The Architect of the Capitol
U.S. History: Resources for Students, Teachers and Researchers
Learn the history of America through primary sources and background articles in the
Expand All Guide SectionsResources for Learning U.S. History
There are many Web sites that provide overviews, articles, biographies and other material covering American history.
Top Sites for Resources for Learning U.S. History
Digital History
is an online textbook that provides a chronological overview of American history. It also includes primary sources and detailed features on topics such as ethnic America, Abraham Lincoln, Reconstruction and controversial topics of today.
George Mason University’s Center for History and New Media
has created a range of Web sites designed for the needs of students and teachers. It includes basic surveys of U.S. history, sites that teach students to use primary sources, and sites that provide lesson plans and ideas for teachers. It also features several Web sites of archives and exhibits.
PBS
has a wide range of resources for students from its various programs. The most useful is likely the companion Web sites for the American Experience documentary series examining important events and people in American history. Each site includes resources such as descriptions of the events, biographies of key figures, primary source documents, interactive maps and transcripts of the film. Also visit the American Masters series for biographies of historical figures.
The University of Virginia’s Miller Center of Public Affairs
is the best resource for studying U.S. presidents. It provides detailed biographies of each president, along with profiles of his cabinet, a collection of speeches, and links to the most comprehensive sources for private and public papers.
HistoryNet
is home to more than 5,000 articles published in Weider History Group magazines, which include American History, Military History, Wild West and World War II.
EyeWitness to History
features first-person accounts of prominent events in U.S. and world history, along with a simple explanation of the event’s importance.
Primary Sources for U.S. History
Primary source material allows researchers to gain deeper understanding of American history.
Top Sites for Primary Sources for U.S. History
The Library of Congress
is a great source to find historical documents, photos, art, maps, audio and video, artifacts and other items. The American Memory section organizes items based on topics, time periods and places of American history.
The National Archives
has a massive collection of material on U.S. history that can sometimes be overwhelming to search through. The Resources for National History Day Research page guides students on where to find material in the archives. In the Teaching With Documents section, assorted events are explained through primary documents in the archive’s collections.
The Smithsonian Institution
has a wide variety of exhibitions and collections on American history, organized by a list of subjects in the left-hand menu. Most of its history resources are located in the National Museum of American History.
Yale Law School’s Avalon Project
provides a database of documents such as laws, treaties, declarations, constitutions, speeches and statements from ancient history to the 21st century. Documents are organized by time period and by topic.
© 2010 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
