Lesson Plan Lewis and Clark: Exploring the Louisiana Purchase Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12 Click here to download this four-lesson unit.
Classroom Resources Study Aid: The Bill of Rights 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 The Bill of Rights First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people...
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...
Spotlight on: Primary Source Thomas Jefferson's opposition to the Federalists, 1810 Government and Civics The Federalist Party evolved from the core of Federalists, like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton, who wrote and defended the US Constitution in 1787–1788. The political party advocated a strong central government and supported...
Lesson Plan Our Constitution: The Bill of Rights (Grades 4–6) Government and Civics 4, 5, 6 View the Constitution in our collection by clicking here and here . For a resource on the variations between a draft and the final version of the Constitution click here . For additional resources click here . Unit Objective This...
Lesson Plan Our Constitution: The Bill of Rights (Grades 10–12) Government and Civics 10, 11, 12 View the Constitution in the Gilder Lehrman Collection by clicking here and here . For a resource on the variations between a draft and the final version of the United States Constitution click here . For additional resources click...
Spotlight on: Primary Source Aaron Burr, fugitive and traitor, 1804 On July 11, 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr shot former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey. Nine days later he wrote this cryptic letter (partially in cipher) to his son-in-law, Joseph...
Classroom Resources Presidential Election Results, 1789–2020 Government and Civics 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Introduction The Electoral College consists of 538 electors, who are representatives typically chosen by the candidate’s political party, though some state laws differ. Each state’s number of electors is based on its congressional...
Lesson Plan The National Bank Debate Economics, Government and Civics 9, 10, 11, 12, 13+ Objective This lesson is part of Gilder Lehrman’s series of Common Core State Standards–based teaching resources. These resources were developed to enable students to understand, summarize, and analyze original texts of historical...
Spotlight on: Primary Source John Adams describes George Washington’s ten talents, 1807 Eight years after George Washington’s death, John Adams penned this letter to Benjamin Rush explaining why George Washington was considered a hero by the American people. He wrote it on November 11, 1807, in response to a letter from...