Jackson Vetoes the National Bank From: Teaching American History Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 3-4 class periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Jackson Vetoes the National Bank This is a 4 day activity. Students debate whether Congress had the authority to create the Bank of the United States. They then read speeches from prominent folks on Jackson's veto of the Bank of the United States, summarize them, and share their summaries. Day 1: Students read Article II, Section 8 of the Constitution and answer questions about whether it gives Congress the authority to create a Bank of the US. Please note that the recommended link does not include this section. Try this link to Constitution Annotated instead. Day 2: Students are each given one of three speeches on the veto of the bank bill--Jackson's (7 pages printed), Henry Clay's (6 pages), or Daniel Webster's (2 pages). Be sure to look for the links to the excerpts of the speeches on the bottom of page 2; don't have students read the speeches in their entirety. Student writes a summary of their speech. Day 3: Students who read the same speech are grouped together. They read their summaries to each other, and groups vote on the best summaries. An alternative might be for students to be grouped with students who read the other speeches and read them to each other. Then 4th day activities would be shortened. Day 4: The best summaries are read to the entire class. Students then vote again on whether the Constitution gives Congress the authority to create a Bank of the United States. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: HS, (College): This lesson is meant for high school students; however we think it would be well suited for college students too This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Imbert, Anthony, 1794 Or. The doctors puzzled or the desperate case of Mother U.S. Bank . New York: Published and for sale wholesale and retail by Anthony Imbert at his Caricature Store. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Virginia Colony From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Pages Link: The Virginia Colony Students read 3 primary sources on the starving time, the Virginia Company's instructions to settlers, and the supplies the settlers were encouraged to bring (1-4 pages each). Students then answer 3 overarching questions about the colony. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (HS), College: This lesson is meant for college students; however, we think it would be excellent for high school students too This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Image: J. Omar Hansen, Jamestown rifleman firing , File #284983353, Photo, Adobe Stock, 5/23/25, stock.adobe.com .

Constitutional Creation From: National Archives Grade Level: (HS), (College) Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 1 Class Period or Less Length of Reading: Chapter Link: Constitution of the United States-A History How about assigning this article to give your students a little background on the making of the Constitution before tackling any of these assignments. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (HS), (College): There is no specified age group for this activity; however, we think it would be well suited for high school and college students This Activity Involves: Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Image: Howard Chandler Christy, Signing of the Constitution, Oil on Canvas, Architect of the Capitol, 5/23/25, https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/signing-constitution .

Perspectives on Trail of Tears From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: HS, (College) Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1-2 class periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: Perspectives on the Trail of Tears Students check out maps, a painting, primary sources (three 1-2 page docs) and secondary sources. The teacher provides a short introduction to the Trail of Tears. On day 2 of the activity, students make posters which answer provided questions. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: HS, (College): This lesson is meant for high school students; however we think it would be well suited for college students too This Activity Involves: Map Activity: This activity asks students to examine map(s) (interactive or standard). Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Secondary Source: This activity utilizes secondary sources. Gene Thorp/Cartographic Concepts, Inc. © Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the American Indian.

Kids' Perspectives on the Trail Westward From: Digital History Grade Level: (HS), College Remote Ready: With minimal modifications Time: 1 class period or less Length of Reading: Pages Link: Children and the Westward Movement Students read bite-sized docs from children headed to Oregon, California, Utah and the West from the 1840s through 1860s. Students answer 2 overarching questions. You could divide the documents up and Jigsaw. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (HS), College: This lesson is meant for college students; however, we think it would be excellent for high school students too This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Emigrant party on the road to California . Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

13 Colonies Song From: Parlay Universe Grade Level: MS, HS Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: Depends upon which lesson(s) you choose Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Settlement of the 13 Colonies Check out the 3 min video, Settlement of the 13 Colonies , for a fun hip-hop summary of the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. Then answer a couple questions (provided), and then respond to 2 classmates' answers. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS: This lesson is meant for middle school and high school students This Activity Involves: Movie: This activity involves a clip, film, or documentary. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Image: Listen. , ca. 1901. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012648364/.

Students Search the Civil War Database for Their Ancestors From: National Parks Service Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: Yes! Time: 5 min Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Search for Soldiers Did your ancestors serve in the Civil War? Enter your last name here. If your last name is a common one, the first name of your ancestor will be helpful too. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Two unidentified soldiers in Union cavalry uniforms with Sharps rifles and Colt revolvers. [Between 1861 and 1865] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .

Nullification Crisis From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 2 class periods Length of Reading: Pages Link: The Nullification Crisis Students read an excerpt of the Tariff of 1828. They are divided into groups; each group reads a particular (1-4 page) response to it. On the second day, the class does a fishbowl discussion of the tariff and responses to it while answering provided discussion questions. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion.

Manifest Destiny From: Digital Inquiry Group Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College) Remote Ready: With minimal modifications Time: 1 class period or less Length of Reading: Pages Link: Manifest Destiny https://inquirygroup.org/history-lessons/manifest-destiny Students check out a painting, a map, and 2 very short primary sources on Manifest Destiny (totaling 2 pages). They answer questions on the map and questions for discussion < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (MS), (HS), (College): We put these in parentheses because there is no specified age group for the activity; however, we think it would be well suited for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Crofutt, George. “American Progress.” Library of Congress, c1873, https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97507547/ . Accessed: 6.14.2020.

Native American Creation Stories From: Exploring US History Grade Level: College is specified but we think it would be great for high school students too. Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Native American Creation Stories Read sections of creation stories from the Ottawa, Sioux, and New Netherlands. Then answer questions. Some background knowledge of Biblical creation stories might help with comparison questions. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: (HS), College: This lesson is meant for college students; however, we think it would be excellent for high school students too This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Adobe Stock

Gettysburg Address From: Gilder Lehrman Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1 Class Period Length of Reading: Paragraphs Links: The Gettysburg Address OR The Gettysburg Address: Identifying Text, Context, and Subtext There are 2 lessons on the Gettysburg Address available here. The first lesson is called "The Gettysburg Address." Common Core. This lesson plan is subdivided into 5 lessons, but there's no reason that it couldn't be synthesized into one class period. Lessons 1, 2, and 3: Students read the Gettysburg address (1/2 page) and then fill out graphic organizers for each of the 3 paragraphs. In lessons 4 and 5, students analyze how the word "dedicate"--used 6 times in the speech-- changes meaning. Finally, students answer 3 questions. The second lesson is called "The Gettysburg Address: Identifying Text, Context, and Subtext." In this one, students examine the Gettysburg Address with the help of worksheets that lead students through a literary/rhetorical analysis. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Image: Nostrand, D. Van. “Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States of America” in Portrait Gallery of the War , Frank Moore, ed. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Abraham_Lincoln.jpg. Accessed 6.14.2020.

Slavery in the Constitutional Structure From: Gilder-Lehrman Grade Level: MS, HS, College Remote Ready: With Modifications Time: 1-2 Class Periods Length of Reading: Paragraphs Link: Making a Covenant with Death: Slavery in the Constitutional Structure Each group reads an assigned portion of the Constitution that deals with slavery. Students write the main ideas on a large sheet of paper. Hang these sheets of paper on the walls and have each group present on their overviews. Then debate, as the founders, which aforementioned portions to keep in or leave out of the Constitution. Finally Students create a written dialogue between a founder and a slave. Gilder Lehrman resources are free but you must log in. < Back Next > More Information: Grade Level: MS, HS, College: This lesson is meant for middle school, high school, and college students This Activity Involves: Primary Source: This activity utilizes primary sources. Group Work: This activity calls for working in pairs or groups or having a group discussion. Writing Exercise: This activity requires a writing assignment such as a discussion post, journal entry, or lengthy response to a prompt. Almost all of our activities require students to answer questions with short responses, but this icon refers to a slightly longer writing assignments. Stearns, Junius Brutus, Artist. Life of George Washington--The farmer / painted by Stearns ; lith. by Régnier, imp. Lemercier, Paris . Paris: Lemercier. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, .