Thanksgiving · George Washington's Mount Vernon
Short summary of the first proclamations of Thanksgiving by generals of the Continental Army, the Continental Congress and by George Washington as president
03: The New Nation
Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1789 · George Washington's Mount Vernon
To James Madison from Thomas Jefferson, 20 December 1787 (Letter)
Jefferson writes to Madison about Shays's Rebellion, and does not appear to be too concerned with it.
Emory president sets off uproar with statements on three-fifths compromise and then apologizes
Another approach to teaching history is to show students debates over it in the present. Instead of copying bullets off a slide, have them read this article to see what questions they have themselves. What was the 3/5ths compromise? Was the president of Emory wrong? Essentially, this gives teachers the chance to expose the an important element of slavery history, that it was tolerated in the north. Even 80 years later, people who opposed slavery had to ask themselves if their opposition was important enough to them that they would sacrifice the country for it.
Us Constitution Timeline - Rhode Island -
Although many Social Studies teachers know that Rhode Island did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention, not many know why. This timeline published by the state of Rhode Island references religious freedom and the printing of paper as two important issues that shaped the state's decision
Oney Judge Runaway Ad - Oney Judge - Wikipedia
"Runaway Advertisement for Oney Judge, enslaved servant in George Washington's presidential household. The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 24, 1796. "Advertisement. ABSCONDED from the houshold [sic] of the President of the United States, ONEY JUDGE, a light mulatto girl, much freckled, with very black eyes and bushy black hair. She is of middle stature, slender, and delicately formed, about 20 years of age. She has many changes of good clothes of all sorts, but they are not sufficiently recollected to be described—As there was no suspicion of her going off, nor no provocation to do so, it is not easy to conjecture whither she has gone, or fully, what her design is;—but as she may attempt to escape by water, all matters of vessels are cautioned against admitting her into them, although it is probable she will attempt to pass as a free woman, and has, it is said, wherewithal to pay her passage. Ten dollars will be paid to any person who will bring her home, if taken in the city, or on board any vessel in the harbour;—and a reasonable additional sum if apprehended at, and brought from a greater distance, and in proportion to the distance. FREDERICK KITT, Steward. May 23 ["
Ona Judge Escapes to Freedom (U.S. National Park Service)
Reflecting how slavery is remembered in the 21st century, the names of the nine slaves that Washington brought with him to Philadelphia as president are carved into a wall as part of the Independence Park that includes the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. There are also footprints on the sidewalk, they represent the escape of one of those slaves One Judge
The Remarkable Story of Ona Judge - White House Historical Association
A remarkable story that is worth time to read. The story of a slave that escaped George Washington illuminates much of the context of the time.
Ona Judge · George Washington's Mount Vernon
Her father was an indentured servant who worked at Mount Vernon, her mother was a slave, making her a slave also. She became a house maid to the First Lady of the United States. When she found out she was to be given as a gift to George Washington's grandaughter as a wedding gift, she ran away to freedom. The runaway slave ad in the Philadelphia newspaper, the attempts by Washington to get her back, including using the Secretary of the Treasury, says much about slavery and the time period. Her story should be a movie
A portraiture of domestic slavery, in the United States, by Jesse Torrey, 1817 (Book)
This is one of the first books to expose the horrors of slavery to the American public. It includes many stories of slaves and the one linked in this bookmark is of a women who leaps from a windows rather then be separated from her children. This story can be used or the source itself can be made available to students to understand slavery as it was portrayed by abolitionists in the early 1800s. This is published three years before the Missouri Compromise
The War of 1812: The Movie -
This 3 minute video from collegehumor is a clever way to introduce the ambiguous nature of the War of 1812. It could be a good way to introduce the War because the references, funny as they are, are accurate. Why was the war fought? Where was it fought? How was it that Native Americans fought on both sides?
Comparing Canadian and American Memory of the War of 1812 - Foreign Policy Research Institute
This lesson has students comparing an American textbook and Canadian textbook's explanation of the war
Copy of Unit 3_Stimulus Based MC_Final - Google Docs
Stimulus Based Multiple choice questions
The Posterior of the United States - The beginning—and the bottom—of Sedition Act convictions. | Lapham’s Quarterly
Students should know that Sedition Act convictions were a New Jersey phenomenon.
![Conjectures about the New Constitution, [17–30 September 1787]](https://rdl.ink/render/https%3A%2F%2Ffounders.archives.gov%2Flib%2Fmedia%2FHamilton-200x200.png?width=92&height=&ar=&mode=&format=avif&dpr=2)
Conjectures about the New Constitution, [17–30 September 1787]
Right after the Constitution ended, Hamilton is showing us that he did not know what the future would bring. This can be used to show students that the people of the past did not know what would happen. It also shows how tenuous was founding was - and how it was not just "one founding".
George Washington discusses Shays’ Rebellion and the upcoming Constitutional Convention, 1787 | AP US History Study Guide from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Culture, Privacy, and Morality, 1 of 2 (Jeffrey Poelvoorde) on Vimeo
This is video lecture focusing on the right to privacy delivered by a professor as part of the Teaching American History program offered through the National Endowment for the Humanities
United States Government 10-K prepared by USA Facts
Very interesting and unique way to look at the government and finances of the United States. Although this is massive. 8th grade students can be directed a specific sections. USI students can make comparisons with Hamilton's reports.
The Electoral Punt
This hsitory behind the electoral college
Electoral College and the National Archives (2016) -
This four and a half minute video is a somewhat sterile production of the National Archives and Records Administration but it is informative in the way in explains the process by which the Electoral Votes of each state are counted in each state, how they are recorded and communicated to the federal government and how they are counted there.
"A True Patriot on Increased National Authority" - New Jersey Gazette, April, 1781
This could be included in a "failures of the Articles of Confederation " DBQ. But the question is - how much will students learn from the document, and how much time will be spent just trying to understand what it says? Are we teaching history, or are we teaching how to decipher?
Federalist Papers No. 70 - Bill of Rights Institute
The Life of Sally Hemings
Monticello.org offers this comprehensive history of Sally Hemmings. it includes family trees showing the relationship between Hemmings and Jefferson's wife (they were half-sisters) and the four children of Hemmings and Jefferson.
To Edward Coles, Monticello, August 25, 1814 The Letters of Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826 Thomas Jefferson Presidents American History From Revolution To Reconstruction and beyond
Jefferson explains why slavery is wrong, but at the same time he believes that any women who has a chided with a black man should be banished from the state
From Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 30 June 1820
John Wayles Eppes is both Jefferson's nephew (because Eppes is the son of Jefferson's wife's sister) and his son-in-law (Eppes married Jefferson's daughter) [Yes, Eppes married his first cousin]. It is this relationship that Jefferson refers to when he considers selling negros to Eppes, because that keeps them "in the family". Teachers may use this letter for its shock value - in that Jefferson seems to casually explain the economics of slave women as compared to men.
To John Adams from Thomas Jefferson, 11 January 1817
A letter from one friend to another, talking of their loves of his books and Jefferson's own "drudging at the writing table". But Jefferson's words on religion at the end of the letter might be important also - his creed is his own.
Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
This is the definitive study into the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings. Any teacher or student looking at this information should consider the fact that Jefferson was 44 years old at the time of his first fathering of a child with Sally Hemmings. She was 14 years old
Statement on the TJMF Research Committee Report on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings.
There is a deep record of research, speculation and popular depictions of Jefferson and Hemmings in popular literature, film and documentaries. If the subject ever comes up in class, or better yet, if teachers include this story in their teaching, students should be directed to this document - not as definitive per se, but as an example of exceptional historical research and scholarship
The Diary Of John Quincy Adams 1794-1845 :
Few students realize how nosey historians are, regularly reading people's personal diaries and letters to dig into every part of their lives. John Quncy Adams started his at 11 years old and kept at it for most of his life. Teachers looking for bits and pieces of quotes, background information and perspective they never thought of before can search through the 600 pages of this diary
Becoming America: The Constitutional Convention of 1787 | Center Public Policy | Concordia University Irvine
Teachers would find it difficult to invest the time necessary to wade through Madison's notes to get an understanding of the daily events and arguments of the Constitutional Convention. This daily summary of events is much easier to read. Teachers skimming through this collection and perhaps reading three to five different days would realize how little of the past they actually teach - and how much of it changes when squeezed through the tiny window of instructional time available to them