The Presidential Primary Sources Project, January - March 2022, on a blue flag with red stripes made of pencils

Free Online Programs on the Presidency Begin January 18th

The Presidential Primary Sources Project offers a series of free, standards-aligned, 45-minute interactive webinars for students in grades 4-12.

Ronald Reagan giving a speech in Berlin

Teaching Resources Related to American Presidents

Find primary sources and educational activities for teaching about American Presidents.

Thanksgiving Day with images of people praying and mourning

Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation

In the new teaching activity "Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation," students learn the origins of Thanksgiving, then examine President Lincoln’s 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation that created a national holiday.

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Free Online Programs on the Presidency Begin January 16th

This series of free 45-minute programs for students in grades 4-12 runs from January through March 2020.

Free Online Programs on Presidential Legacy Begin January 18th

"Presidential Powers with Documents from the National Archives" – a free distance learning program for grades 6-12 – kicks off the 2018 Presidential Primary Sources Project on Thursday, January 18! Join us at 11 a.m. ET or 2 p.m. ET to explore the executive branch and powers of the President through primary sources. We'll examine presidential appointments, pardons, … Continue reading Free Online Programs on Presidential Legacy Begin January 18th

Black Soldiers in the Civil War: A New DocsTeach Activity

In this activity, students can analyze a Government poster used to recruit recently freed slaves to fight for the Union Army during the Civil War. The poster refers to the Emancipation Proclamation and President Lincoln’s General Order 233, to provide equal pay for Black soldiers and equal protection if they were captured by the Confederacy and became … Continue reading Black Soldiers in the Civil War: A New DocsTeach Activity

Mr. President, It is my Desire to be free.

"Mr. President, It is my Desire to be free." Thus wrote (another - not me!) Annie Davis to Abraham Lincoln, 20 months after he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Writing from Belair, Maryland, she continued, “Will you please let me know if we are free.” But she was not. The Emancipation Proclamation affected only those states … Continue reading Mr. President, It is my Desire to be free.