Curated OER
VA Statute for Religious Freedom, I. Semantic Map
Pupils analyze the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedoms and consider its implications. In this document analysis instructional activity, students explore primary and secondary sources regarding the document and create a...
Curated OER
VA Statute for Religious Freedom, III
Students analyze the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedoms and consider its implications. In this governing principles lesson plan, students explore primary and secondary sources regarding the document penned by Thomas Jefferson.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
The Articles of Confederation
Have you ever started a project only to realize you need to scrap it and start over? Scholars analyze the issues leading to the fall of the Articles of Confederation. A group investigation into Articles II, III, and VIII unveil the...
Curated OER
VA Statute for Religious Freedom, II. Matching Activity
Students read and analyze primary source documents. In this matching lesson, students read sections of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. Students match the document sections with paraphrased sections and discuss the accuracy of...
Curated OER
Whose God?
High schoolers investigate religious freedom in the U.S. They watch and discuss a Bill Moyers NOW video, take a Freedom of Religion quiz, write an essay, and participate in a mock trial and debate.
Mr. Nussbaum
Thomas Jefferson Reading Comprehension
Discover a little bit about Thomas Jefferson in a brief reading passage. Learners then answer a set of multiple choice comprehension questions.
Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Founding Documents
Teach the class about the predecessor to Declaration of Independence—the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Using the foundational documents, scholars examine the two writings to consider how they are similar and how they are different. A...
Curated OER
The Beginnings of Constitutional Government
Students examine excerpts of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. In this early American history instructional activity, students read Paine's pamphlet and analyze the information according the rubric provided.
Curated OER
VS.6b
Sixth graders explore, analyze and identify the ideas of George Mason and Thomas Jefferson as expressed in the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom. They list and declare the responses stated in...
Curated OER
The Mayflower Compact
Eighth graders investigate historical documents of the United States by reading the Mayflower Compact. In this U.S. History lesson, 8th graders analyze the wording of the original Mayflower Compact of the first U.S. settlers and...
Curated OER
Jefferson's Blood
Students view the video "Jefferson's Blood" and complete a series of activities, dealing with both Thomas Jefferson's public and private life, in order to better explain Jefferson as a man and politician.
Curated OER
Thomas Jefferson
Students explore the accomplishments of world leaders. For this Thomas Jefferson lesson, students list the accomplishments achieved by Jefferson and read his epitaph. Students then write epitaphs for recent world leaders or celebrities.
Curated OER
Thomas Jefferson
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about the accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson . Students may check some of their answers on the interactive...
Curated OER
Nickel Knowledge
Learners report facts found on Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of American Independence. Students find the original words on the epitaph that Thomas Jefferson wrote for placement on his grave upon the time of his death. Learners...
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
I Citizen Forum: Living Documents: Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Complete text, in multiple languge formats, of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Colonial Religion
The site provides a detailed overview of role religion played in the lives of the colonists. Content explores how religion played a part in the Revolution, and the statute for religious freedom, as well as providing a lesson plan, a link...
Digital History
Digital History: Religious Freedom and the Founders
Read the background for the Founding Fathers' support of freedom of religion and separation of church and state. Included are parts of letters in which George Washington and Thomas Jefferson celebrate the fact that the United States was...
PBS
Now With Bill Moyers: Whose God? (Lesson Plan in Religious Pluralism)
A lesson in analyzing historical documents on religious freedom and in assessing the historic impact of diverse religious groups on the United States. Students examine current separation-of-church-and-state issues and decide if diverse...
Bill of Rights Institute
Bill of Rights Institute: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson hoped that he would be remembered for three accomplishments: his founding of the University of Virginia, his crafting of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and his authorship of the Declaration of Independence....
Boston College
Boston College: Joseph Burstyn, Inc. V. Wilson (1952)
Full-text edition of the entire decision in the Joseph Burstyn, Inc. v. Wilson case.
Cengage Learning
Houghton Mifflin: Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826)
Houghton Mifflin provides biographical information regarding Thomas Jefferson, including his involvement in the Declaration of Independence, the presidency, and much more.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Religion and Revolution
This essay discusses colonists who questioned the "Anglican establishment." It then explains how religion was used to convince colonists to support the war.
Thomson Reuters
Find Law: u.s. Supreme Court: Joseph Burstyn, Inc. V. Wilson (1952)
This resource provides information about the Joseph Burstyn v. Wilson Supreme Court case.