Academic Resources

• Center for the Study of the American Constitution at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
  An academic center housing over 70,000 primary source documents, specifically those focused on the ratification of the Constitution. The Center makes many documents available online. It also publishes The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution series (available digitally for free).
• The Founders' Constitution at the University of Chicago
  Digitized Founding-Era primary source documents categorized by each clause of the U.S. Constitution including the Bill of Rights.
• The George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress
  A large collection of primary source material on George Washington. The Library of Congress contains approximately 77,000 items accumulated by Washington between 1745 and 1799, including correspondence, diaries, and financial and military records. All items are available digitally.
• Georgian Papers Programme
  The Georgian Papers Programme is working to digitize, conserve, catalogue, transcribe, interpret and disseminate 425,000 pages or 65,000 items in the Royal Archives and Royal Library relating to the Georgian period (1714-1837). The website continues to update the digital collection.
• The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
  A collection of primary sources, teaching resources, videos, online exhibits, and essays on American history.
• National Archives — Charters of Freedom
  National Archives HD Resolution photos, transcriptions, and commentary on the nation’s three most important legal charters: The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
• The Online Library of Liberty
  A vast library of primary source documents, books, and manuscripts from historical and contemporary authors on liberty, political theory, and economics.
• The Quill Project
  The Quill Project models formal negotiations, including legislative and quasi-Parliamentary processes, making them visual. Includes the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the Bill of Rights deliberations in 1789.
• RealClear Public Affairs – The Constitution
  A collection of primary source documents and commentary from scholars on the Founding Period and the U.S. Constitution.

Classroom Resources

• The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati
  Includes lesson plans, classroom resources, primary sources, manuscripts, and images from the Founding period and the American Revolution.
• America's Story at the Library of Congress
  A website containing articles by topic about U.S. history. The website is suitable for all ages.
• Baylor University
  Tips on teaching civics to students in grades K-12, including links to lesson plans and other resources.
• The Bill of Rights Institute Curriculum Resource
  A collection of lesson plans and primary source documents for teaching the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
• Civics Renewal Network — Classroom Resources
  Lesson plans covering a variety of topics in U.S. civics and history. The website also contains useful information about how to approaching teaching certain topics in civics.
• Common Sense Society
  Includes lesson plans about the U.S. Constitution, U.S. history, and comparing different forms of government.
• Constitutional Rights Foundation
  Includes rights-based lesson plans, projects, and curricula.
• C-SPAN Classroom Constitution Clips
  C-SPAN provides teachers and students with video clips from C-SPAN's Video Library of the Constitution in action, including speeches from members of Congress, researchers, and authors.
• EDSITEment! (NEH)
  Contains lesson plans on a variety of topics in U.S. history for all grade levels (K-12).
• Founding.com
  A collection of primary source documents from the Founding as well as commentary on various aspects of U.S. history and the Constitution.
• iCivics
  Primary source lesson plans, interactive games for students, and more resources for teachers.
• The Library of Congress (classroom materials)
  The Library of Congress’s classroom resources, including primary sources, manuscripts, images, and books from all periods of U.S. history.
• The National Archives Education Resources
  A collection of educational materials from the National Archives collection spanning all periods of U.S. history.
• Street Law
  Contains lesson plans, educational material, and professional development programs for teachers on teaching law.
• TeachingHistory.Org at George Mason University
  Classroom materials spanning all of American history including tips on teaching history at every grade level.
• U.S. Courts Educational Resources
  Materials to help teach law, the rule of law, and the courts to students of all ages.

Civic Education Organizations

The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.

James Madison, Jr.

Disclaimer

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.