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Interactive
US National Archives

Benjamin Franklin: Politician and Diplomat

For Students 7th - 12th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Petition of Amelia Bloomer Regarding Suffrage

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
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Unit Plan
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Little House in Census: Almanzo and Laura Wilder

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Missouri Compromise (1820)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: The Monroe Doctrine (1823)

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Virginia Plan (1787)

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Northwest Ordinance (1787)

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about this document that charted a government for the Northwest Territory. View the complete text and images of the original document.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Voting Rights Act (1965)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Test Ban Treaty (1963)

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains all the text and images of the original document. Also includes a summary of the history behind the signing of this treaty.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Establishment of the Peace Corps.(1961)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Transcript of John Glenn's Official Communication

For Students 9th - 10th
The official transcription of John Glenn's in-flight communication with Mission Control during his orbit around the earth in 1962.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Desegregation of the Armed Forces(1948)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Website
US National Archives

Our Documents: Boulder Canyon Project Act (1928)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Website
US National Archives

Our Documents: Keating Owen Child Labor Act of (1916)

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the history behind the first child labor bill in 1916 and view the original document.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: National Industrial Recovery Act (1933)

For Students 9th - 10th
A site for reading all about the National Industrial Recovery Act and view the complete transcript of the original text.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Treaty of Fort Laramie(1868)

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Wade Davis Bill(1864)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: 100 Milestone Documents: Gibbons v. Ogden(1824)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Treaty of Ghent (1814)

For Students 9th - 10th
Access a full-page scan of a page from the 1814 Treaty of Ghent, a transcription, and background information on its significance.
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Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Pacific Railway Act (1862)

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: A Revolution, a Reaction and a Reform: National History Day

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Extending Suffrage to Women

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Lewis & Clark's Expedition to the Complex West

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...