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A king and queen seated on thrones, flanked by advisors, in an ornate hall, with attendees below.
Portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a hat and fur collar, against a blue background.
Portrait of Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th-century Spanish Dominican friar, with a focused expression and traditional attire.
Mesoamerican scene depicting people performing a ritual with instruments and decorations.

Primary Source Activities – Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

151 items

A king and queen seated on thrones, flanked by advisors, in an ornate hall, with attendees below.
Columbus’s Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, 1494
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40 Min

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Portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a hat and fur collar, against a blue background.
Cortés’ Account of Tenochtitlan, 1522
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40 Min

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Portrait of Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th-century Spanish Dominican friar, with a focused expression and traditional attire.
Las Casas on the Destruction of the Indies, 1552
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40 Min

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Mesoamerican scene depicting people performing a ritual with instruments and decorations.
The Florentine Codex, c. 1585
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40 Min

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Illustration of a historical scene depicting a confrontation between two groups near a body of water with boats.
The Oral Tradition of the Foundation of the Iroquois Confederacy
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40 Min

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Indigenous man with body paint and jewelry, holding a bow, depicted in historical artwork.
Watercolors of Algonquian Peoples in North Carolina, 1585
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40 Min

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Portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a black outfit and a white ruffled collar against a dark background.
A City Upon a Hill: Winthrop’s “Modell of Christian Charity,” 1630
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40 Min

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A historical scene depicting a group of men in traditional clothing marching with a drummer at the forefront.
Bacon vs. Berkeley on Bacon’s Rebellion, 1676
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40 Min

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A historical painting depicting a meeting between European settlers and Native Americans in a natural setting.
Penn’s Letter Recruiting Colonists, 1683
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40 Min

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A historical handwritten document with faded text and ink, showing signs of aging and wear.
Germantown Friends’ Antislavery Petition, 1688
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40 Min

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Historical illustration depicting George Washington and M. St. Pierre in a tent with figures in the background.
Washington’s Journal: Expeditions to Disputed Ohio Territory, 1753–1754
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40 Min

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Historic map of Virginia depicting geography, settlements, and illustrations from the early 17th century.
Maps Showing the Evolution of Settlement, 1624–1755
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40 Min

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Illustration of a man in colonial attire with text about "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" by John Dickinson.
John Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, 1767–1768
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40 Min

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Portrait of a male figure in a brown robe, gesturing with one hand against a muted background.
Junípero Serra’s Baja California Diary
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40 Min

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Thomas Paine's Common Sense primary source
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776
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40 Min

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Revolutionary War soldiers engage in battle, with smoke rising and a house in the background.
Joseph Plumb Martin, The Adventures of a Revolutionary Soldier, 1777
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40 Min

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An impressionist painting depicting a historic scene with figures in a boat, carrying flags of the American Revolution.
Art Analysis: Washington Crossing the Delaware
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40 Min

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Document titled "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States," printed in Williamsburg.
The Articles of Confederation, 1781
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40 Min

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A historical handwritten document with faded text and ink, showing signs of aging and wear.
Quaker Anti-Slavery Petition, 1783
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40 Min

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Document from 1793, detailing a resolution and signatures including John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
Belinda Sutton, Petition to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1783
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40 Min

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Northwest Ordinance map
The Northwest Ordinance, 1787
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40 Min

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Portrait of a young woman in a white dress with dark sleeves, seated against a dark background.
Judith Sargent Murray, “On the Equality of the Sexes,” 1790
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40 Min

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President George Washington
Washington’s First Inaugural Address, 1789
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40 Min

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Document titled "Congress of the United States," presenting text in a formal layout with official language.
The Judiciary Act of 1789
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40 Min

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Historic document featuring George Washington's handwriting and signature.
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of New York, 1790
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40 Min

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A bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson inside the Jefferson Memorial, with engraved text on the walls.
Thomas Jefferson on the Compromise of 1790
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40 Min

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Historic building with a portico supported by columns and ornamental details, set against a clear sky.
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, Writings on the National Bank, 1785–1792
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40 Min

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Portrait of a seated man in academic robes, with a thoughtful expression, against a neutral background.
The Jay Treaty, 1795
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40 Min

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Portrait of a 18th-century military officer dressed in a black hat and red coat with gold epaulettes.
Pinckney’s Treaty, 1796
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40 Min

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Painting of George Washingtons Farewell Address
George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
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40 Min

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Political caricature depicting figures in period clothing engaging in a humorous scene about property and nationality.
Cartoon Analysis: Property Protected—à la Françoise, 1798
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40 Min

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Portraits of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, 1798–1799
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40 Min

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A satirical engraving depicting a chaotic scene of a duel in a formal setting, with spectators observing.
Cartoon Analysis: Congressional Pugilists, 1798
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40 Min

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Bronze statue depicting two historical figures standing side by side, with rifles and historical attire.
The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1805
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40 Min

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Political cartoon depicting figures near a "No Trespass" sign, illustrating themes of territorial boundaries and authority.
The Monroe Doctrine, 1823
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40 Min

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Portraits of two historical figures, one with gray hair and the other with a dark coat holding a book.
Cartoon Analysis: The Presidential Election of 1824
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a suit and bow tie, with a solemn expression.
Henry Clay, Speech on American Industry, 1824
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40 Min

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Portrait of a man with gray hair, dressed in formal attire, set against a dark background.
John C. Calhoun, South Carolina Exposition and Protest, 1828
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40 Min

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Illustration from "Walker's Appeal," depicting a figure holding a banner, with text on the opposite page.
David Walker, “An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World,” 1829
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40 Min

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Portrait of Daniel Webster.
Webster-Hayne Debates, 1830
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40 Min

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Historical scene depicting people on horseback and wagons in a landscape, representing movement and travel.
Indian Removal Act, 1830, and Cherokee Chief John Ross’s Memorial and Protest to Congress, 1836
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40 Min

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A historical illustration depicting a large crowd gathered outside a grand building during a festive event.
Andrew Jackson, Bank Veto Message, 1832
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40 Min

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Portrait of a young man in a dark coat, with curly hair, set against a neutral background.
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1835
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40 Min

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A vintage envelope addressed to R.S. Blanchard, Belleville, Jeff Co, New York, with cancellation marks.
Jedediah Burchard, Revivalist Sermon, 1835
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40 Min

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Portrait of a woman with a serious expression, wearing a bonnet and a collared dress. Black and white image.
Sarah M. Grimké, Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Women, 1837
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a man with dark hair and sideburns, wearing a bow tie and suit.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The American Scholar,” 1837
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40 Min

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Portrait of a man with gray hair, dressed in formal attire, set against a dark background.
John C. Calhoun, “Slavery as a Positive Good,” 1837
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a woman with long hair styled in a bun, wearing a high-collared garment.
Dorothea Dix, Memorial to the Legislation of Massachusetts, 1843
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40 Min

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A historical portrait of a man with grey hair and a mustache, wearing a tan coat and blue bow tie, against a blue background.
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, 1845
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40 Min

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A historical scene depicting a gathering of people in front of a building, engaged in various activities.
Art Analysis: The County Election by George Caleb Bingham, 1852
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40 Min

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A historical illustration of a lively gathering, showing people dancing and celebrating in a rustic interior setting.
Negro Spirituals
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40 Min

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Map illustrating the proposed annexation of Texas, detailing free and slave districts, along with geographic features.
John O’Sullivan, “Annexation,” 1845
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40 Min

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Illustration showing a historical meeting about the abolition of the slave trade with an audience and speakers.
William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass on Abolition, 1845–1852
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40 Min

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A historic battle scene featuring soldiers in uniform, cannons, and chaos amidst smoke and hills.
Debating the Mexican-American War, May 1846
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40 Min

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Portrait of Daniel Webster.
Daniel Webster, “7th of March,” 1850
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40 Min

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Black and white historical photo of people working in a field, using hoes, dressed in 19th-century clothing.
Fugitive Slave Act, 1850
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40 Min

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Portrait of a woman wearing a white headscarf and shawl, seated beside a vase of flowers.
Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a Woman?” 1851
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40 Min

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A winter landscape with a horse-drawn wagon, travelers, and trees blanketed in snow.
Dame Shirley (Mrs. Clappe), Letters from a Western Pioneer, 1851–1852
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40 Min

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Golden Gate Bridge spanning the water with a city skyline in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Frank Lecouvreur, From East Prussia to the Golden Gate, 1851–1871
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a suit and bow tie.
Henry David Thoreau, “Slavery in Massachusetts,” 1854
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40 Min

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Bearded man in a hat, wearing a dark coat, seated against a dark background.
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1855
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40 Min

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A serene landscape featuring a steamboat and small boats on a tranquil lake surrounded by mountains and cloudy skies.
Art Analysis: Hudson River School Landscape Paintings, 1836–1868
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40 Min

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Photos of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
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40 Min

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Historic drawing of a large crowd in a grand hall, with people gathered for an event, featuring ornate architecture.
South Carolina Secession Debate, 1860
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40 Min

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A woman draped in white symbolizes progress, set against a landscape of livestock and settlers in the westward expansion era.
Art Analysis: American Progress by John Gast, 1872
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40 Min

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A historic illustrated map titled "Scott's Great Snake," depicting a winding route through the United States with various landmarks.
J.B. Elliott, Scott’s Great Snake (Anaconda Plan), 1861
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40 Min

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Three historic cannons on a grassy field with a wooden house and church steeple in the background.
Daniel Emmett’s “Dixie” and Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” 1859 and 1861
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40 Min

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Document certifying land application for Daniel F. Hannan, dated January 20, 1868, from the Land Office at Homestead.
The Homestead Act of 1862
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40 Min

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A historic scene depicting soldiers near makeshift graves, with a horse and figures in the background.
Mathew Brady, The Dead of Antietam Photography, 1862
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40 Min

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Depiction of a chaotic Civil War battle scene with soldiers, horses, and civilians amidst destruction.
Images of Total War: Sherman’s March to the Sea, 1865
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40 Min

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Cartoon depicting Lincoln and a caricatured figure repairing a map of the United States to symbolize Union restoration.
Cartoon Analysis: The “Rail Splitter” at Work Repairing the Union, 1865
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40 Min

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Men gathered in an office of the Freedmen's Bureau in Memphis, Tennessee, discussing assistance and support.
Comparing Views of the Freedmen’s Bureau, 1866
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40 Min

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Historic courtroom scene with a jury, judge, and attorneys during a trial, depicting an 18th-century legislative assembly.
Andrew Johnson’s Veto of the Civil Rights Act, 1866
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40 Min

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An illustration depicting a man standing with his arms outstretched, wearing torn clothing, against a textured background.
Cartoon Analysis: Thomas Nast on Reconstruction, 1869–1874
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40 Min

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Cartoon of a rotund man with a dollar sign for a head, captioned about Tammany's victory at a convention.
Cartoon Analysis: Thomas Nast Takes on “Boss” Tweed, 1871
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40 Min

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Promotional poster for Indian land for sale, listing properties and prices in various states. Historical context included.
The Dawes Act, 1887
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40 Min

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Black and white photograph of a group of ten Indigenous individuals posed outdoors, with a building in the background.
Images from the Carlisle Indian School, 1880s
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a man with a mustache, wearing a suit and bow tie.
Grover Cleveland’s Veto of the Texas Seed Bill, 1887
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40 Min

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Portrait of Edward Bellamy alongside the cover of his book "Looking Backward."
Edward Bellamy, Looking Backward, 2000–1887, 1888
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40 Min

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The front page of a pamphlet titled Southern Horrors, Lynch Law in All Its Phases.
Ida B. Wells, “Lynch Law,” 1893
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40 Min

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A man in period clothing sits at a desk surrounded by stacks of books and documents in a vintage office setting.
Frederick Jackson Turner, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” 1893
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40 Min

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A historical black-and-white photo of a man speaking to a large crowd outdoors.
Booker T. Washington, “Speech to the Cotton States and International Exposition,” 1895
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40 Min

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A caricature of Uncle Sam speaking to an immigrant at a gateway, depicting issues of immigration and nationality.
Cartoon Analysis: Immigration in the Gilded Age, 1882–1896
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40 Min

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Political cartoon depicting a man holding a cross and a crown of thorns, with labels referencing political themes.
William Jennings Bryan, “Cross of Gold” Speech, 1896
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40 Min

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Illustration of an eagle over a map of the United States, labeled "1898" with various territories marked.
Redfield Proctor vs. Mark Twain on American Imperialism, 1898–1906
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40 Min

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A political cartoon depicting a man digging a canal on a map highlighting North and South America.
Cartoon Analysis: A Lesson for Anti-Expansionists, Victor Gillam, 1899
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40 Min

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A man in a light gray suit and tie, standing outdoors with a neutral expression against a textured background.
Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, 1906
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40 Min

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Historic image of young male workers in a factory setting, with machinery and tools visible in the background.
Lewis Hine, Photographs Documenting Child Labor, 1908
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40 Min

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Three women in early 20th-century attire, wearing large hats, standing outside a building with steps.
Elihu Root vs. William Jennings Bryan on Women’s Suffrage, 1894–1914
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a woman with wavy hair and a serious expression, wearing a high-collared garment.
Carrie Chapman Catt, Open Address to the U.S. Congress, 1917
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40 Min

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Black and white newspaper advertisement featuring Jack O'Connor promoting Coca-Cola with a call to action.
Business and Advertising in the Early Twentieth Century, 1910–1917
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40 Min

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Black and white photo of protestors holding banners demanding the release of political prisoners.
The Espionage Act of 1917
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40 Min

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Profile portrait of a young man set against a stylized background with decorative plants and geometric shapes.
George M. Cohan, Over There, 1917
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40 Min

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A historical photo of soldiers in uniform with a man in a top hat, standing in front of a building.
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, 1918
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40 Min

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A woman stands at the base of a stairway labeled with various occupations, symbolizing social mobility and opportunity.
Cartoon Analysis: Elmer Andrews Bushnell, “The Sky Is Now Her Limit,” 1920
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40 Min

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A cartoon depicting Uncle Sam delivering a message to imprisoned figures labeled "Lenin" and "Trotsky".
Mitchell Palmer, “The Case against the Reds,” 1920
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a man seated at a desk, wearing formal attire and looking towards the camera.
Marcus Garvey, “Declaration of the Rights of the Negro Peoples of the World,” 1920
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40 Min

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A group of women of different ethnicities and cultural dress stand together and hold signs that read No More War.
Alice Paul and the Equal Rights Amendment (Lucretia Mott Amendment), 1923
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40 Min

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A man in a suit examines a document, with a serious expression, standing in an indoor setting.
Ellison DuRant Smith, “Shut the Door,” 1924
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40 Min

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Man typing on a typewriter at a desk, with a lamp illuminating the workspace.
Langston Hughes, “I, Too” and “The Weary Blues,” 1920 and 1925
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40 Min

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A vintage black and white photo of a jazz band with musicians posing with various instruments on stage.
Andy Razaf (lyrics), Thomas “Fats” Waller and Harry Brooks (score), “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Jazz and the Radio, 1929
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40 Min

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Historical image of a presidential inauguration with a crowd and ornate decorations at the event.
Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1933
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40 Min

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Mural depicting a diverse group of people engaged in various traditional activities and crafts.
Art Analysis: The Art of the New Deal, 1934
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40 Min

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A smiling man in a light suit raises his arms in celebration inside a building.
Huey Long and the American Liberty League, 1934
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40 Min

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A man and two children walking through a dusty landscape near a dilapidated wooden house.
Photographs: The Dust Bowl and Rural Poverty, 1936–1937
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Activity

40 Min

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A man in a suit is holding a pipe, seated in an office with wooden furniture in the background.
“Sit Down,” Maurice Sugar, 1936–1937
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Activity

40 Min

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Historical black-and-white photo of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill at a military conference.
The Atlantic Charter, 1941
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40 Min

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Man in a suit standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial statue, with an inscription in the background.
A. Philip Randolph, The Call to Negro America to March on Washington, 1941
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Activity

40 Min

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Two men working together on an aircraft with an American flag in the background, featuring the text "UNITED WE WIN."
World War II Propaganda Posters, 1941–1945
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40 Min

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Rosie the Riveter, Women Working during WWII
Photographs: Women at Work on the Homefront during World War II, 1941–1945
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40 Min

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Franklin D. Roosevelt seated at a desk with multiple microphones during a radio broadcast.
Franklin Roosevelt, Second Bill of Rights, 1944
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40 Min

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A black and white photo of military personnel listening to a commanding officer in a camp setting.
Dwight Eisenhower, D-Day Statement, 1944
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40 Min

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A pilot stands beside a vintage aircraft with palm trees in the background.
Phil “Bo” Perabo, Letter Home, 1945
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40 Min

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A black and white photograph of a cemetery with numerous wooden crosses in a grassy field.
Images from the Congressional Committee Investigating Nazi Atrocities, 1945
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40 Min

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Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin seated together, surrounded by military officials.
Winston Churchill, “Sinews of Peace,” March 1946
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40 Min

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Aerial view of a suburban area with densely arranged houses and winding roads.
Levittown Videos, 1947–1957
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Activity

40 Min

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Man in a suit and glasses writing on paper at a desk, looking focused.
Harry S. Truman, “Truman Doctrine” Address, March 1947
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40 Min

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A man in a suit with a tie and pocket square, seated and looking intently at the camera.
George Kennan (“Mr. X”), “Sources of Soviet Conduct,” July 1947
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40 Min

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A man in a suit sits at a desk with hands clasped, speaking into the camera against a curtained background.
Richard Nixon, “Checkers” Speech, September 1952
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40 Min

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The interior of a vintage bus featuring a statue of a seated man and empty green upholstered seats.
Rosa Parks’s Account of the Montgomery Bus Boycott (Radio Interview), April 1956
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40 Min

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Black and white photograph of a man looking thoughtfully while leaning against a wall with various objects around him.
Critics of Postwar Culture: Jack Kerouac, On the Road (Excerpts), 1957
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40 Min

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Black and white image of a man in a suit speaking at a podium, with curtains and a desk in the background.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Farewell Address, January 1961
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40 Min

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Art installation featuring a colorful map of the USA made from TVs and neon lights displaying various images.
Nam Paik, Electronic Superhighway, 1995
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Activity

40 Min

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John F. Kennedy smiling in a suit, standing near a wall with hanging items, black and white photo.
John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
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40 Min

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Photograph of Betty Friedan.
Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique, 1963
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a woman in a light-colored blouse, smiling at the camera.
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962
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40 Min

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Students participating in a protest in a Marquette classroom, surrounded by desks and a chalkboard.
Students for a Democratic Society, “Port Huron Statement,” 1962
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Activity

40 Min

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A split image of Martin Luther King Jr., one side showing him in a police mugshot, the other in a contemplative pose in jail.
Martin Luther King Jr., “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” 1963
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Activity

40 Min

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking to a large crowd during the March on Washington, with the Lincoln Memorial in the background.
Martin Luther King Jr., “I Have a Dream,” August 28, 1963
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Activity

40 Min

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A naval ship navigating through open water on a clear day.
The Tonkin Gulf Resolution, 1964
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Activity

40 Min

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A man stands at a podium with the Presidential seal, addressing an audience against a curtain backdrop.
Lyndon B. Johnson, “Peace Without Conquest,” April 7, 1965
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Activity

40 Min

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A smiling man in military uniform stands outdoors wearing a flower lei, with palm trees in the background.
The Vietnam War Experience: An Interview with Veteran William Maxwell Barner III
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Activity

40 Min

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A man in military attire stands amidst a war-torn landscape, speaking to a camera.
Walter Cronkite Speaks Out against Vietnam, February 27, 1968
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40 Min

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Black and white image of a group of civil rights activists, including a speaker holding a "WE SHALL OVERCOME" sign.
Music as Protest: “We Shall Overcome”
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40 Min

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Four women seated on a couch, engaged in conversation in a wooden-paneled room.
National Organization for Women (NOW), Bill of Rights, 1968
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40 Min

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Sign on a wall with red lettering stating "Welcome Indian Land" and information about Alcatraz Island property.
Indians of All Tribes, Alcatraz Proclamation, 1969
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Activity

40 Min

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Black and white image of President Nixon seated at a desk, conversing with a standing man in an office setting.
Nixon Tapes: The “Smoking Gun” Tape, 1972
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40 Min

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Black-and-white image of protestors holding signs urging a boycott of grapes and lettuce.
Art as Protest: Images from the United Farm Workers of America, 1973–1978
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40 Min

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A hand placing a resignation letter on a table, with a small hand reaching for it.
Herblock, Watergate Cartoons, 1973–1974
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40 Min

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Black and white portrait of a woman with curly hair, smiling, wearing a collared garment.
Barbara Jordan, Speech on Impeachment, July 25, 1974
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40 Min

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Jimmy Carter sits at a desk and signs a document.
Jimmy Carter, “Malaise” Speech, July 15, 1979
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40 Min

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Ronald Reagan sitting at a desk, looking down at a piece of paper in an office setting with windows in the background.
Ronald Reagan, Address to the Nation on the Challenger Disaster, January 28, 1986
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40 Min

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Ronald Reagan speaking at the Brandenburg Gate with flags in the background.
Ronald Reagan, “Tear Down this Wall” Speech, June 12, 1987
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40 Min

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Cartoon illustration of a man on a rocket labeled "STAR WARS PROGRAMS," surrounded by money bags and dollar signs.
Herblock, Cartoons of Ronald Reagan, 1984–1987
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40 Min

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A large display of banners and artwork spread across a plaza with the Washington Monument in the background.
AIDS Memorial Quilt, 1987
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40 Min

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Book cover for "The End of History and the Last Man" by Francis Fukuyama, featuring bold yellow and black text.
Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History?”, 1989
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40 Min

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George H.W. Bush speaks at a podium with the White House in the background, addressing an audience.
George H. W. Bush, Address to the United Nations General Assembly, September 23, 1991
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40 Min

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Maya Angelou delivers a poem at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton, wearing a dark coat and gold earrings.
Maya Angelou, “On the Pulse of Morning,” January 20, 1993
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40 Min

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Newt Gingrich speaks at a podium, holding a large document titled "Contract with America," while another man stands behind him.
Republican House Representatives, “Republican Contract with America,” 1994
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40 Min

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Smiling man in a suit, standing in front of curtains and flags, representing an official portrait.
Barack Obama, Keynote Address at the Democratic National Convention, July 27, 2004
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40 Min

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Aerial view of the aftermath of a collapsed building, showing extensive destruction and debris.
New Yorker Covers, 2001–2011 (Reflections on 9/11)
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40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.