Featured Online Resource - OurDocuments.gov (National Archives)

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has created a web site where they are featuring 100 of the most important documents in United States history.

(Eli Whitney's patent for the cotton gin)

OurDocuments.gov featured documents from the Lee Resolution in 1776 through the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  In addition to well-known documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, you can view:

• The patent for the cotton gin.
• The check written for the purchase of Alaska.
• An aerial photo of missiles in Cuba. and
• The original program for the March on Washington

The entire list of document can be found here: 100 Milestone Documents.

The site also includes a section of Tools for Educators that provides ideas on how these important primary sources could be used in the classroom

Of course, these are just a sampling of the documents available from the National Archives, so take the time to browse that site as well!

The Manhattan Project Notebook (1942)