US National Archives
Benjamin Franklin: Politician and Diplomat
A scientist, inventor, entrepreneur, politician, and the founder of a nation—and that's just one person! Learners investigate the many lives of Benjamin Franklin. Using a hands-on interactive online resource, they analyze primary...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Petition of Amelia Bloomer Regarding Suffrage
Amelia Bloomer was a prominent advocate of women's rights in the 19th century. She invented bloomers to replace the skirt hoop, in an effort to free women from much of their cumbersome apparel. She later used her newspaper, The Lily, to...
US National Archives
Nara: Teaching With Documents: Little House in Census: Almanzo and Laura Wilder
Data from the 1880 and the 1900 Censuses, and how these relate to the lives of Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder, are presented here. There are also ideas for teaching using primary sources.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Missouri Compromise (1820)
Read an original transcript, and view an image of a report on the Missouri Compromise of 1820. This legislation admitted Missouri and Maine as states into the Union.
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Monroe Doctrine (1823)
The Monroe Doctrine has been used in the past 180 years to let the United States' stance on European involvement in the Western Hemisphere be known. On this interesting site you can view an interactive copy of the original pages of the...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Virginia Plan (1787)
Read the complete text of the Virginia Plan that proposed a strong central government consisting of three branches. You can also view images of the original drafts.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Learn about this document that charted a government for the Northwest Territory. View the complete text and images of the original document.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Voting Rights Act (1965)
Included at this site is the complete text and images of the original document of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law outlawed the discriminatory voting practices that African Americans had endured.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)
Offers a summary of this resolution which supported President Johnson's actions in Vietnam and also provides an easy to read version of the complete text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Test Ban Treaty (1963)
Contains all the text and images of the original document. Also includes a summary of the history behind the signing of this treaty.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Establishment of the Peace Corps.(1961)
Shows the original document of the executive order that President Kennedy signed establishing the Peace Corps in 1961. Gives background information and the complete easy to read text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Transcript of John Glenn's Official Communication
The official transcription of John Glenn's in-flight communication with Mission Control during his orbit around the earth in 1962.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Desegregation of the Armed Forces(1948)
Read a brief overview of the history behind this executive order that integrated the segregated military and then read a copy of the complete original text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Boulder Canyon Project Act (1928)
Informative site that tells about the act that authorized the building of the Hoover Dam. Read the complete text of the Boulder Canyon Project here.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Keating Owen Child Labor Act of (1916)
Read the history behind the first child labor bill in 1916 and view the original document.
US National Archives
Our Documents: National Industrial Recovery Act (1933)
A site for reading all about the National Industrial Recovery Act and view the complete transcript of the original text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Treaty of Fort Laramie(1868)
Read and view a copy of the complete text of the treaty of Fort Laramie which recognized the Black Hills as part of the Sioux Reservation. Accompanying documentary explains how the treaty was broken as a result of the discovery of gold...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Wade Davis Bill(1864)
On this site you can view an original copy of the document and and also an easy to read version of the complete text. There is also a brief summary of the history behind the bill.
US National Archives
Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents: Gibbons v. Ogden(1824)
Use this site to learn all about this Supreme Court decision that dealt with interstate commerce. View an image of the original document and read the complete text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Treaty of Ghent (1814)
Access a full-page scan of a page from the 1814 Treaty of Ghent, a transcription, and background information on its significance.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Pacific Railway Act (1862)
Contains images of the original document and a transcript of the complete text of the Pacific Railway Act of 1862 in an easy to read format. Also contains a brief overview on the background behind this act.
US National Archives
Docsteach: A Revolution, a Reaction and a Reform: National History Day
Students will analyze primary source documents related to the National History Day (NHD) theme for 2011-12: Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History, determine how the documents are connected to the theme, and evaluate the effectiveness...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Extending Suffrage to Women
In this activity, students will analyze documents pertaining to the women's suffrage movement as it intensified following passage of the 15th Amendment that guaranteed the right to vote for African American males. Documents were chosen...
US National Archives
Docsteach: Lewis & Clark's Expedition to the Complex West
This activity can be used as an introduction or for a closer study of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Students will learn that the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803 and President Thomas Jefferson sent Lewis and...