This article provides extensive excerpts from "The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass." This is a lot of information about the great abolitionist and orator written by himself.

The original text of British Prime Minister William Pitt's actual speech to Parliament describing his disapproval of the Stamp Act and why he felt it should be repealed.

Here one finds President Johnson's address to the nation in which he lays out his legislative priorities and his assessment of foreign affairs the early part of his administration.

Gives a historical description of the events that led up to the Boston Tea Party (1773).

Read an in-depth biography on former Chief Justice, John Marshall. Topics in the biography include his early life, his life during the Revolutionary War, and his term as Chief Justice. Also includes information about major cases in which Marshal was involved during his career.

The text of a 1649 colonial act concerning religion in Maryland. Describes punishment of any who reject Christian teaching.

This last section of an extensive essay about the railroad in United States history discusses the role of the railroad in the 20th century.

The full text of the State of the Union Address which was delivered in 1981 by former President Jimmy Carter .

Text of James Madison's "Proposed Amendments to the Constitution," June 8, 1789. Madison states his reasons for the amendments in view of the anti-federalist feelings in many of the colonies. The proposal explains in Madison's own words the reasons for the widespread disapproval, especially the idea of a strong system of federalism. Madison does not propose to change the Constitution, but to amend it with the Bill of Rights.

An extensive history of the League of Nations which gives details on the many drafts that were put forward before it was formed, the founding countries and their different perspectives and problems which occurred later.

This lesson focuses on the shift toward mass production in northern factories and on southern plantations that occurred during the first half of the 19th century. Using an economics-focused approach to examining U.S. history prior to the civil war, students examine the role of slavery, industrialization, regionalism, and political responses that ultimately led to the start of a war.

This lesson covers two essential aspects of Reconstruction: the condition of the southern states at the close of the war and Lincoln's plan for restoring them to the Union. In examining the conditions of the southern states, students consider both the physical conditions (i.e., the impact of the devastation of war) and the political condition of these states (i.e., what was the proper relationship between southern states and the Union upon their surrender at Appomattox?)

In this lesson, students examine the development of new constitutions in the reconstructed South. They also consider the political and social realities created by a dramatically changed electorate. In gaining a firmer grasp of the causes for the shifting alliances of this time, students see how far-reaching the consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction era were and how much these events continue to shape our collective destiny today.

Interresting site from the University of Groningen explaining the incredible impact of machines and technology on developing resources and improving agriculture.

Text of landmark Supreme Court cases presided over by Chief Justice John Marshall, that decided questions of how to interpret the U.S. Constitution. The cases took place between 1801 and 1825.

What are the "big questions" of Reconstruction? Article provides an overview of the Reconstruction period when Americans debated rights and the nature of freedom and equality. It focuses on who was an American and how citizenship should be defined.

This activity features differentiation and scaffolding to help students understand the new social freedoms and new threats to the families of freedmen during Reconstruction. Students work in heterogeneous skill-level groups to analyze several primary sources and prepare to write a paragraph about freedmen's new social freedoms. The activity in the lesson is framed for several consecutive 45-minute lessons, but could be adapted to meet the teacher's needs. The activity features documents from HERB that have been edited for different skill levels; the edited documents are including in the attached PDF "New Liberties and New Threats Worksheet." New York City high school teachers Arthur Everett and Samantha Schoeller created this activity.

Background information about the literature of the Colonial period in American history. Discussions of capitalism, Puritan theology, and stewardship as found in the thought and literature of the period.

Continual news updates concerning the situation in Iraq. Side menu bar includes these topics: reconstruction, remnants of Saddam's regime, key players, key maps, and information for students and teachers. (Updated to 28 December 2010)