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Teaching Materials

Lesson: The Culper Spy Ring

Many stories of those who made a difference in the course of American history go untold, or receive little acknowledgement. When learning about espionage of the American Revolution, and other time periods, it is not a topic just to gloss over a few facts and

Lesson: The Origins of Capitalism

As students begin to learn about the growth of America as a superpower, it is important for them to know what made it possible. Among the many reasons America became so powerful is its roots in capitalism. Students should understand the origins of capitalism according

Lesson: First Black Americans in Congress

After the Civil War ended, Republicans were determined to secure the rights of the freedmen. The passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments were landmark accomplishments in the fight for equal opportunity for African-Americans. Although the end of the Reconstruction Era would see severe

Lesson: Patriots vs. Loyalists

The decision to support independence or not is one that students should empathize with by understanding the risks involved with either choice. Not enough time is given to learning about patriots, and not enough information is used when students do learn about them. The colonists

Lesson: Japanese Internment

There are many misconceptions about Japanese internment during WWII. In order to evade such misconceptions, students will read an interview between members of the Veteran’s History Project at the LOC and someone who experienced the internment, Warren Michio Tsuneishi. While his insight gives students a

Lesson: Liberation of Nazi Concentration Camps

The liberation of Nazi concentration camps is often mentioned in the progression of World War II lessons, but it is rarely discussed in detail. It is important and right to recognize the American soldiers and our allies who took on the heart-wrenching duty of rescuing

Lesson: The Declaration of Independence

Students are often familiar with the language of the Declaration of Independence and the reasons for writing it, but often overlooked are the ideas in this document that have helped to establish American values that we continue to appreciate today. John Locke strongly influenced Thomas