A satire on dissension and political intrigue within Andrew Jackson's administration, surrounding the Spring 1831 resignations of several members of his Cabinet. In the center Jackson sits in a collapsing chair, labeled "The Hickory Chair is coming to pieces at last." Seated on the arm of his chair is a rat with the head of Postmaster General William T. Barry. On the floor before him is a pile of resignations with a broken clay pipe, and a brazier. He sweeps with a broom at a number of rats scurrying at his feet, and in the act knocks over the "Altar of Reform" toppling a winged ass also holding a broom. The rats have heads of (from left to right) Secretary of State Martin Van Buren, Secretary of War John H.Eaton, "D. I. O."(?), Navy Secretary John Branch, and Treasury Secretary Samuel D. Ingham. John Calhoun is a terrier which menaces the Van Buren rat. Van Buren, threatened by an eagle while attempting to climb the "Ladder of Political Preferment" whose rungs are labeled with the names of the states, says, "If I could only humbug that Eagle and climb up this ladder." Calhoun: "You don't get up if I can help it." Eaton: "I'm off to the Indians." Branch: "This from the greatest and best of men." Ingham: "Is this the reward of my Patriotic disinterestedness." In a doorway marked "Skool of Reform" appears a man in a visored cap and fur-trimmed coat saying, "There's Clay, and this is all Clays doings." Daniel Webster and Henry Clay (with raised arms) look in through a window. Webster: "That Terrier has nullified the whole Concern." Clay: "Famine! War! Pestilence!"|Cock of the Walk fecit. (Edward Williams Clay).|Entered . . . 1831 by E.W. Clay.|Publd by E.W. Clay, S.E. corner of Walnut and 4th St. Philada.|The print appears to have been derived from William James Hubbard's portrait of Jackson, or from Albert Newsam's 1830 lithograph reproducing the painting. A pencil sketch believed by Davison to be Clay's sketch for the print is in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. The Library's impression of ".0001" was deposited for copyright on May 5, 1831. Davison also lists a second edition of the print. Two anonymous versions of the print, possibly derived from ".00001," were published under the title "The Rats leaving a falling house." (See 1831-2).|Title appears as it is written on the item.|Davison, no. 32 (sketch), 56 and 57.|Murrell, p. 109-110.|Weitenkampf, p. 24.|Forms part of: American cartoon print filing series (Library of Congress)|Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1831-1.

Poster showing a holly-decked candle in a window, with the Red Cross symbol in its glow. Forms part of: Willard and Dorothy Straight Collection.

Poster is text only. Published by the National War Savings Committee, 18 & 19, Abingdon Street, Westminster, S.W. Poster no. 18. 20m. Wt. 5213/331. (7940). Title from item.

Poster showing a man raising the American flag, with a minuteman cheering and an eagle flying above. Text continues: 'Tis the Star Spangled Banner, oh, long may it wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Monogram unidentified. Forms part of: Willard and Dorothy Straight Collection.

Jeffrey Rosen of the National Constitution Center in conversation with Walter Isaacson of the Aspen Institute. Created by Aspen Institute.

Jeffrey Rosen of the National Constitution Center in conversation with Walter Isaacson of the Aspen Institute. Created by Aspen Institute.

This site recounts the struggle for control of Hawaii between native Hawaiians and American business interests in the late 1800s. This 1897 petition and a lobbying effort by native Hawaiians convinced the U.S. Congress not to annex the islands. But months later the U.S.S. Maine exploded in Havana and the Spanish-American War began. The U.S. needed a mid-Pacific fueling station and naval base.

Primary source images, standards correlation, and teaching activities are included in this resource.

By the 1920s, a majority of the US population lived in cities rather than in rural areas. In this video, Kim explores the economic opportunities cities offered to women, migrants, and immigrants, as well as the passage of new immigration restrictions.

In this second video giving an overview of World War II, we see Germany and the Axis powers only continue to gain momentum in 1940.

In 1941, the Axis gains further momentum with control of most of Continential Europe. Hitler decides to break pact and invade Stalin's Soviet Union. United States enters World War II after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

In 1942 we see the Axis get pushed back in North Africa and get bogged down in the Soviet Union. The tide of war turns in favor of the Allies.

In 1943, the tide really turns in favor of the Allies in World War II. They are able to push the Axis out of N.Africa and force a surrender from Italy (along with Mussolini being deposed). The Soviets are able to start pushing the Axis out of the Soviet Union.

As we go into 1944, we see the allies land at Normandy, liberate France and face Germany in their last major counteroffensive at the Battle of the Bulge. On the Eastern Front, the Soviets end Siege of Leningrad and begin to push through Poland and Romania. In the south, Allies land in southern France and take Rome.

1945 marks the end of World War II. V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) is May 8th 1945. War doesn't end in the Pacific until August of 1945 with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Poster showing a crowd of workers measuring and outfitting a seated monumental man with uniform and supplies. Title continues: It takes the best co-operative efforts of from six to twenty workers at home to properly equip and maintain one American soldier at the front. [...] With consistent help and encouragement for their wage-earning partners and themselves, from all classes of the people, American industry can and will win this war for human liberty. Breeders of industrial war at home must be eliminated. National co-operation is the slogan to insure victory for Democracy over Autocracy. Issued by the National Industrial Conservation Movement, 30 Church Street, New York City. Copies supplied on request. No. E-7. Title from item.

This resource  looks at experiences of LGBTQ+ Americans, focusing on the 20th century and after: how their differences have been accepted or rejected by society, and the extent to which they have shared in the rights and opportunities afforded to straight Americans. The United States has always been a very diverse society, albeit dominated by straight white men of Western European descent.  In many ways, American history is largely about how the US as a country has dealt with this diversity and with human difference, and that continues to be the case today.   This resource thus seeks to inform contemporary debate, to help students and adults understand that variations in gender and sexuality are part of the human condition that should be more widely discussed and understood. And that these differences do not provide a basis for denying these Americans the American promise of full legal equality and opportunity without discrimination.  

This module will look at experiences of LGBTQ+ Americans: how their differences have been accepted or rejected by society, and the extent to which they have shared in the rights and opportunities afforded to straight Americans. The United States has always been a very diverse society, albeit dominated by straight white men of Western European descent.  In many ways, American history is largely about how we as a country have dealt with this diversity and with human difference, and that continues to be the case today.    This module thus seeks to inform contemporary debate, to help students understand that variations in gender and sexuality are part of the human condition that should be more widely discussed and understood. And that these differences do not provide a basis for denying these Americans the American promise of full legal equality and opportunity without discrimination.  

Overview of cycles of regulation, de-regulation and government in 20th century US capitalism. Created by Sal Khan.

The Own It! Handbooks are guide books for a transformative after-school, trauma-informed enrichment program. The 21st Century Health  Challenges & Inequities handbook provides  lessons & activities about essential elements of the American health and healthcare system. In 2020, the strengths and weaknesses of American health care were brought powerfully into each home by  the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Like  prior 20th century health crises --the 1918 flu, polio,   AIDS -- COVID-19 represented a fundamental challenge to all Americsans. This Handbook seeks to help us better understand how our healthcare systems can better serve the American people.Own It! also nurtures academic skills, personal growth and leadership. It uses history to connect our past to our future, as part of the Own Your History® (OYH) Collection. But Own It! is not “school” and it differs from traditional approaches to history.  

Poster showing news photographs of the war effort by the Official British Press Bureau and by International Film in Leslie's, lists of hundreds of recent American volunteers, and addresses of recruiting stations. Photographs are captioned: Life in the United States training camps; That bombproof smile; Where Pershing will soon be; Signalling by daylight. The Mayor's Committee on National Defense, The Recruiting Committee, 50 East 42nd Street, New York. Bulletin No. 2. Forms part of: Willard and Dorothy Straight Collection.