![Plymouth in 1622 / W.L. Williams.](images/plymouth.jpg)
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My country, ‘tis of thee, Sweet land of
liberty, Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, Land of the
pilgrims’ pride, From every mountain-side Let freedom ring!
~Samuel Francis Smith
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primary source set |
This Primary
Source Set includes image and documents to help teach about
the origins and celebration of Thanksgiving in the United States. |
online
resources |
Especially for Teachers...
1492: An Ongoing Voyage - (Exhibition) This online exhibit focuses not only on the Northern hemisphere before 1492, but also on those who arrived from Europe and Africa in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
American Memory Timeline: Colonial Settlement, 1600s-1763 - (Feature) Explore America's early settlement through primary documents from the period.
Atlantic World: The Dutch in America, The - (International) Learn about Dutch involvement in the exploration and settlement of North America. This collection includes a variety of maps
Buccaneers of America, 1678, The - (Exhibition) This interactive book features an eyewitness account of 17th century privateers. Illustrations, translations and narrations are included.
Cultures and History of the Americas: The Jay I. Kislak Collection at the Library of Collection, The - (Exhibition) This exhibition focuses on the early Americas from the time of the indigenous people of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean through the period of European contact, exploration, and settlement.
Of special interest is a page from George Washington’s 1762 almanac.
Exploring the Early Americas: The Jay I. Kislak Collection - (Exhibition) This exhibition examines indigenous cultures, the drama of the encounters between Native Americans and Europeans, and the changes caused by the meeting of the two worlds. Be sure to explore the Explorations and Encounters section.
France in America - (International) This collaborative digital library explores the history of the French presence in North America from the first decades of the 16th century to the end of the 19th century.
George Washington Papers Timeline - (Special Presentation) This timeline links to selected documents covering the Colonial Period, the American Revolution and the Early Republic.
Guide to the American Revolution, 1763-1783, A - (Library of Congress Bibliography) This guide compiles links to digital materials related to the American Revolution from the Library of Congress Web site and beyond.
Historial Paralelas: Parallel Histories - (International) Examine the history of Spanish expansion into North America in this international multimedia portal.
Jamestown Records of the Virginia Company of London, The - (Special Presentation) Learn about the preservation of the Jamestown Records.
John Bull and Uncle Sam: Exploration and Settlement - (Exhibition) This section of the John Bull and Uncle Sam exhibition examines the exploration and settlement of America from British and American points of view.
Map Collections: Discovery and Exploration - (American Memory Collection) This section of Maps Collections features early discovery and exploration maps and manuscripts.
Map of the British Plantations on the Continent of North America - (Document) This 1750s map includes colonial histories in the margins.
Mapping the American Revolution and Its Era - (Special Presentation)
Learn about cartography during the Revolutionary era.
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic - (Exhibition) What role did religion play in the founding of the American colonies? This exhibit examines books, manuscripts, letters, prints, paintings, artifacts and music related to this theme.
Science and Technology in 18th Century America - (Science Reference Services) This guide lists sources that chronicle the history of science, invention, medicine and technology in colonial America.
Settlement and Colonial Life - (Prints and Photographs) View a selection of images depicting early American life from the online version of Pictorial Americana.
Sketch of Ante-Revolutionary History - (Document) This chapter from Eliot's Debates (Volume 1) outlines the early history of the 13 colonies.
State of the British and French Colonies in North America - (Document) This 1755 book, in the form of two letters, describes the North American colonies "with respect to number of peoples, forces, forts, Indians, trade and other advantages."
Thanksgiving in American Memory - (Feature) Investigate the American tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving. Don't miss the Thanksgiving Timeline!
Today in History (November 25) Thanksgiving Day - (Today in History) On the fourth Thursday of November, Americans give thanks for their good fortune by celebrating the national holiday of Thanksgiving.
Virginia Records Timeline, 1553-1743 - (Special Presentation) This timeline from the Thomas Jefferson Papers outlines the early history of Virginia.
Virtual Reference Shelf: History - (Internet Resources) Explore early settlement and colonial resources on Web sites selected by LOC experts.
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Especially for your Students...
American Treasures: A Narrative of Uncommon Sufferings - (Exhibition) View pages from the first slave narrative independently printed in the North American colonies
American Treasures: America’s First Book - (Exhibition) Known as The Bay Psalm Book, but really titled The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre, this was the first book printed in what is now the United States.
American Treasures: Anne Bradstreet, Colonial Poet - (Exhibition) Anne Bradstreet was the first woman poet to be published in Colonial America.
American Treasures: Early Map of the Dutch Colony of New Netherlands - (Exhibition) This 1685 map includes an early view of New Amsterdam.
American Treasures: Land Grant - (Exhibition) This 1687 manuscript documents the early boundaries of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
American Treasures: Map of Manhattan - (Exhibition) This 1639 map is the earliest portrayal of Manhattan and its surroundings.
American Treasures: Powerful Polemics - (Exhibition) Explore the pages of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.
American Treasures: Read and Be Wise - (Exhibition) The hornbook was a constant companion to beginning readers in Colonial America.
American Treasures: The New England Psalm Singer - (Exhibition) Paul Revere illustrated the cover of this early hymnal.
American Treasures: The Virginia Company - (Exhibition) King James I chartered the Virginia Company of London in 1606. It founded the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown. View court preceedings for 1621.
American Treasures: The “General Fundamentals” of the Plymouth Colony - (Exhibition) This 1685 book is one of the oldest items in the Library's collection of American laws.
Explore the States - (America's Library) This fun activity allows children and their families to explore the 50 United States. Click on each of the original 13 states for facts and stories.
Explore the States: The Lost Colony - (America's Library) Learn about the lost colony of Roanoke Island.
Jump Back in Time: Colonial America, 1492-1763 - (America's Library) Read stories about colonial life in America.
Today in History (May 14) Jamestown - (Today in History) On this date in 1607, the first permanent British settlement in North America was established at Jamestown, Virginia by the Virginia Company Charter.
Today in History (May 9) Join or Die - (Today in History) On this date in 1754, Join, or Die, considered the first American political cartoon, was printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette.
Today in History (October 4) The Plymouth Colony - (Today in History) On this date in 1636, the General Court of the Plymouth Colony instituted the first legal code composed in North America.
Who Celebrated the "First Thanksgiving"? - (Wise Guide) Learn more about America’s early Thanksgiving celebrations.
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lesson
plans |
Use these lesson plans (created
by educators for educators) to explore the Early America with your
students in your classroom:
Tinker, Tailor, Farmer, Sailor - (Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8,) Students examine a variety of primary sources to determine why colonists were drawn to settle in a particular region of the country.
George Washington - (Grades 8-12) Students engage in three lessons examining George Washington's leadership. Lesson One examines ways in which George Washington demonstrated his leadership abilities as a young British colonial officer
Huexotzinco Codex , The - (Grades 6-8,) Students analyze pictograph documents created by native peoples of Puebla, Mexico in 1531. Students take on the role of historians, study the documents, and create a scenario to explain what these documents were for, who created them, and why.
Drake’s West Indian Voyage 1588-1589 - (Grades 6-8,) Students investigate maps depicting a voyage by Sir Francis Drake involving attacks on Spanish settlements around the Atlantic. Students look closely at the details and draw conclusions about individual events as well as the entire voyage.
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bibliography |
Is there
a title (or two) that you always read to (or with) your students
when teaching about Early America? Are there invaluable reference
books that you use when working with this theme? Staff from The
Library of Congress have generously donated favorite titles
for the Early America theme. We hope you will contribute
your favorite titles to our growing bibliography!
return to top |
collection
connections |
Create your own collaborative lesson
plans using material related to this month's theme assembled from
The Learning Page Collection
Connections:
Capital and the Bay: Narratives of Washington and the Chesapeake Bay Region, 1600-1925, The - (Summary and Teaching Resources) This collection includes documents on the founding of the colonies of Maryland and Virginia.
American Notes: Travels in America, 1750-1920 - (Summary Only) Search this collection using the term "colonies".
Slaves and the Courts 1740-1860 - (Summary and Teaching Resources) This collection is comprised on an assortment of trials, cases, decisions, proceedings and other works of historical importance related to the experiences of the African and African-American slaves in the American colonies and the United States.
Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress, The - (Summary Only) Many items in this collection date back to the early 1600s.
George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress - (Summary and Teaching Resources) The collection can be used to explore the history of colonial America.
Map Collections - (Summary and Teaching Resources) Search this collection using the term "colonies" or the name of a specific colony.
James Madison Papers, 1723-1836, The - (Summary and Teaching Resources) Documents in this collection date back to the early 1700s.
American Time Capsule: Three Centuries of Broadsides and Other Printed Ephemera, An - (Summary and Teaching Resources) Search this collection using the term "colonies" to locate examples of early settlement ephemera.
Nineteenth Century in Print: Periodicals, The - (Summary and Teaching Resources) Search this collection using the term "colonies" for an interesting collection of articles relating to the early settlement of America.
Rochambeau Map Collection - (Summary Only) The maps in this collection cover much of eastern North America, and date from 1717 to 1795.
Louisiana: European Explorations and the Louisiana Purchase - (This collection features 119 documents—from maps to newspapers to cultural artifacts - related to the inclusion of Louisiana into the nation.)
France in America - (Summary and Teaching Resources) This collaborative digital library explores the history of the French presence in North America from the first decades of the 16th century to the end of the 19th century.
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search
terms |
These terms may be useful when searching
for items related to this theme in the American Memory collections.
Bradford, William |
Mayflower |
Plymouth |
Colonial Period |
Mayflower Compact |
Pocahontas |
Colonists |
Names of Colonies |
Puritans |
First Thanksgiving |
Names of People |
Raleigh, Sir Walter |
French and Indian War |
New Amsterdam |
Revere, Paul |
Huguenots |
New Plymouth Colony |
Samoset |
Indians of North America (followed by name of
state) |
Penn, William |
Smith, John |
King Philip’s War |
Peter Stuyvesant |
United States – History – Colonial
Period |
Jamestown |
Pilgrims |
Williamsburg |
Massasoit |
Plimoth |
Witchcraft trials |
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