Resources for parents, teachers, and Students
Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a student or just a curious American, it is important that each of us has an understanding of our country’s history, the principles that impelled our Founders to fight a war to achieve independence from Great Britain, and the philosophy underlying the constitutional form of government created by the Constitution.
Fortunately, due to modern technology, vast amounts of information from our past, including the original letters, diaries, meeting notes, pamphlets and other writings, are available to us to read in the comfort of our homes on a computer and at no cost. It also means that, as citizens, we have no excuse to be ignorant of the knowledge required to sustain our government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Thomas Jefferson warned that “if a nation expects to be ignorant and free…it expects what never was and never will be.”
The links below will take you to only a small fraction of what is available online to learn about our history, often from different points of view, but learning a little every day, teaching your children, and encouraging your friends will make you a more effective citizen as we continue on our shared journey to “a more perfect union”.
Education
The American Founding
American Battlefield Trust
American Revolution Facts
American Battlefield Trust
Timeline of the American Revolution
American revolution museum
Timeline of the American Revolution
American Battlefield Trust
Revolutionary War Biographies
American Battlefield Trust
Women in the American Revolution
American revolution museum
Roles of Native Americans During the Revolution
American Battlefield Trust
Winter at Valley Forge
American Battlefield Trust
The Case for Independence
The American Founding
Fascinating Facts About the Declaration of Independence
American Battlefield Trust
The Continental Congress
One of nearly 150 four-minute videos covering all aspects of the Revolutionary War and the Founding.
This is the story of the American Founding as it unfolded in four chapters. Each chapter is made up of a section of narrative commentary, original documents, and additional resources. 1. The Case For Independence 2. Constitutional Convention 3. Debate and Ratification 4. Bill of Rights
The First Continental Congress
Act 1: Introduction
The Second Continental Congress
Act II : Introduction
The Declaration of Independence
Act III : Introduction
The Colonial and Revolutionary War Period
Early America Videos
Short (2-3 minutes) on a wide range of topics from life in early America (including clothing and dugout canoes) to stories of women, slave spies and Native Americans
The Revolutionary War – Study With Primary Sources
A range of Revolutionary War topics, including the Iroquois Council, Quakers, starving soldiers and a struggling farm wife.
A Revolutionary Time Capsule
The Samuel Adams and Paul Revere Time Capsule, also known as The Massachusetts State House Time Capsule is a time capsule located in a cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House. It is widely believed to have been buried in 1795 by then-Governor Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. It is the oldest known time capsule in the United States
Timeline of American History
Revolutionary War Guide and Lessons
History Source
The Massachusetts Historical Society makes available lessons about the Revolutionary Period, including stories about Abigail Adams, the opium trade, emancipation in the 18th century and more.
Fascinating Facts About the Articles of Confederation
The Storm Before the Constitution
Biographies
Founding Fathers and Mothers
Constitution Facts
Fascinating Facts About the Founding Fathers
Constitution Facts
The Founders’ Library
YouTube
George Washington: Commander-in-Chief
Mount Vernon
The Papers of George Washington
Constitution Source
Alexander Hamilton – Primary Sources
Massachusetts History
Adams Family Papers
Yale
Benjamin Franklin
Massachusetts History
Thomas Jefferson Papers
Monticello
Thomas Jefferson
Monticello
Thomas Jefferson Lesson Plans
Monticello
Jefferson Documents & Quotes
Montpelier
James Madison, Father of the Constitution
The Constitution
Introduction to the Constitutional Convention
The American Founding – A Project of the Ashbrook Center
Teaching American History .org
Lesson Plans – The Constitution
Built on an archive of more than 70,000 primary source documents from the Founding era, CSAC has created lesson plans to facilitate the use of these documents in classrooms. These lesson plans are suggestions. Some modification may be necessary based on grade level and classroom considerations.
Magna Carta and the Constitution
The Constitution and Executive Power
Constitutional Change: Articles V and VII
State by State Ratification of the Constitution
General Ratification Chronology
Foundations of Democracy
This links you to hundreds of online activities, exhibits, lessons and articles
related to the foundations and practice of democracy
Which Founder Are You?
Access to more lesson plans, modules and activities focused on the Constitution
and those drafted it.
The Constitutional Convention: Act I, The Alternative Plans
The Constitutional Convention: Act II, The Connecticut Compromise
The Constitutional Convention: Act III, The Committee of Detail Report
The Constitutional Convention: Act III, The Committee of Detail Report
Introduction to Out-of-Doors Debate on the Constitution
Contributions of the Anti-Federalists
Timeline of the Essential Antifederalists
Introduction to the Federalist Papers
The Constitutional Debate
Fascinating Facts About the Constitution
90-Day Studies Online
More than 1,300 essays constitute an online 90-Day Studies series and multiple topics such as The Federalist Papers; The Constitution; The Amendments; The Classics That Inspired the Constitution; Presidential Elections in History; The Executive Branch; The Congress; The Supreme Court, and much more!
Bill of Rights
The Beginning of the Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights: A Story in Documents
Debates in the First Congress:
Madison’s Proposals
The House Select Committee Report
Custom Ready Educational Resources
Preserving the Bill of Rights
Twenty lessons about the Bill of Rights using primary sources and Supreme Court decisions, including the history and principles underlying each of the first ten amendments.
Expanding Freedom
Slavery and the Constitution – Source Documents
The Emancipation Proclamation
1776 Unites
1776 Unites curricula are designed for all grade levels and are available upon
registration. New high school and K-8 lessons are added regularly! Free
downloadable curriculum includes stories of Black achievement through history.
History of the Constitution and our Government
Marbury v. Madison and Interpreting the Constitution
Includes lesson plans and curriculum support
Historical timeline of the supreme court
PARENT – TEACHER RESOURCES
Founders Online
Lesson Plans From Historic Letters
America, the Creeks, and Other Southeastern Tribes
What challenges faced the United States in 1789 as it sought to negotiate with the Creeks and other Native American nations of the Southeast?
After Shays’ Rebellion
Abigail Adams and “Remember the Ladies”
Benjamin Franklin’s Satire of Witch Hunting
White House Historical Association
Consource
Center for Civic Education – We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Comprehensive curriculum for elementary, middle and high school students covering the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United
States.
Mount Vernon Education Resources
Mount Vernon Lesson Plans
Center for Civic Education – Civil Discourse: An American Legacy Toolkit
Promoting civil discourse, the toolkit engages students with differing perspectives, democratic values and our shared history. It contains lesson plans, excerpts from key primary documents, worksheets and tips for using the toolkit with adult learners.
American Revolutionary Museum – Teacher and Educator Resource Guides
Online resources “Witness to Revolution,” “Scene of Independence” and
“Hamilton Was Here” are three comprehensive teaching guides for educators and teachers
C-SPAN classroom
Provides teachers with structured lesson plans that examine a variety of topics and supplemented with video clips of related C-SPAN programming. Lessons are separated into categories commonly studied in social studies curricula and contain an overview, vocabulary words, suggested procedures and activities, as well as potential follow up assignments to reinforce students’ learning.
Teaching Civics
Here you will find dozens of lessons for civics, government, and law-related
education available for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms or at
home. They include simulations, discussions, mock trials, case studies and other
research-based materials.
National Conference of State Legislatures
Civics Education Materials for elementary and secondary school levels as well as adults
Civics for Life
Fundamentals of American Democracy
Twelve micro-lessons on our founding principles
Lessons on the Revolution, the Declaration and the Constitution
Find Your Senator or Congressional Representative
Join the Signers of America’s Founding Documents
Be Part of the Celebration
We encourage organizations, businesses, families, and individuals to join us in this historic celebration.
Together, we can honor our past, understand our present, and shape our future
Your financial support will enable us to develop and host educational programs, community events, and much more.
Every contribution helps us bring this celebration to life and reach more people.
