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…
Access this newspaper page online and zoom into the cartoon, what inventions are referenced in the comic? Now read the article. Are the same inventions referenced in the text? What other inventions does the article discuss? List the inventions discussed in the article that are a reality today. Compare and contrast one of the predicted inventions…
Today in History–May 8–the Library of Congress features the soft drink Coca-cola, first sold on this day in 1886 at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. This carbonated beverage soon became a favorite in the United States; the company sales were around 100 million by the late 1890s. Learn more about the history of this iconic soda by visiting…
The image caption says there is “a group of children and a woman”. Which is the woman? How do you know? One child in this image is different than the rest. What is different about this child? Use Google Maps or Google Earth to find the location of the Tilden School. Describe what you find…
Using only specific details from this primary source, what type of person is an anarchist? Use the Primary Source Nexus search bar to find out more about the Chicago anarchists. Describe three things you learned and two things you would like to learn more about. There is a post on the Primary Source Nexus that features…
Today in History–November 27–the Library of Congress features the trial of newspaper man, John Peter Zenger. The trial judge, James Delancey, was born on this day in 1703. In the 1730s Zenger published articles in the New York Weekly Journal exposing the political machinations of Governor William Cosby who, in turn, charged Zenger with seditious libel. Zenger’s lawyer, Andrew Hamilton,…
Today in History–November 7–the Library of Congress features Elijah Lovejoy, who was killed by a pro-slavery mob on this day in 1837. As editor of The St. Louis Observer–a newspaper started to promote religious and moral education–wrote editorials supporting emancipation. Learn more about the life and death of this champion of freedom by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links…
Today in History–November 5–the Library of Congress features James K. Polk, elected president of the United States on this day in 1844. Not so well known, Polk’s victory by a narrow margin over Whig candidate Henry Clay was a surprise. A proponent of western expansion, Polk oversaw the addition of Texas and the acquisition of territory…
Overview Students naturally look for connections between themselves and what they are learning. This project connects students to historical events that happened on their birthdays, helping them to recognize that each person is part of and contributes to the ongoing American memory. To complete this project, students will . . . discover different types of…
Today in History–September 12–the Library of Congress features writer H.L. Mencken, born on this day in 1880. Mencken was best known for his biting social commentary; scholarly understanding of American usage of the English language; and support of emerging writers, including Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, Sherwood Anderson, and James Joyce. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more…
Political cartoons, many of which contain both an image and text, are great primary sources to use with students to help them recognize and understand symbolism, perspective, and bias as well as put people, events, issues, and ideas into historical context. The analysis of political cartoons, like other primary source images, Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS). They…