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Milestone Documents in American History

A new resource from the National Archives – Milestone Documents – provides access to primary sources that highlight pivotal moments in the course of American history and government.

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Teaching Resources for Black History Month

Find primary sources and educational activities for teaching about African American history during Black History Month or any time.

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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.

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Breaking Barriers in History: Resources for NHD 2020

Find primary sources and teaching activities for National History Day!

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New Resources: Transcontinental Railroad, Revolutionary War, WWII, and a Youth Art Competition

Discover new primary sources and teaching activities on DocsTeach. Learn about an art competition for grades 4-6.

Primary Source Highlights on DocsTeach

We're constantly updating DocsTeach.org — the online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives. Here are some recent highlights. Newly Added Primary Sources Hollywood Ten - We recently added court documents related to the screenwriters, producers, and directors who jeopardized their careers by taking a stand against the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Several … Continue reading Primary Source Highlights on DocsTeach

February is African American History Month

In celebration, the National Archives has teamed up with other federal agencies and cultural institutions to provide digital content, including resources for teachers. Along with the Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, we pay tribute to the generations of … Continue reading February is African American History Month

To What Extent was Reconstruction a Revolution?

Reconstruction was a tumultuous period in American history, and the question of whether it produced lasting change in regard to civil rights is still debated by scholars. A DocsTeach Activity using primary sources allows your students to enter the debate and develop critical thinking skills by evaluating historical congressional records as historians. Available on DocsTeach.org, … Continue reading To What Extent was Reconstruction a Revolution?

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