Colonial Settlement1600s – 1763 The American Revolution 1763 – 83 The New Nation1783-1815 National Expansion & Reform1815-80 Civil War & Reconstruction1861-77 Rise of Industrial America1876-1900 Progressive Era to New Era1900-29 Great Depression & WW II1929-45 The Post War United States1945-68 Congressional Documents1774-1873 U.S. History by Time Period primary source sets
Educators, check out these resources and strategies to help you as you guide students through the development of their National History Day (NHD) projects. Overview 2024 Contest Theme: Turning Points in History Contest Categories Teaching Help Lesson Plans NHD 2024: Student Resources & Strategies NHD 2024: Topic Resources
In a Fox News interview with White House chief of staff John Kelly on Oct. 30, 2017, the former marine general said that “the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War”. Kelly’s statement set off a firestorm of impassioned responses across traditional and social media about the cause of the Civil War…
Congress.gov Constitution Annotated analysis & interpretation of the U.S. Constitution Our Constitution official podcast of the Constitution Annotated website The Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution event recording Library of Congress lesson plans & activities Encouraging Student Understanding of Negotiation and the Value of Notetaking during the 1787 Constitutional Convention American…
Today in History: Alexander Hamilton background information & select primary sources Alexander Hamilton Papers collection Alexander Hamilton primary source set & teacher’s guide Alexander Hamilton image set Alexander Hamilton items in the Creating the United States online exhibition Report of the Committee of Detail with annotations by Alexander Hamilton Report of the Committee of Style…
Today in History–June 18–the Library of Congress features the War of 1812. On this date in 1812 President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain. Reasons for the war included frustration with Britain’s maritime practices and their support of Native American resistance to western expansion as well as a desire to conquer Canada. The war lingered on…
Today in History–March 16–the Library of Congress features United States Military Academy at West Point, founded on this date in 1802. Located on the Hudson River north of New York City, West Point is one of the world’s oldest military service academies and was attended by many of the nation’s leading military commanders. The academy is well…
Today in History–April 29–the Library of Congress features Vassar College. College founder Matthew Vassar was born on this date in 1792. Vassar donated half of the fortune he made in the brewing business and 200 acres in Poughkeepsie, New York to establish a premier women’s college. The college was opened in 1861 and includes many alumnae of distinction….
From America’s Library: Born: July 11, 1767 Died: Feb. 23, 1848 John Quincy Adams was the sixth president of the United States and the first son of a former president who himself became president. (George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are the only other father-son presidents.) John Quincy Adams was well known for his diplomatic success…
From America’s Library: Born: October 30 (October 19, Old Style), 1735, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts Died: July 4, 1826, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts John Adams worked as a teacher and lawyer before dedicating himself to a life of patriotism and politics. He was America’s second president. Adams was well known for his extreme political independence,…
Today in History–November 27–the Library of Congress features statesman Robert R. Livingston, born on this day in 1746. Born into a prominent New York family, Livingston was a politically active lawyer. He was on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, helped draft New York’s first constitution, and served as minister to France at the…
Today in History–June 6–the Library of Congress features artist John Trumbull, born on this day in 1756 in Lebanon, Connecticut. Before he began painting, this son of Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull, served as an aide to General George Washington during the Revolution. Trumbull painted portraits of leading figures of the day and is best known for…