National Archives: Educator Resources

Our Documents is a collaboration among many archive agencies to provide wider access to key U.S. History expressions of turning points. Often, texts include excerpts of these primary sources but students will gain greater understandings if they can read the entire document. Graphical documents, such as the Great Seal and Edison’s patent of the electric light bulb, are included in addition to the more familiar treaties. The scope also reflects the “whole” United States, such as the Hawaiian annexation, child labor and Chinese exclusion and creation of Japanese internment camps, act. Students can view aerial photographs of missiles in Cuba. Whatever the topic, the “original” can be included!

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