Updated - January 11, 2002
Key documents and collections of original text documents - tracts, diaries, speeches, declarations - arranged chronologically. These collections differ in focus and depth.
- Key Documents
- The Virginia Declaration of Rights
- The Declaration of Independence
- The U.S. Constitution - (from the National Archives)
- The Bill of Rights - Amendments 1-10
- Other Constitutional Amendments (11-27)
- The Gettysburg Address
- "I have a dream..." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Statistical Abstract of the United States
Douglass - A collection of important American speeches and related materials developed at Northwestern University
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 - from the CivicsNet site.
Document Collections
AMDOCS - Grades 6-12 - Created at the University of Kansas, this collection of primary sources offers coverage from the 15th century through the present, making it useful for both early and contemporary history. Many of the documents are on third-party sites, so expect some level of change over time.
American Originals - Grades 4-12 - The National Archives created this unit to showcase a handful of very important, but little known documents that played key roles in the development and evolution of American democracy. The site includes images of the documents, plain text versions for those unable to decipher 18th century handwriting, and explanations of the significance of each. Great site for hands on history activities.
The Avalon Project - Grades 6-12 - Developed by the Law School at Yale University, the Avalon Project is a compilation of primary source documents of American History from the 15th century onward. The resources are available by time period, and there is also a search feature. Users searching for a more linear presentation may want to use the Project's American History Timeline. The collection is a great research for research projects or any study of American history.
Colonial Charters - Grades 6-12 - This collection from the Avalon Project at Yale University offers a collection of primary documents dealing with all the American colonies except Virginia and Vermont. The page includes a search engine as well as links to specific documents. Good resource for exploring the various motives in colonizing the new world.
Core Documents from the U.S. Government Printing Office - Key historical documents, along with Congressional Record, listings of bills, and other current information.
History Matters - Grades 9-12 - George Mason University has created what is almost a "one stop shopping" site for American History. This is a rich resource of primary source materials, introductions to historical analysis, factual material, and much more. The site concentrates on both historical content and the craft of teaching history. This makes it an ideal starting point for social studies or history teachers interested in a fresh approach to their curriculum.
The Historic New York Times - Grades 4-12 - The Times has begun digitizing stories from some of its most famous editions, so that students can see what the actual newspaper for the date looked like. There's a lot of information from the Civil War era, and other topics are also available. Here's a great on-line resource to introduce students to use of contemporaneous sources in examining history.
National Archives: The Digital Classroom - Grades 4-8 is meant to assist teachers in their use of archival documents when teaching. Choose "Primary Sources and Activities" for reproducible primary documents, photographs, and lesson plans correlated to the National History Standards, and cross-curricular connections. The site includes interesting activities for use in studying events in U.S. History.
Historic Documents of the United States of America - Grades 5 and up - A simple, complete documents collection.
U. S. Historical Documents - Grades 7 and up - A more extensive collection, helpfully organized. From the University of Oklahoma.
- Supreme Court Decisions - Grades 9-12 - Searchable database of decisions from 1937-1975.
The Papers of George Washington - Grades 8-12, AP includes letters written both to and from George Washington. Important papers and letters are singled out, as well as an entire section of selected Revolutionary War documents. This site would be of value to students serious about completing in depth research on the man or his major historical events in his life.
US
History: Historical Chronology
U.S. History: American Themes
U.S. History Lessons
TeachersFirst Home Page
Copyright
© 2001 by the Network for Instructional TV, Inc.
All rights reserved.
