Library of Congress
Loc: The New Nation, 1783 1815
The links in the New Nation, which is provided for by the Library of Congress, will lead you to sets of selected primary sources on a variety of topics,such as the Constitution, governmental policy on Native Americans, and problems and...
Other
Object of History: Jefferson Desk (Desk on Which the Declaration Was Drafted)
Provides information on the desk that Thomas Jefferson used to draft the Declaration of Independence.
Quia
Quia: Key Events of the Revolutionary War
Put the Revolutionary war events in sequential order in this interactive activity.
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: Symbols of u.s. Govt.: The Liberty Bell (K 2)
Did you ever wonder why a large bell, known as The Liberty Bell, is so important in U.S. history? Use this site to learn about this great symbol of our country.
Digital History
Digital History: The Battle of Lexington [Pdf]
Primary sources make for good reading. Here find accounts by the colonial militia commander, the British commander, and accounts by soldiers themselves that tell of their impressions of what happened at the Battle of Lexington. [PDF]
Digital History
Digital History: The Road to Revolution
A time line and explanation of the many events, including the colonists' interpretations of those events, that led to the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Signers of the Declaration: John Adams
This site provides an interactive biography of former President John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Other
Object of History: Other Authors of the Declaration of Independence
View a photo of the committee that discussed the important points to be covered in the Declaration of Independence.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Boston Patriots
Read about five famous Boston patriots who played a large role in the events prior to the American Revolution and the Revolution itself.
Other
Karpeles Manuscript Library: The Olive Branch Petition
Gives analysis of the Olive Branch Petition and interactive views of each page of the document. Take a look at the original petition and learn about what it was for.
Digital History
Digital History: The Age of Constitution Writing [Pdf]
See how colonial and state constitutions differed and how the idea of a social contract between a government and its citizens is reflected in the state constitutions. The second half of this site gives an abbreviated text of the Articles...
Digital History
Digital History: The Revolution Begins
Perhaps if King George III had been attentive to the colonists' pleas, things would have turned out differently. Read about the siege of Boston by the British troops, and the "shot heard around the world."
US Government Publishing Office
Ben's Guide to u.s. Government: The Declaration of Independence
Overview of the men primarily responsible for writing and revising the Declaration of Independence. Includes links to the signers of the document, an image of the Declaration, and information on the drafting of the document.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Intolerable Acts
Find the response by the British Parliament to the dumping of tea into Boston Harbor. So many laws were enacted that the colonists lumped them together and called them the Intolerable Acts.
Other
The Architect of the Capitol: Roger Sherman
This resource from the Architect of the Capitol is a government site that focuses on art and architecture in the U.S. Capitol. Features a picture of a marble statue of Sherman.
Library of Congress
Loc: Constitution Day Resources
A selection of online resources from THOMAS that have to do with the US Constitution.
US Government Publishing Office
U.s. Government Publishing Office: Core Documents of u.s.democracy
Direct online access to the basic Federal Government documents that define our democratic society, a core group of current and historical Government publications.
Huntington Library
Huntington Library: A Nation Conceived in Liberty [Pdf]
In this instructional activity, 11th graders examine the events and political philosophy that laid the foundations of the American government, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They also look at what role religion played in...
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Causes/necessity of Arms
The complete text of the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, ratified July 6,1775.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Treasures: Washington Records the British Surrender at Yorktown
See a copy of George Washington's diary, written in his own hand, which describes the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. From a collection in the Library of Congress.
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: Second Continental Congress, 1775
A map of the thirteen colonies during the Second Continental Congress held in Philadelphia in 1775, showing the number of delegates from each of the colonies.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: First Continental Congress, 1774
A map of the British Colonies showing the colonies participating in the First Continental Congress of 1774 held in Philadelphia. The map shows the number of delegates from each of the twelve colonies that participated (the Province of...
New York Times
New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: The Declaration of Independence
The New York Times Learning Network presents an interactive and printable crossword puzzle on The Declaration of Independence.
Library of Congress
Loc: Incorporating the Western Territory
A discussion of the process the congress went through in determining what would happen to the territory west of the original thirteen states. Read the final provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.