1971 Agreement between the US and USSR to avoid nuclear war

Students feel empowered when they can read and understand primary source documents. Often they are written in language far above the ability of most middle and high schoolers and so some students give up.

This document, written in 1971 between two nations that were on the road to detente, provides an opportunity to have a little fun. It’s easy to read and can be translated into “teenage speak”.

We’ve included the Agreement, an assignment and answers for your classroom use.

For more Cold War Era resources check out our:

US History PowerPoints

• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• New! The 1970s
• Late History Overview: 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

World History PowerPoints

• The Modern Era: 1945-1970
• The Modern Era 2: 1971-2009

Classroom history games

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 3: 1981-2008

FDR cartoon “Sweeping Changes”, 1933

Incoming president Franklin D. Roosevelt took office at a troubled time in US history. Hoover had failed to fix the economic problems facing the nation.

This cartoon shows Uncle Sam and Hoover watching as Congress hands FDR a broom for making sweeping changes to the nation.

We have included a copy of the cartoon as well and questions and answers ready for your classroom use.

For more on this era check out our US History PowerPoint:

The Great Depression and the New Deal 

Classroom history games:

• The Great Crash Stock Market Game
• Famous Presidents Game, Part 2: Arthur to Reagan

Wing to Wing, 1951

The British government made this film in 1951 to explain the importance of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in defending the west.

Historical footage highlights several of the newer technologies and styles of aircraft.

For more on the Cold War Era check out our PowerPoints:

• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Truman to Kennedy
• US Foreign Policy in the Cold War Era: Johnson to the Fall of the Berlin Wall
• The 1950s
• 1960s
• Vietnam
• The 1970s
• The Modern Era: 1945-1970  World History

Classroom History games:

• Critical Decisions of Harry Truman
• Critical Decisions of John F. Kennedy
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 1: 1946-1960
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 2: 1961-1980
• Causes of the Cold War, Part 3: 1981-2008

World War II homefront images

The Office of War Information, created in the US during WWII, was an agency designed to aid in the war effort on the homefront.

Among other things, they employed civilians, especially women, to build items needed; these photos show B-52 bombers being constructed.

These particular images were taken by Alfred Palmer between 1940-43 from several plants in California and Texas.

We have gathered close to 20 images and put them into a PDF to use in your classroom.

For more WWII resources check out:

US History PowerPoints

• Causes of World War II
• World War II

US History Classroom games

• Causes of World War II: Part 1
• Causes of World War II: Part 2
• Causes of World War II: Part 3

World History PowerPoints

• Europe Between the Wars
• World War II

Duties of an American Citizen, TR 1883

Teddy Roosevelt was known as a brilliant orator, and this 1883 speech made as a NY State Assemblyman is no exception. He argues that participation in the government is an important part of being a good citizen, and that no one is exempt.

We have excerpted the speech and created questions and answers for your students.

This lesson could be used in any Social Studies class at any given moment as the concepts covered are applicable in many situations and ought to spark excellent discussions.

For more US History teaching resources check out our PowerPoints that cover this era:

The West

Rise of Industrialism

Response to Industrialism

Imperialism

Immigration

Progressive Era

WW I

The Oil Industry in America, 1950

This film, titled “Twenty Four Hours of Progress”, traces the importance of oil in US industry, economy and the lives of individual Americans.

The tone and narration can make it seem boring to our media-savvy students, however the topic is relevant in American society today as new technologies are being introduced and explored every day.

This film offers many possibilities in the classroom in various Social Studies and environmental studies.

For more on the 1950s check out our Powerpoint:

1950s

How Laws are Made graphic

A friend of ours sent us the link to this amazing graphic.

Although we usually post graphics with questions, this one lends itself to another favorite of ours: have students create questions and answers to hand out to other students in the class.

We usually allow them to pair up or choose groups of up to four and require a certain number of questions, in this case we would suggest 20.

Explain to them the different between lower level and higher level questions and delineate how many of each they need to create. This article breaks it down nicely.

For more government resources check out our PowerPoints:

Government PowerPoint Presentations

Judiciary | Presidency |Congress | Bureaucracy | Constitution

Civil War era political cartoon

One of our favorite ways to teach is using political cartoons. The Civil War offers a great opportunity to do this as so much time is spent on military action that students can feel bogged down in statistics.

This cartoon depicts General Scott as Hercules slaying the great hydra.

We have included questions and answers along with the cartoon for your classroom use.

For more Civil War era resources check out our PowerPoints:

• Slavery in America
• Expansion and Reform: The United States from 1829-1860
• Causes of the Civil War
• The Civil War
• Reconstruction: 1863-1877

Simulation Games:

• Causes of the Civil War Game
• American Immigration Game
• Critical Decisions Lincoln, part one and part two

Marbury v. Madison

This film, made in 1977, is honestly a bit of a snoozer, even for those of us who love government! However it does cover the major ideas involved with this important Supreme Court case. And it is worth watching…

For more government resources check out our PowerPoints:

• The Judiciary
• The Presidency
• The Congress
• The Bureaucracy
• Constitutional Underpinnings

French and Indian War: The Seven Years War in America

This 1962 Encyclopedia Britannica film covers the major events in North America in the mid-1700s that culminated in a war that forever changed the Western world.

Cleverly using paintings, the viewer is shown the important people, places, and figures as well as the differences between French and English colonial policies and ways of life. A detailed look at the Battle of Quebec is a highlight.

For more resources on this era check out our:

PowerPoints

• Colonization to Reconstruction:
  U.S. History Review
• Colonial Era

Simulation Games

• Colonial Economy Game
• Causes of the American Revolution Game