Tag Archives: congress
The First Act of the First Congress
The First Congress faced numerous tasks, but one thing was so important that it was the first act signed into law. Continue reading
“His Highness, The President” and the First Congress: Moving Toward Republicanism
A congressional debate in 1789 about a title of nobility for the president was a turning point toward republicanism. Continue reading
Congress Protects the Right to Vote: The Voting Rights Act of 1965
A lesson on the Voting Rights Act puts students in the shoes of members of Congress as they deliberated the bill. Continue reading
New DocsTeach Activity: Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii
Students analyze a petition signed by over 50% of the native Hawaiian population against becoming a part of the United States Continue reading
Congress and Harriet Tubman’s Claim for a Pension
Harriet Tubman was also a nurse, cook, and spy. This lesson can help your students understand how her service was acknowledged by Congress. Continue reading
Posted in Teaching Activities & Lesson Plans
Tagged civil_war, congress, LegArchives, lesson_plans, primary_sources
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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 … Continue reading
The Equal Rights Amendment: The Most Popular Never-Ratified Amendment
Documents from the records of Congress help students understand why the Equal Rights Amendment wasn’t ratified, even with its considerable support. Continue reading
Kidnapping of Free People of Color
Abolitionist Elisha Tyson wrote to Congress with details on several kidnapping cases of free African Americans in the North who were sold into slavery under the guise of the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act. Tyson argued that federal legislation was necessary to address the problem. Continue reading
Teaching with the Records of Congress
An introductory video of educational resources available from the Center for Legislative Archives, featuring perspectives from teachers who use these records of Congress in their classrooms Continue reading
We Shall Overcome: Anxiety and Optimism for the March on Washington
On August 28, 1963, a quarter million people came to the nation’s capital to petition their duly elected government in a demonstration known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Frustrated by the inaction of a gridlocked Congress, … Continue reading
