Research Help

Are you a teacher looking for lesson plans, source material for projects, etc? Perhaps you're a student in need of some help reviewing for a test or quiz? Maybe you're looking for ideas or help in writing an essay or term paper?

If any of the above applies to you, I've prepared this page to help you. This is a work-in-progress, so check back frequently for more updates...

Causes of the American Revolution

• "Causes of the American Revolution"
• "Declaration of Rights of The Stamp Act Congress" (1765)
• "Letters From a Pennsylvania Farmer" (1767-68)
• "The Coercive Acts" (1774)
• "Fairfax County Resolves" (1774)
• "Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms" (1775)
• "Liberty or Death!" -- Patrick Henry's famous call to arms (1775)

The Declaration of Independence

• Original draft of the Declaration of Independence (1776)
• Final text of the approved Declaration of Independence (1776)

Key Figures of Early American History

• "General George Washington"
• "Important Facts About General George Washington"
• Papers of George Washington (University of Virginia)
• Historic Mount Vernon: Home of George Washington
• Historic Monticello: Home of Thomas Jefferson
• Papers of Thomas Jefferson (Library of Congress)
• Papers of James Madison (University of Virginia)

Slavery in Early US History

• American Slave Narratives (University of Virginia)
• Documenting the American South: North American Slave Narratives (University of North Carolina)
• "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave" -- Douglass' autobiography
• Slavery and the Law in Virginia (Colonial Williamsburg)
• Five Founders on Slavery -- quotes from five of America's Founding Fathers
• "Washington: Slaveholder and Slave Liberator"

Women in Early US History

• "How Were Women Treated in Early America?"
• "Remember the ladies" -- Abigail Adams urges her husband to support women's rights
• Notable Women of Early America

Formation of the Constitution and Government

• The Articles of Confederation (approved 1777, ratified 1781)
• The Virginia Plan - James Madison's blueprint for the Constitutional Convention (1787)
• Constitution of the United States (approved 1787, ratified 1788)
• George Washington's First Inaugural Address (1789)
• Virginia Declaration of Rights - a model for the national bill of rights (1776)
• The Bill of Rights (1791)

The War of 1812

• "Causes of the War of 1812" (article)
• A Review of the History Channel documentary -- "First Invasion: The War of 1812" (article)
• President James Madison's War Message to Congress (1812)

Recommended Books for History Class Projects or Papers

• A Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier by Joseph Plumb Martin
• Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (with additional writings) by Ben Franklin
• John Adams by David McCullough
• 1776 by David McCullough
• Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis

Quotes from the Founding Fathers

• Quotes on Liberty and Freedom from the Founding Fathers 

Misc Help for Students

• "How to Master History Class"

**This page is a work-in-progress. If you have specific questions, please email me at brianetubbs [at] yahoo.com