Aerial view of rows of houses in the suburbs

Post-WWII Teaching Resources

Find primary sources and teaching activities for the Postwar United States (1945 to early 1970s).

Students in classroom in Moton High School

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.

Right in America

Teaching Civil Rights with DocsTeach

DocsTeach, the online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives, is full of primary sources and tools for teaching about civil rights.

Excerpt of Opinion in Green v. New Kent County

Striking Down “Freedom of Choice” Plans for School Desegregation: Green v. New Kent County

In Green v. New Kent County, the 1968 Supreme Court ruled that a "freedom of choice" plan was not sufficient to bring about desegregation. The decision spurred on desegregation in earnest in Virginia schools.

Selection from Indictment of Jedediah Peck

A Seditious Petition

Less than 10 years after the ratification of the Bill of Rights, Revolutionary War veteran and NY State Legislator Jedediah Peck was arrested for distributing a petition.

Selection of The Masses about Conscientious Objectors

Freedom of the Press for The Masses

Though freedom of the press is one of our most cherished liberties, fully enjoying it has not always been possible. This is especially true during times of stress for the nation and government.

“Separate but Equal” in Photographs

In April 1951, students at Moton High School in Prince Edward County, VA, led by 16-year-old Barbara Johns, went on strike to persuade their local school board to build them a better school. This eventually led to the landmark civil rights case Dorothy E. Davis, et al. v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, … Continue reading “Separate but Equal” in Photographs

New on DocsTeach: WWI Stories, Google Classroom Integration, Maps, Voting Rights, and More

We've been busy adding new primary sources and features to DocsTeach, the online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives. Here are some recent highlights: Maps from the Moll Atlas - Cartographer Herman Moll worked on "The World Described or, A New and Correct Sett of Maps" from 1707 to 1717. His series … Continue reading New on DocsTeach: WWI Stories, Google Classroom Integration, Maps, Voting Rights, and More