This site looks at the history and variety of voting methods in the U.S. -- the voice vote, party ticket (paper ballots listing candidates from just one party), Australian ballot, gear and lever machine, and others. Voting reforms of the early 1900s, when the U.S. electorate doubled, are described. Kinds of voting equipment used in counties across the U.S. are shown on a map. Innovative design improvements are discussed.

This site looks at the history and variety of voting methods in the U.S. -- the voice vote, party ticket (paper ballots listing candidates from just one party), Australian ballot, gear and lever machine, and others. Voting reforms of the early 1900s, when the U.S. electorate doubled, are described. Kinds of voting equipment used in counties across the U.S. are shown on a map. Innovative design improvements are discussed.

What can we learn about early American views of the frontier by looking at artwork depicting the West? This five-lesson teacher guide explores numerous aspects of the nation's expansion westward.

These activities will have student look at the history of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, its contributions to American history, and accomplishments of selected West Point graduates. Proposed by George Washington in 1783 and created 20 years later, West Point became an important American institution before the Civil War.

Match a variety of vehicles with their destinations and time periods to learn how much transportation in America has changed over time. See how much you know about the history of transportation with the interactive games in this online collection. You can find information, artifacts and photographs in the collection as well.

Match a variety of vehicles with their destinations and time periods to learn how much transportation in America has changed over time. See how much you know about the history of transportation with the interactive games in this online collection. You can find information, artifacts and photographs in the collection as well.

Within These Walls...tells the stories of five families who lived in this house over 200 years and made history in their kitchens and parlors, through everyday choices and personal acts of courage and sacrifice. In this online exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, students will learn how the Smithsonian acquired the house at 16 Elm Street Ipswich, Massachusetts and saved more than a dozen family stories and 200 years of American social history. They will also learn some of the methods historians and curators used to learn about this house's past, the ways that it changed over time, and the people who lived in it.

Smithsonian. Collection of primary resources shows students the changing role of women during WWII. Each photograph includes guiding questions for discussion. Can be used in many different ways.

This resource offers kids a chance to see how the Great War accelerated changes already occurring in the United States and how those impacts have lasted throughout time. Students critically analyze posters from WW1, engage in discussions, and critical thinking questions.

This online exhibition celebrates the centennial of flight with a thorough presentation of Wilbur and Orville Wright's biography, their technical achievements and the cultural impact of their breakthrough in the decade after 1903.

This web activity, recommended for grades 5 and up, is designed to teach both content and process.
The content areas addressed in this activity are the science of conservation and the history of the Hispanic American tradition of making santos. Santos are painted woodcarvings of saints in the Catholic Church. Conservators use scientific tools and procedures such as xeroradiography and microscopy to analyze objects. The science behind these tools and procedures is explained in this web activity. What santos are, how they are made, and the importance of their stories can be also discovered. Living santeros from both the New Mexican and Puerto Rican traditions are featured and speak about their work as santeros and the importance of these objects to their cultures. An exercise on iconography enables students to understand the importance of symbols in this tradition.

This site invites students to examine clues and determine what life was like for a family that lived in New Castle, Delaware, during the 1700s. Students also discover what historians in the next century might learn about us if they found our homes the way they are today.

What can we learn about leadership from writings about and images of George Washington? During and after the American Revolution, as the new nation was struggling to define itself, George Washington emerged as a leader. Although he expressed reluctance to enter public life, he played a significant role in setting precedents for the infant government. In this lesson, students use a combination of artwork, everyday objects, and primary sources to learn about George Washington's life and leadership.