Classroom Resources Infographic: North-South Comparisons before the Civil War Economics, Geography, Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12 Download this infographic as an image.
Video: Inside The Vault Inside the Vault: The San Francisco Earthquake Geography, Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ “Wednesday, April 18th. will go down in history as the date of the most terrible calamity the United States, and particularly California, has ever known. I do not feel much like writing about it. Would feel better if I could cry but...
Classroom Resources Historical Context: American Slavery in Comparative Perspective Economics, World History 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ Of the ten to sixteen million Africans who survived the voyage to the New World, more than one-third landed in Brazil and between 60 and 70 percent ended up in Brazil or the sugar colonies of the Caribbean. Only 6 percent arrived in...
Classroom Resources Historical Context: Black Soldiers in the Civil War Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ By early 1863, voluntary enlistments in the Union army had fallen so sharply that the federal government instituted an unpopular military draft and decided to enroll Black as well as White troops. Indeed, it seems likely that it was...
Video: Inside The Vault Inside the Vault: Honoring America’s First Woman Veteran: The Revolutionary War Service of Margaret Corbin Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ Celebrate Veterans Day and learn about the Revolutionary War service of Margaret “Molly” Corbin! On November 2, 2023, our curators discussed Corbin’s life and legacy with Dr. Holly Mayer of Duquesne University. Margaret “Molly”...
Video: Inside The Vault Inside the Vault: “Pathological liar”: Harry Truman and the rise of Joseph McCarthy in 1950 Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ In February 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy accused more than 200 staff at the Department of State of being members of the Communist Party. How did President Harry Truman respond to the attack on his administration? On December 7, 2023...
Video: Inside The Vault Inside the Vault: The Treaty of Paris Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ More than 240 years ago, the United States became independent from England when the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War. On September 7, 2023, our curators discussed and examined key parts of the treaty with Dr....
Classroom Resources Historical Context: "Birth of a Nation" Art, Geography, Government and Civics, Literature 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ In 1915, fifty years after the end of the Civil War, D. W. Griffith released his epic film Birth of a Nation . The greatest blockbuster of the silent era, Birth of a Nation was seen by an estimated 200 million Americans by 1946. Based...
Classroom Resources Historical Context: The Post-World War I Red Scare Economics, Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ The end of World War I was accompanied by a panic over political radicalism. Fear of bombs, Communism, and labor unrest produced a “Red Scare.” In Hammond, Indiana, a jury took two minutes to acquit the killer of an immigrant who had...
Classroom Resources Study Aid: Checks and Balances Government and Civics 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Checks and Balances Executive Branch carries out the laws can veto laws can call special sessions of Congress controls enforcement of laws nominates judges can pardon people convicted of federal crimes commander in chief develops...