Topic: Ideas & Ideologies
Lesson Plan
Revise and Finalize: The Declaration of Independence from the Rough Draft to the Final Copy
This lesson focuses on comparing Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence with the final copy. Examining the creation of the Declaration of Independence will deepen their understanding...
Article
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Thomas Jefferson wanted his tombstone to list the “things that he had given the people.” It reads: “Here was buried Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of Independence of The Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom And Father of the University of Virginia.” Why did Jefferson want the Statute for Religious Freedom on his tombstone?
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13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution, passed by Congress in January 1865 and ratified by the states in December of the same year, proclaimed an end to slavery in the...
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14th Amendment
This amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1866 and ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to those born in the United States, guaranteeing the rights of citizenship and equal protection under...
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15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution was passed by Congress in 1869 and ratified by the states in 1870. It guaranteed that the right to vote would be granted to...
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19th Amendment
This document is the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which guarantees women the right to vote. The amendment was first introduced to Congress in 1878 and it took over...
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35th Annual Naturalization Keynote
In this July 4 naturalization ceremony speech at Monticello, General Colin Powell uses his family history and a close reading of the Preamble of the Declaration of Independence to discuss...
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38th Annual Naturalization Keynote
In this July 4 naturalization ceremony speech at Monticello, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright reflects on her memories of immigrating, and discusses how immigrants have contributed to and changed the...
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44th Annual Naturalization Keynote
In this July 4 naturalization ceremony speech at Monticello, the architect IM Pei begins by admiring Jefferson’s skill in designing Monticello and his interest in exploring other cultures. As an...
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