The life of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, written by himself. Second American Edition.
It was approximately 40,000 years ago that mankind first donned a pair of shoes. During humanitys long history of footwear, and an equally broad array of styles, the basic fundamentals of Western shoemaking remained mostly unchanged until the mid-nineteenth century. In the 1800s, the small state of Massachusetts revolutionized the shoemaking industry, cladding the feet of consumers nationwide in unprecedented numbers. One of Americas original colonies, Massachusetts found itself at the heart of the nations shoemaking industry by attracting and retaining skilled shoemakers and shoe machinery engineers. Only when the technology that Massachusetts' shoemakers invented became available beyond the state did the industrys market expand throughout the country. Even with the spread of industrialization, Massachusetts remained the largest producer of shoes in the United States through World War I, responsible for nearly forty percent of Americas shoes and home to an equal percentage of its shoemakers. This exhibition was created as part of the DPLAs Public Library Partnerships Project by collaborators from Digital Commonwealth. Exhibition organizer: Anna Fahey-Flynn.
The Bhakti (devotional love) movement gains momentum during Medieval India, highlighting an alternative path for Moksha/Liberation in Hinduism.
Crash Course is a fast, funny, irreverent look at history. In this episode, brothers John and Hank Green gives us their take on what makes Big History so darn important.. Created by Big History Project.
In this activity students will identify and define seven key ideas contained in the U.S. Constitution by making matches from the grid. They will then analyze documents that demonstrate each big idea in action.
This activity is designed to prepare students for the Constitution-in-Action Learning Lab at the National Archives in Washington, DC. It is a part of a package of pre-visit activities associated with the lab experience.
Why does the Civil War matter? Kim discusses the importance of the Civil War and its effects on American society.
This activity is designed to familiarize students with the legislative process. It is also intended to introduce students to legislation currently in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates looks towards a future of sustainable energy and worldwide education. Created by Big History Project.
On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution that met the arguments most frequently advanced against it. The first two proposed amendments, which concerned the number of constituents for each representative and the compensation of congressmen, were not ratified. Articles 3 to 12, however, were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures and constitute the first ten amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
On 12 September 1787, during the final days of the Constitutional Convention, George Mason of Virginia expressed the desire that the Constitution be prefaced by a Bill of Rights. Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts proposed a motion to form a committee to incorporate such a declaration of rights; however the motion was defeated. This lesson examines the First Congress's addition of a Bill of Rights as the first ten amendments to the Constitution.
This lesson builds upon prior knowledge of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights by asking students to think critically about the issues and philosophies central to both. Through investigation and debate, students are asked to question why certain rights were added to the Constitution and why others were not. Such a discussion will encourage students to synthesize multiple historical and contemporary perspectives about their rights to decide if, in today’s world, we need different rights, if our rights are complete the way they are, or if the existing ones need change.
This resource from the National Constitution Center includes an introduction, big questions, recorded class sessions, briefing documents, slide decks, and worksheets about the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitutuion.
Many lessons on U.S. history, world history, and government from BRIA, Teach Democracy's quarterly curricular magazine. We have published this tremendous resource since 1967, and we continually add to the archive. Latest issues are part of a new series, reflecting our recent name change from Constitutional Rights Foundation to Teach Democracy. Access to these resources require a free educator login.
That possibility of things going a different way is called contingency. In this lesson, students learn about the contingencies involved in our major founding documents, especially the Bill of Rights! This article and activity are a product of Teach Democracy's partnership with the New York Public Library's Center for Educators & Schools. Access to this resource requires a free educator login.
Students will discuss the definition of a biography and determine what elements it contains. They will research a famous person and create a web graphic organizer with key achievements and personal information from their life. Peer feedback will be given on the web creation and then an oral presentation will be given.
In this lesson students learn how Birth of a Nation reflected and influenced racial attitudes, and they analyze and evaluate the efforts of the NAACP to prohibit showing of the film.
The emergence of America as a world power at the end of the 19th century and its acquisition of overseas territories.
This activity is designed to accompany the Black Americans in Congress website, history.house.gov/ exhibitions-and-publications/baic/black-americans-in-congress/. Students have the opportunity to analyze historical photographs associated with Black Americans who served in Congress and with the history of civil rights in the United States. Students are encouraged to think more about the role historical photographs can play in the study of past events and people.
This activity is designed to accompany the Artifacts section of the Black Americans in Congress website, history.house.gov/exhibitions-and-publications/baic/artifacts/artifacts/. Students have the opportunity to analyze artifacts associated with Black Americans who served in Congress. Students are encouraged to think about how artifacts can be used in the study of past events and people.
This activity is designed to accompany the Black Americans in Congress website, history.house.gov/ exhibitions-and-publications/baic/black-americans-in-congress/. Students have the opportunity to analyze
a series of statements made by Black Americans who served in Congress. Students are encouraged to think about the role that quotations can play in the study of history. (Citations for the quotation exercise used in this activity appear in the “Historical Quotations” document.)