.
US Department of Justice
Introduction to Federal Voting Rights Laws
From the U.S. Justice Department, this is a history of voting rights laws in the United States, including a discussion of the Fifteenth Amendment.
Indiana University
Center on Congress: Learn About Congress
Learn about the role of the US Congress, how it works, its history, and the principles behind its creation and operation. Wonderful set of resources including FAQs, short articles and video clips, "interactive learning modules" (i.e., a...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Constitution of the United States of America (1787)
The Constitution was written in the summer of 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by delegates from 12 states, in order to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new form of government. It created a federal system with a national...
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
This site describes the jurisdiction of the Federal Court system. The site breaks the court's jurisdiction into three main areas of institutional conflict: Federal Restraint of State Courts by Injunctions, Habeas Corpus: Scope of the...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Rights of States
Check out this interactive timeline of the history of rights of states in the United States.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Nullification Crisis
This resource explains the conflict between Jackson and the state of South Carolina over the state's right to nullify federal tariffs. This conflict almost brought armed conflict between the federal government and the state.
Digital History
Digital History: Nullification
As with most other debates leading up to the Civil War, the debate about states' rights in reference to nullifying federal laws, ostensibly about tariffs, was really about the future of slavery in the South. Read about the issues of...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Right to Trial by Jury in Federal Civil Cases
Check out this interactive timeline of the history of right to trial by jury in federal civil cases in the United States.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Federal Judiciary
Check out this interactive timeline on the federal judiciary in the United States.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: The Lowdown: Gun Violence, Gun Control, Gun Rights: Where We Go From Here Lesson Plan
While tragic mass shootings like the ones in Las Vegas and Orlando shine a spotlight on our nation's lax gun laws, these horrific events make up a tiny percentage of U.S. gun deaths. Suicide, other types of homicide and accidents play a...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Classroom: Right to a Speedy and Public Trial
Check out this interactive timeline of the right to a speedy and public trial in the United States.
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Social Darwinism and American Laissez Faire Capitalism
Activity-based resource in which students apply Constitutional ideas to evaluate the Federal State Tax Law as they make a case for or against abolishing the tax. Site contains comprehensive resources on the topic.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Cultural Heritage at Risk: United States
Over 90% of known Native American archaeological sites have already been destroyed or negatively affected by looters, and this process is ongoing. Further work is critical to prevent any more irreparable damage to our past. This article...