Choose from 2000+
primary sources for use in classroom activities.
We have selected thousands of primary source documents to bring the past to life as classroom teaching tools from the billions preserved at the National Archives. Use the search field above to find written documents, images, maps, charts, graphs, audio and video in our ever-expanding collection that spans the course of American history.
Registered users can bookmark documents by starring them.
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Historical Eras
Documents are categorized according to the National History Standards. Learn more about standards.
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(1754-1820s)
Revolution and the New Nation
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(1801-1861)
Expansion and Reform
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(1850-1877)
Civil War and Reconstruction
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(1870-1900)
The Development of the Industrial United States
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(1890-1930)
The Emergence of Modern America
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(1929-1945)
The Great Depression and World War II
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(1945 to early 1970s)
Postwar United States
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(1968 to the present)
Contemporary United States