The Declaration of Independence states the principles on which our government, and our identity as Americans, are based. Unlike the other founding documents, the Declaration of Independence is not legally binding, but it is powerful. Abraham Lincoln called it "a rebuke and a stumbling-block to tyranny and oppression." It continues to inspire people around the world to fight for freedom and equality.

The National Archives provides primary source sets, educator resources and articles, and printable primary sources analysis sheets. This page on the site outlines how to analyze primary source documents. Document analysis is the first step in working with primary sources. Teach your students to think through primary source documents for contextual understanding and to extract information to make informed judgments.

In this activity, students analyze various primary documents related to presidential decisions. After examining the documents, they determine which president was involved and place the document on a map. They decide if decisions made were part of domestic or foreign policy. Through discussion and analysis, students are led to understand that the decisions a president makes are part of his legacy. Requires a basic knowledge of key historical events. Online resource, includes discussion questions. Complex.

For this activity, students analyze primary documents to understand food manufacturing conditions before and after food regulations were passed in 1906. Connects to the Progressive Era and the history of regulation. Students sequence documents and photographs in this online resource. Guided questions provided.

Go to National Archives and search for the electoral college, if the link does not work, this Text/HTML has a ton of information on the electoral college as well as historical results. You can also see the actual ballots sent in by each state as well as all electors chosen by each party within a state. LW

Students match primary sources to the reasons individuals immigrated to the United States.

Zoom in on digital copies of the original documents. Each includes classroom resources and lessons. Lesson idea: Assign groups one of the nine documents then have them give quick presentation about them--be sure each group highlights the importance of the document.

This is an activity where students are required to match the photograph of a famous abolitionist with a description of his or her accomplishments. Students learn about abolition and steps that were taken to end slavery.

In this activity, students match photographs of different types of technology used during WW1 and explain how each impacted the war. Then, students read an eyewitness account of the war.

Students will use primary resources to explore the reasons for Western Expansion. They learn why Americans living in the East decided to migrate West and how/why those motivations changed over time. This is an activity for students to analyze documents and put them in chronological order. They then compile a list of reasons for the Western Expansion. Online resource.

This link provides an activity that enables students to make connections between photographs and primary documents. Students look for for cause-and-effect relationships, identify the roles of government policy and technological improvements in the settlement of the West, and explain their impact on Native Americans.

Overview of the 6 big ideas that animate the Constitution: limited government, republicanism, chdecks and balances, federalism, separation of powers, popular sovereignty