Guided Primary Source Analysis: Eagle map of the United States

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Eagle map of the United States

Zoom into this map (online | .pdf). How many states do you see? Describe the differences between this 1833 map and a current map of the United States. What impression of the United States do you get from this map? Explain your reaction. Then use details from the source to explain what might have been the…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Republics of the Soviet Union

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Republics of the Soviet Union

How many Soviet republics are shown on this map? Which three were not recognized by the U.S. government? Use the Library’s online zoom feature to compare and contrast this 1991 U.S. CIA map of the Soviet Republics to a 2009 U.S. CIA map of Russian administrative divisions. What major differences do you notice? How are republics referred to…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Condition of the Descendants of Former African Slaves

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Condition of the Descendants of Former African Slaves

Why is the information provided in both English and French? The pie graph gives statistics for which group of people? Use the information provided in this text as well as the bibliographic record to determine one or more purposes of this text. What other observations, reflections or questions does this source inspire? Let us know!…

Featured Source: The Gerry-mander

Featured Source: The Gerry-mander

Curator’s note In 1812, Jeffersonian Republicans forced through the Massachusetts legislature a bill rearranging district lines to assure them an advantage in the upcoming senatorial elections. Although Governor Elbridge Gerry had only reluctantly signed the law, a Federalist editor is said to have exclaimed upon seeing the new district lines, “Salamander! Call it a Gerrymander.”…

Primary Source Learning: The Places You’ll Go with Maps

Primary Source Learning: The Places You’ll Go with Maps

The Library of Congress has custody of the largest and most comprehensive cartographic collection in the world and there are so many places you can visit with the Library of Congress’ fabulous digitized map collections. Take a look at the wide variety of maps you can explore in incredible detail and discover engaging primary source…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Nicknames of the States

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Nicknames of the States

Which states/territories were not given nicknames? How many states are represented on this? Are there any U.S. states not found on this map? How much would it have cost for you to buy this map in 1884? Why is there an image of one or more pigs on every state? Use these state primary source collections to find out more about one…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: European Immigration

Guided Primary Source Analysis: European Immigration

According to the map, to which country in Europe are most legal immigrants going? From which countries are they coming? How do you know? What three steps were many West European countries taking in response to rising immigration numbers in 1992? What can you find out about current immigration to West European countries? What other observations,…

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Robertson’s Geographic-Historical Series

Guided Primary Source Analysis: Robertson’s Geographic-Historical Series

Who do you think is pictured on the cover of this atlas? Why do you think that? How many years does this atlas cover? Review the list of pages below and choose one title to investigate further. Click the image above to access the digital pages. What did you discover about the topic and time…

Today in History: Saint-Mihiel Offensive

Today in History: Saint-Mihiel Offensive

Today in History–September 12–the Library of Congress features the Saint-Mihiel offensive, launched in France on this day in 1918. The offensive liberated a strategic area that Germany had held for four years. Just two months later, World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to…