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2020-2021 eLesson Wrap-Up

21 items

A stack of books with a metal pencil holder filled with colored pencils and a red apple on the table.
Welcome Back 2020-21
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20 Min

BRI has been hard at work this summer in order to help teachers hit the ground running as the school year begins. Whether the 20-21 school year for you is beginning in person, virtually, or a combination of the two, below are a few of our many resources that you can use in your classroom today!
A smiling teenage boy wearing headphones sits at a desk, taking notes while looking at a laptop.
Classroom Citizenship During Virtual Learning
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20 Min

The start of a new semester is an opportunity to create a new community and learning culture in the classroom.  For many teachers this semester, this community building is taking place in new and challenging circumstances.
A woman casts her vote at a polling station, with two people observing her in the background.
Judith Sargent Murray’s “On the Equality of the Sexes”
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20 Min

Note: This lesson is adapted from materials contained in the Bill of Rights Institute’s U.S. History resource entitled Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A History of the American Experiment.
A map of the world shows the flow of goods, animals, and diseases between North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Bartolomé de Las Casas’ Account of the Destruction of the Indies
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E Lesson

20 Min

Note: This lesson is adapted from materials contained in the Bill of Rights Institute’s U.S. History resource entitled Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: A History of the American Experiment.
U.S. flags displayed in front of a building with large columns.
Presidential Political Conventions: One Giant Party?
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20 Min

During every presidential election cycle, both the major and minor political parties hold what is called a national convention to select who will be on the party ticket for president. Some argue that these national conventions are just a place for the party to rally its base around a set agenda, and to have a celebration.
A historical image of military officials during a surrender ceremony, with one officer signing documents in front of a crowd.
Bringing an End to War: Douglas MacArthur and the Japanese Surrender Ceremony
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20 Min

On this day 75 years ago, the Japanese government officially surrendered to bring an end to WWII. After four long, years of war between the United States and Japan-ending with the dropping of two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki-delegates of the Imperial Japanese government officially surrender onboard the battleship U.S.S.
A historical painting depicting a group of people discussing a map in a dimly lit room.
Pilgrims, Principles, and Politics
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20 Min

When the Pilgrims set off for North America, they understood that no European society existed there for them to join. They would be responsible for beginning a new community, one which they hoped could start fresh away from what they believed to be the corrupt Church of England.
Statue of a seated figure in front of a neoclassical building with columns, inscribed with "Equal Justice Under Law."
The Constitution and Supreme Court Nominations
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20 Min

The task of nominating a new Supreme Court Justice is one of the president's more important jobs. What is the process of choosing a new member of the highest court of the United States? And what qualities make an ideal candidate for this job?
Political cartoon depicting figures near a "No Trespass" sign, illustrating themes of territorial boundaries and authority.
The Monroe Doctrine
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20 Min

Map of the United States showing the electoral results of the 1976 presidential election by state.
Faithless Electors and Electing the Executive
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20 Min

Illustration depicting the Election of 1800 with portraits of Burr and Jefferson.
The Election of 1800
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20 Min

The election of 1800 was one of the most controversial in U.S. history. What did Thomas Jefferson have to say about the partisanship in his inaugural address?
Franklin D. Roosevelt signing a document, surrounded by men in suits, at a formal event.
Executive Orders, Past and Present
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What is an executive order?
Mount Rushmore featuring the carved faces of four U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Presidential Inaugurations, Past and Present
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What is the role of a presidential inauguration in our constitutional system?
Men pouring liquid from a barrel onto the street, while police officers observe; historical prohibition era scene.
A Toast to the Constitution: The Eighteenth Amendment and Prohibition
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25 Min

Why was the consumption of alcohol banned?
A black and white photo of a man near a bus and a sign indicating a "Colored Waiting Room."
Equality and the Supreme Court: A Primary Source Study of Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education
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25 Min

Explores the idea of equality as seen in two landmark Court cases.
Woman working on a metallic surface, using a tool, with a reflection of herself visible in the metal.
Women on the Homefront During World War II
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Explores the role of women on the homefront during WWII.
Seal of the President of the United States featuring an eagle, shield, and laurel branches on a blue background.
Executive Offices: Appointments and Confirmations
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Explores the process of selecting new executive officials.
A red-handled tool inserted into a mechanical voting machine with labeled slots.
Ballots, Popular Sovereignty, and the Rule of Law: How Should We Think About Voting Laws?
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45 Min

Explores the constitutionality of voting laws.
Interior of a church featuring wooden pews, chandeliers, and a large altar at the front. Black and white photograph.
Tandon v. Newsom (2021)
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Explores this Supreme Court case regarding religious liberty.
Aerial view of the World Trade Center site after the September 11 attacks, showing extensive destruction and debris.
New Yorker Covers, 2001–2011 (Reflections on 9/11)
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20 Min

Exterior view of a neoclassical building with large columns and stairs, featuring a clear blue sky.
Supreme Court Round-Up 2020-2021
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25 Min

Explore some Supreme Court cases from 2020/21.