Websites and their Descriptions
1. July 4, 1776: Happy Birthday, America
Was "taxation without representation"
the driving force behind the War of Independence or simply one
issue of discontent among many? There are quite a few American
history sites available on the Internet and the University of
Groningen's (Netherlands) From Revolution to Reconstruction is one of
the most interesting. From here you can jump to multiple web
sites that weave their way throughout the history of America,
from pre-European settlement to the present. The site provides
more of an electronic overview of major events than a definitive
history of the United States, but don't let that stop you.
Students can follow the birth of a nation
beginning with Early America and ending at the 21st Century.
Stops along the way include the Colonial period, the War of Independence,
formation of a national government, westward expansion, sectional
conflict (which discusses the period before, during and following
the civil war), the era of expansion and reform, conflict abroad
and social change at home, and modern America. There's
also a link to an interesting collection of early American rare
maps at the University of Georgia's Hargrett Library.
For information on the United States Presidents
and the Presidency, try the Apple curricular theme targeting
this topic. Check the Learning Resources at ALI
(Apple Learning Interchange) for the Curriculum Center theme:
United States Presidents and the Presidency.
If everyone is tired from their electronic
trip through nearly three hundred years of American history,
how about a virtual tour to places where much of that history
was made? If you're looking for information on the beginnings
of our nation, head to Colonial
Williamsburg. For early American history and lessons for
your students, go to the Williamsburg site's education section.
From Williamsburg you can zip on up to Baltimore , home of the "Star Spangled
Banner." The city is brimming with historical places and
tourist delights including Fort McHenry . The 18th century star-shaped
fort was in 1814 the place where Francis Scott Key penned our
National Anthem. Even those without a great enthusiasm for historical
events will enjoy learning about the land and sea battle. Move
on to Fort McHenry Patriots, a patriotic spirit booster
with its music and information including the Battle of North Point and nice map showing
how the battles of Fort McHenry and North Point together brought
about an end to the War of 1812. (If you're thinking the Battle
of New Orleans ended the war, because of slow communications
at the time, this battle took place after the treaty had been
signed.) Don't forget to go on the Virtual Tour of Fort McHenry and take the Pop
Quiz.
You won't want to miss Philadelphia's Historic Mile where you can
link to various well-known historical sites for a brief overview
of what occurred and when. Some of the better known spots include
Betsy Ross' House, Congress Hall, the Declaration House, the
Liberty Bell, and Library Hall, site of the country's first public
library. Each site includes a bit of history and a few sites
come with music. For more about Philadelphia from the National
Park Service, try the NPS Independence National Historic Park, Philadelphia.
While visiting in Philadelphia, you won't
want to miss Benjamin Franklin Memorial with its tribute
to this famous American. The Franklin
Institute is an exciting place for children to visit virtually
and in person. In the tradition of Franklin's love of science
and experimentation, the museum treats children to activities
which create that special enthusiasm for and love of science.
Travel north to find Valley Forge Historical Park . Site information
reminds us, "No battles were fought here, no bayonet charges
or artillery bombardments took place, but during the winter of
1777-78 thousands of American soldiers died here nonetheless.
Valley Forge is the story of an army's epic struggle to survive
against terrible odds, against hunger, disease, and the unrelenting
forces of nature."
While all this history is fresh in your student's
minds, you can spring a 10 question multiple choice exam on them
at Happy Birthday, America's American History
site to test their retention levels. Have them click on the answers
then click on submit, and in seconds their "paper"
will be graded online.
Grade Levels:
The Philadelphia, Franklin, Franklin Institute, Williamsburg,
and and USACity Link sites may be used with younger children
especially with assistance from teachers and parents; the Netherlands
and rare maps sites and most of their links are best used with
7-12 or 9-12.
2. Great birthday, but who are we celebrating?
Skipping, or perhaps avoiding, the myriad
of differences in our makeup, that's a question best answered
by the U.S. Census
Bureau which not only provides an extensive collection of
people statistics but also keeps a running tab on our head count.
According to the Bureau's United States resident population clock,
as of this writing "we" are estimated to be 285,154,861
strong, but that changes every 13 seconds. As for everyone else,
the Bureau's World clock pegged the planet's total population
as of June 15, 1997 (11:31 a.m. EDT) at 5,848,156,762 people.
The Bureau's home page links to an interesting
site called Just for Fun where students have a "hands
on" opportunity to visit the Bureau's map stats interactive
site and link to individual counties within states for 1990 census
data. There's also a
Kid's Corner that gives census data for the younger set.
The home page also has a search engine that
lets you hunt by word for on-line Bureau documents and publications,
by place for local area information using names and zip codes,
and by map to search geographically by pointing and clicking
on specific areas of interest within the United States. You can
even search the Census Bureau staff directory and telephone or
e-mail the folks responsible for all this information. Subjects
A-Z at the home page site is just that, and includes access to
census data covering a number of subjects.
The real mother lode of U.S. statistical information,
however, can be found at the Bureau's 2000 Statistical Abstract of the
United States site. Issued annually
since 1878, the Abstract is a collection of statistical facts
on the social, political and economic aspects of America. The
publication's electronic site links to 31 different topics covering
population, health and nutrition, education, parks, recreation
and travel, banking, communications, energy, manufacturers, and
industrial outlook to name but a few. There's also a jump to
historical statistics from colonial times to 1970 for anyone
wanting to make comparisons.
NOTE: Census Bureau reports and publications
can be downloaded and opened in Microsoft Word or viewed in Adobe
Acrobat Reader (works great for Macs) which is available free
via a link to the Adobe web site.
Grade Levels:
Mostly for Grades 7-12, but some of the content on the sites
can be used, with assistance, for Grades 3 up.
3. Great country, but what makes us great?
Original instruments of government drafted
by the county's founding fathers have guided and sustained Americans
since the Constitution was adopted in 1787 and ratified in 1788.
Emory
University's School of Law U.S. Founding Documents links
to major historical documents beginning with the Constitution
of the United States which includes the Preamble, Articles I
through VII, the Amendments and even Amendments never ratified.
The site has a search engine for keyword or multiple word
searches plus scanned originals of the Constitution and the Bill
of Rights.
The site also links to the Declaration of
Independence and includes a jump to scanned originals of the
document, and to the Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays
written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay to
help persuade New York voters to ratify the newly proposed
Constitution. The Federalist Papers is another good site
for similar information and you can download everything for later
reading. This site also links to the Bill of Rights (the first
ten amendments), the Amendments, the Declaration of Independence
and to the original text of the Constitution with secondary jumps
to modifying or superseding amendments.
Those wanting to delve deeper into lists of
historical documents need only visit the Gutenberg Project's List of Political Writings
site which, in their words, provides "free, plain vanilla
electronic texts" (and indemnifying legal jargon) that includes
the old standards (Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc.) in addition
to Patrick Henry's Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech, a
few Inaugural Addresses, Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience"
and Thomas Paine's Common Sense. The U.S. Historical Documents Archive site has
more of the same plus Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream"
speech, the Mayflower Compact (which established the first basis
in the new world for written laws), the Monroe Doctrine, the
Emancipation Proclamation, and the Northwest Ordinance.
Grade Levels:
Grades 7-12
4. Who's in charge here?
When it comes to the federal government, no
doubt that question has been asked many times. Check out the
following sites covering the executive, judicial and legislative
branches of government.
Sixteen Hundred Pennsylvania Avenue is on
everyone's list of places to visit when in the nation's Capitol.
At The White
House students can tour the forty-third President's home
and review his administration's accomplishments, visit the Virtual
Library to search White House documents, listen to speeches and
view old photographs, and even e-mail the President and Vice President (First
and Second ladies also). The White
House for Kids is just that-a special place for children
to learn about our first home and first family.
From the executive branch, it's a brief hop
to the U.S. Supreme
Court where you'll find links to a collection of 325 "historic" decisions
by topic, party name and by author of the opinion. There's also
a current court calendar, schedule of oral arguments, an explanation
of Supreme Court rules and even a glossary of terms for those
who "don't speak legalese." (What does "Oyez,
Oyez, Oyez" really mean?) Another good Supreme Court site
is USSC+. Click on About
the Court and you'll link to basic information including the
Court as an institution, Court traditions and procedures, and
a brief peek at the inside of the Supreme Court building. A data
base of cases dating back to 1793 is also available at USSC+
Online. Finally, check out United States Federal Judiciary for links to
any number of things judicial including Understanding the Federal
Courts which does a great job of explaining how the federal court
system works from the Supreme Court through the "inferior"
courts created by Congress.
Last but not least, where would we be without
the 535 individuals who represent the rest of us in the United
States Senate and the House of Representatives. At Congress.Org click on Congressional Directory,
and you'll find an alphabetical listing of all House and Senate
members plus links to state delegations, House and Senate Committees
and even an electronic path to the Congressional leadership (say
hey to Newt and the gang). If you're not certain who your elected
representative is click on Find Your Member which matches your
zip code to your congressperson and congressional district. This
site provides member information, links to the committees he
or she serves on, staff information (who to talk to when you
can't talk to the boss) and even other members of your state's
delegation. At Communicating with Congress, students will find
a brief overview of the legislative process, the titles and roles
of various congressional staff, tips on visiting Capitol Hill,
and some brief do's and don'ts to observe if you plan on contacting
your congressperson. (If you have difficulty accessing this site,
as we did at times, use Thomas
to find some of the information mentioned above.)
The Library of Congress Internet Resource Page
offers similar information plus has a menu that links to just
about everything you'd ever want to know about Congress. Here
you'll find more email addresses (though not everyone has e-mail),
voting records and a link to Thomas (as in Jefferson) which houses a legislative
library of Congressional bills among a host of other things.
You can also take a Virtual Tour of the Capitol, review a data base of historical congressional documents, and link
to another site that lets you search the Annals of Congress, Volume 1 to learn what
the gentleman from Georgia urged upon his fellow representatives
on June 8, 1789 (Mr. Jackson urged caution on his colleagues
"with respect [to] altering the Constitution").
And, if you still have questions about the
Legislative branch of government, both the House and the Senate have their own home pages chock-full
of history, legislative activities, and links to other governmental
resources.
Grade Levels:
The White House site has a special section for young children,
but primary students will probably need a bit of help from teachers
and/or parents. Most of the other sites are best used with Grades
7-12 or 9-12, depending upon ability levels. Although middle
school and upper elementary students will enjoy the White House
site, finding their representatives in Congress, and taking virtual
tours; most this age will need help when using the information
on the other sites.
5. Is it true that "...all men are
created equal...with certain unalienable rights...?"
"Those who cannot remember the past are
condemned to repeat it," said philosopher George Santayana.
One of the things that makes America great is a willingness to
examine our history and change what needs to be changed. The
1964 Civil Rights Act was a mid-course correction in United
States history to advance the Declaration of Independence creed
that "...all men are created equal..."
For brief snapshots of important civil rights
milestones, check out the Western Michigan University's Timeline
of the American
Civil Rights Movement Included are links to brief overviews
of Brown v. Board of Education, the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott,
Desegregation at Little Rock, Arkansas, 1960 sit-in campaigns,
freedom rides in 1961, the 1962 Mississippi Riot, and events
that occurred in Birmingham, Washington D.C. and Selma, Alabama.
Similar information can be found at the National
Civil Rights Museum's Virtual Tour home page in addition
to the complete text of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr's "I have a Dream."
Grade Levels:
Although teachers of elementary students may use some of this
content in their lessons, most of the sites are for students
in Grades 7-12 and/or 9-12.
6. Proudly she waves...
Many salute it by quietly placing their hand
over their heart when it goes by. The flag is the symbol of our
nation, and it is in its own way, a celebration of the American
spirit. Although many have died defending it, others will never
understand why the House of Representatives has approved for
the second time a Constitutional amendment protecting the flag
from physical desecration. Some people think freedom of speech
is a greater glory than Old Glory.
The Flag of the United States of America is a great site for information about the third oldest
National Standard in the world-older than Britain's Union Jack
and the Tricolor of France. A brief history of the flag's major
milestones unfurls here beginning with January 1, 1776 and ending
on December 12, 1995 when the U.S. Senate narrowly defeated a
Constitutional amendment aimed at making flag burning a punishable
offense. Other links from this site jump to each of the 50 state's
Home Pages, arranged as they were admitted into the Union, and
to a sound file of "The Star-Spangled Banner" which
comes from "The Declaration of Independence Home Page."
The site also links to the Betsy Ross Homepage where you can jump to the
story of Ms. Ross and the three supreme gentlemen who in secret
asked her to sew the nation's first flag. You'll also find links
to flag trivia (who was "Shipwreck" Kelly and what's
vexillologist?); quotes and notes about the American flag by
poets, authors and politicians; and a picture gallery of the
American flag at different times in history among other flag-related
information.
The Flag of the United States Table of Contents provides similar information
but also includes a concept and keyword search engine plus links
to a history of the flag, a directory of historic and current
American Flags as well as miscellaneous flag information like
the Flag Code, flag proportions, what the colors and gold fringe
on the flag mean, how to display and properly fold the flag,
flag etiquette and the rules about when the flag is flown at
half-staff, and how to buy a flag that's flown over the Capitol.
Another good source for flag information is the American Legion
site Flag Education & Etiquette which also answers
a number of flag FAQs.
Grade Levels:
Most of the information is for middle school students and older.
Younger students, with help, will appreciate the Betsy Ross and
flag etiquette information.
7. The leader of the band...
What clarinet-toting youngster hasn't played
a John Philip Sousa tune at some point in his or her music career?
A good spot for Sousa songs, some taken from
original 78 rpm records (who remembers those?) and performed
by the original Sousa band can be found at The Music of John Philip Sousa. This site also
contains Sousa numbers performed by The Boston Pops Orchestra,
John Williams conducting, and the Coldstream Guards. March on!
The
John Philip Sousa Homepage is another
site for links to nearly 100 sound files of Sousa compositions.
For a brief biography about the man known as the "March
King" click on About the Sousa Home Page. This site also
links to some interesting Frequently Asked Questions, Photos
of Mr. Sousa, information about Sousa's Band (the first American
musical organization to go on world tour, by the way) and even
provides the March of the Month. With a rousing tune playing
in your head and inspiring your feet, march over to Related Sites
for other Sousa trivia like the Story of the Sousaphone and information
about how, when and which of his compositions became the United
State's national march. (Didn't know we had one, did you? Find
out what it is. By the way, did Mr. Sousa write "Hail to
the Chief"?)
Grade Levels:
Grades 5 up for the Sousa sites, but all ages will enjoy the
sound files.
8. "From Sea to Shining Sea"
Let the Sousa marches propel your mind to
thoughts of the beauty of America. Travel virtually and gather
what you need for a real vacation at one of our national parks.
The National Park
Service Site contains links to parks throughout the nation,
Nature Net, and more.
Remember your historic tours earlier to Philadelphia
and Baltimore? After learning about how the citizens of Baltimore
saved us from British invaders, about Betsy Ross' sewing our
flag, and investigations at the Franklin Institute; it's time
to relax on the beach (by car approximately 2.5 hours from Baltimore
or Philadelphia and by computer, seconds) at Assateague
Island National Seashore. Take a virtual tour and learn about
the wild ponies of Assateague and Chincoteague along with the
beach and bay nature zones on the island. If your students love
the books by Marguerite Henry such as Misty of Chincoteague,
they'll especially enjoy this site.
Head West! A challenge for those in Grades
1 and up-see if you can identify Presidents on Mt. Rushmore.
And Celebrate: If you're looking for a list
of celebrations around the nation, try Happy Birthday America.
There are simply too many wonderful and beautiful
places throughout the United States for us to list them all here.
However, a quick jump from the National Park Service will expand your horizons
as it takes you "from sea to shining sea." Links to
a number of general Fourth of July related sites can be found
at Happy
Birthday America which is maintained by the USA CityLink Project folks whose site accesses
some of the most comprehensive US city and state tourist information
available on the Internet.
Grade Levels:
The sites listed in this section may be used by most students,
but primary level students may need assistance from teachers
or parents.
Bonus sites:
For additional flag information, check out
The University of Saskatchewan's Flags of North America site which displays
American and Canadian provincial flags in a ten-question online
quiz (American flags are tough enough), and the North American Vexillolgical Association site
which links to a plethora of informative and educational flag-related
sites (quizzes, flags of the world, historical flags, etc.)
Civil Rights: A Status Report
is interesting and insightful and comes with the caveat that
it is one man's effort to chronicle the American civil rights
movement and provide an analysis of what has been accomplished
in certain areas. It should be read with that thought in mind.
For information on fireworks safety, go to this site that has excellent information for
children.
Grade Levels:
The Civil Rights site and the Law Library are best used with
Grades 9-12, but most of the other sites may be used with middle
school and older students. Younger students will like the flag
information and the sound files, but will probably need guidance
in use of these sites. Fireworks safety is a good idea for all
ages.
