U.S. History Links - Windows Live

Jonathan's profileU.S. History LinksBlogLists

1877 - 1900

Redemption, Populism, Industrialisation, Imperialism


Theodore Roosevelt, The Strenuous Life: Essays & Addresses (1900) The first chapter, TR's speech of the same title as the book offers a useful summation of the imperialist agenda within the Republican Party. A great way of exploring why the USA acquired an empire in 1898.

William Jennings Bryan, The "Cross Of Gold" Speech 1896 William Jennings Bryan was Democrat/Populist nominee for the presidency in 1896. This famous speech secured his reputation as one of the nation's foremost speakers. what does it tell us about the populist agenda of 1896?

Populism - The People's or Populist Party of the 1890s Worth Robert Miller's great site containing images, documents, historiography and analysis of the populist movement in the 1890s. A great place to begin.

United We Stand? Tom Watson on Interracial Southern Populism (1892) Leading Georgia populist Tom Watson offers an insight into the racial politics of populism in the South during the early 1890s.

Keep Off the Grass!: Coxey’s Army Invades the Nation’s Capital (1894) This march of unemployed men to the nation's capital was not the the only one during the 1890s, or since. The speech written by leader Jacob Coxey wasn't delivered at the time due to his arrest. What does it tell us about the the agenda of the populists?

The Omaha Platform: Launching the Populist Party (1892) This party platform codified the local populist agenda that had existed for a least a decade prior to the founding of the People's Party (aka the Populist Party) in 1892. What does it tell us about the concerns of the populists core constituency?

Alcohol, Temperance & Prohibition Searchable database of articles and posters from the temperance campaigns of the late 19th/early 20th centuries.

Five Justices & The Grand Commission Online documentary covering the role of the US Supreme Court in deciding the disputed presidential election of 1876. Click on each section to be guided through the origins and solution to the controversy.

Harpweek: Finding Precedent - Hayes v. Tilden Excellent site covering the controversy over the 1876 presidential election. Explores the issues that led to compromise and the final death knell of the Reconstruction era.

The American Variety Stage How did the urbanites of the late 19th and early 20th century entertain themselves? This Library of Congress collection of of video, sound and memorabilia allows us to explore the context and content of Vaudeville.

The World's Columbian Exposition: Idea, Experience, Aftermath. A "virtual tour" of the 1893 exposition.

Introduction: The White City Contains pictures and images of the white city.

World's Columbia Exposition of 1893 Site provided by the Illinois Institute of Technology. Contains images and essays on the exposition. The Christopher Robert Reed essay is particularly useful.

Frederick Jackson Turner, The Frontier in American History Full text of the Turner thesis.

The History of Jim Crow Valuable collection of maps, testimony and other resources detailing the development and destruction of Jim Crow laws in the United States.

Without Sanctuary A collection of photographs/souvenirs documenting lynch law in the United States. This important site contains photographs of some truly brutal crimes.

Landmark Cases Supreme Court: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) School site that provides a useful lesson in how local cases can come to assume national significance. In this case the court ruling became a cornerstone for the institution of a legalised system of racial segregation that lasted for 50 years.

Henry Demarest Lloyd, "The Lords of Industry," North American Review 331 (June 1884) Critique of "Robber Barons" such as Andrew Carnegie.

Andrew Carnegie, "Wealth", North American Review 1889 One of America's super-rich of the Gilded Age era explains the virtues and responsibilities of his extraordinary wealth.

Links to Articles on life in the steel industry

The American 1890s: a Chronology Exactly what the title suggests.

The Era of William McKinley Contains a few useful documents/articles relating to the president.

Labor-Management Conflict in American History Links to documents relating to the Anthracite Coal Strike, Homestead, etc.

Jacob A. Riis, How the Other Half Lives (1890) Landmark study of tenement life in New York City.

Father Knows Best?: Strikers Denounce Pullman Statement of Pullman striker outlining his loathing of George Pullman and his company.

Chicago Metro History Fair: 1894: The Pullman Strike CommissionReport Four transcripts of testimonies before the United states StrikeCommission.

“For the Further Benefit of Our People”: George Pullman AnswersHis Strikers George Pullman justifies the wage cuts that led to the 1894 strike.

Enter To Discover Pullman's Real Industrial Model City and Reasons for the Great Strike in 1894 Long title, but features some useful images and biographies regarding the strike.

Broken Spirits: Letters on the Pullman Strike Letters from the Governor of Illinois regarding the aftermath of the strike.

1896: the Presidential Campaign: Cartoons and Commentary Excellent site detailing the personalities and issues of the 1896 election. Well resourced.

New York Public Library: A War in Perspective, 1898-1998 A great resource for discovering the contemporary context in which the United States embarked on war with Spain. Plentiful examples of media coverage.

The Spanish-American War in Motion Pictures Exactly as the title might suggest. Early film footage of the conflict, troop preparations etc.

The World Of 1898: The Spanish-American War Library of Congress Site containing maps/chronologies of conflict.

Crucible of Empire: The Spanish American War Great PBS site containing newspaper articles, music from the period. Very useful for coverage of the USS Maine sinking.

De Lôme Letter (1898) A reproduction and text of the letter that contributed to war fever in the US in 1898.

Anti-Imperialism and the United States, 1898-1935 Selection of texts covering opposition to the Spanish-American Conflict. Also useful for exploring the nature of inter-war isolationist sentiment.

1900-1917

Washington vs. Du Bois, Progressivism, Women's Suffrage


Urban Experience in Chicago: Hull-House And Its Neighborhoods Comprehensive well resourced site from the University of Illinois that provides a wealth of material on those at the forefront of social welfare progressivism.

"Aid Poor By Respect: Miss Jane Addams Tells Club Women Patronage Is Worse Than Useless," Chicago Record-Herald (June 2, 1906). This newspaper report outlines the motivations of one of the leading lights of the settlement house movement Jane Addams.

Booker T. Washington, “Cast Down Your Bucket Where You Are" TheAtlanta Compromise speech, 1895. Contains text of the famous "Atlanta Compromise" speech.

Miller Center: Woodrow Wilson Speeches Transcripts of all the significant speeches made by Wilson during his two terms in the White House.

Theodore Roosevelt, State of the Union Message, Dec. 1901 After dealing with the assassination of McKinley, TR discusses the growth of massive corporations and what should be done about them.

ehistory: The Anthracite Coal Strike 1902 Timeline and documents detailing with the United Mine Workers strike of 1902 and the role of the presidency in negotiating a settlement.

Theodore Roosevelt, "The Man With The Muck Rake" April 15, 1906 Roosevelt's comments on the journalists and social reformers who highlighted the problems in American society during the 1900s. What does it tell us about his attitude toward social problems?

Theodore Roosevelt, "The Case Against The Reactionaries", June 17, 1912 TR announces the formation of a new Party, the Progressive Party, in order for him to enter the 1912 presidential election against his former vice-pres. William Howard Taft. How did TR portray the progressive agenda?

The Origins of American Animation Another great Library of Congress resource. Contains early animation (1900-1921) that refelects the development of animation and social, cultural and political issues of the period.

The Authentic History Center: Early 1900s Political speeches, cartoons, documents, images of cultural artefacts. A great resource.

Suffragists Oral History Project Testimonies from women involved in the struggle for the vote.

Votes For Women: Selections From the NAWSA Collection, 1848-1921 Documents from the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) giving an incite into the struggle for suffrage from Seneca Falls to the vote.

The Triangle Factory Fire, 1911 Includes testimonials, documents and photographs recounting the tragedy when 146 immigrant workers died in a fire in their factory in New York.

H-SHGAPE: Gilded Age and Progressive Era Resources Motherlode of internet resources covering the United states from 1890-1920s. Well worth a look.

Women of Protest: Photographs From the Records Of the National Women's Party Pictures and other information regarding the activities of the militant wing of the women's suffrage movement.

The Evolution of the Conservation Movement Library of Congress site providing documents that detail the connection between progressivism and conservation.

Theodore Roosevelt: His Life and Times On Film Gives you exactly what you would expect. Contains film footage and sound recordings from the 1912 election.

Inside an American Factory: Films of the Westinghouse Works, 1904 Library of Congress site allowing you to view footage from inside Westinghouse's various factories, building electricity generators, airbrakes, etc. filmed in 1904.

W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk (1903) Project Gutenburg Site: Allows you to download the full text ofDu Bois' 1903 text - if you don't want to buy it.

The History of Jim Crow: Jim Crow Inside the South Click on each state to see a chronology of each state's Jim Crowlegislation.

America at Work, America at Leisure: Motion Pictures from 1894-1915 Library of Congres website containing early motion pictures of American leisure activities.

W. E. B. Du Bois, “Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others." Chapter from Du Bois's Souls of Black Folk, critiquing Booker t.Washington.

The Booker T. Washington Papers The online edition of the collected papers of Booker T. Washington.

The Armory Show Virtual Exhbit (1913) This site presents the exhibition, named after New York's 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue where it was held. The show provided Americans an introduction to modern art that led to a highly critical response from those used to figurative art.

1917-1929

Red Scare, Normalcy, Consumerism, Scopes Trial, Klan, Harlem


Robert and Helen Lynd, The Automobile Comes to Middletown, 1924 Middletown, in reality Muncie Illinois, was the subject of the Lynd's sociological study. This section charts the impact of one aspect of consumer society on family life: the rise of car ownership.

The Klan Manual, 1925 an outline of the structure and values of the 1920s Ku Klux Klan from one of its manuals

Arthur Kallet and F. J. Schlink, 100,000,000 Guinea Pigs, Dangers in Everyday Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics Extract from popular Depression-era text that critiques the the tactics of American industry that developed in the previous decade. Contains echoes of the progressive agenda of the early 1900s.

Roland Marchand: "The New Woman" Images of the emancipation and progress of the American woman in the 1920s and 1930s Roland Marchand was a historian of modern American cultural consumption. This page offers slides and text from magazines helping understand the changing image/role of women through the 1910s/1920s.

Famous American Trials: Sacco & Vanzetti (1921) Site covering the trial of two immigrant Italian anarchists that became a national sensation. What does their conviction & execution tell us about attitudes toward immigrants and radical politics?

FIRST CALL: American Posters of World War One Online version of an exhibiton at Georgetown university. A Great collection of recruiting posters, calls for war bonds and other domestic issues. Great for seeing how Germany and Germans became demonized.

The Authentic History Center: World War One Music, speeches, posters and cartoons from this site holding a vast archive of popular culture source material.

The Stars and Stripes: The American Soldiers' Newspaper of WorldWar One Copies of the armed services' newspaper from 1918-1919.

Emmet J. Scott, The American Negro in the World War Full text of early analysis of the black role in World War One by Emmet J. Scott, Special adjutant to the Secretary of war and former secretary of Booker T. Washington.

American Leaders Speak: Recordings from World War I and the 1920Election. Text and audio recordings of speeches from politicians on a range of subjects.

America's Secret War: American Intervention In The Russian Civil War, 1918-1920 Documents and photographs exploring the intervention in the Russian Civil War.

Red Scare (1918-1921), an Image Database. Photographs and cartoons relating to the postwar conservative backlash.

A Mitchell Palmer, "The Case Against the 'Reds,'" Forum (1920), 63:173- 185. Article by the U.S. Attorney General justifying the tactics of the post World War One Red Scare.

Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 Archive -- Photographs The University of Tulsa's collection of photographs and postcards documenting the 16 hours of rioting, that led to 800 people being admitted to local hospitals, an estimated 10,000 left homeless, 35 city blocks destroyed by fire and 39 dead.

Famous American Trials: The Black Sox Trial, 1921 What does it say about a country when a sports team decide to throw one of its major sporting events for money? In 1919,8 members of the Chicago White Sox threw the World Series. This site traces what happened when they faced trial in 1921.

The Red Hot Jazz Archive This site provides film, audio and biography of the early jazz greats, tracing their roots and the roots of the music in the 19th and early 20th century. If you want to understand the development of an important strand of popular culture look here.

Famous Trials in American History: Tennessee Vs. John Scopes, The "Monkey Trial" 1925. Transcripts and articles relating to the famous trial.

H. L. Mencken: The Scopes Trial Part of a website called "positive atheism", this page contains links to H.L. Mencken's witty, brutal newspaper reports of the Scopes Trial. The title of the first piece "Homo Neanderthalensis" sets the tone.

The Authentic History Center: 1920s Music, speeches, images from the decade. Worth exploring if you're examining the development of consumer culture.

Between The Wars: The Klan Rides Again Site containing documents and audio of the 20's era Klan.

“Art [and History] by Lightning Flash”:The Birth of a Nation and Black Protest Center For History & New Media site with a clip from the movie and examples of the protest letters written by those, led by the NAACP, seeking to stop the film being shown.

Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920's , Frederick Lewis Allen (1931) The Full text of Allen's influential work on the 1920s.

Radical Revolution Net: The Dearborn Independent Scanned copies of Henry Ford's company newspaper, contains examples of his racialised, anti-semitic worldview.

emplive: Sweet Home Chicago Part of a site devoted to the history of American Popular Music.Includes audio interviews with blues musicians explaining why they moved out of the South.

Great Migration inquiry project, Spring 2002 * Resources Page Great set of resources, including maps, detailing the nature ofthe Great Migration.

The African-American Mosaic: Chicago: Destination for the GreatMigration Site including a number of primary resources dealing with the causes and consequences of migration. Worth a look.

Harlem: Mecca of the New Negro Full Hypertext of the March 1925 edition of Survey Graphic. Contains contributions from many leading contributors to the Harlem Renaissance.

American radicalism: The Ku Klux Klan Original texts/documents care of Michigan State University library. Click on the text to view the documents. Well worth a look.

Rhapsodies in Black: The Art of the Harlem Renaissance Contains short essays and examples of artworks from the era.

Harlem, 1900-1940: An African-American Community Useful set of images relating to the Harlem Renaissance.

American Experiece: Monkey Trial Excellent site containing cartoons and popular songs(!) reklating to the trial, in addition to a detailed timeline.

Rhapsodies in Black: Art of the Harlem Renaissance Site accompanying a recent exhibition covering the Harlem Renaissance. Contains brief essays and examples of art.

Poster for the Milwaukee KKK inviting citizens to a summer 1924rally. Poster advertising klan rally in Milwaukee, 1924.

The Emergence of Advertising in America: 1850 - 1920: John W. Hartmann Center for Sales, Advertising and Marketing History Collection of advertisments from the early years of the advertising industry.

Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy, 1921-1929 Wide array of Library of Congress source materials from the 1920s that document the widespread prosperity of the Coolidge years, the nation's transition to a mass consumer economy, and the role of government in this transition.

1929-1939

Great Depression, New Deal


Huey Long, "Every Man A King" 1934 An fine example of the way the "Kingfish" became so increadibly popular during the early years of the depression.

Hoover Online!: Hoover and the Depression: Documents relating to the Hoover Administration's response to the Great Depression.

The Depression Papers of Herbert Hoover Was Herbert Hoover really the naive, aloof blunderer depicted by the Roosevelt Administration/every tv documentary on the Great Depression since? Make up your own mind with the help of these documents from his presidency.

The New Deal Network Massive resource of documents relating to the New Deal. Essential.

FDR & The Court-Packing Controversy Supreme Court history site that includes an online documentary regarding FDR's attempts to overcome a conservative Supreme Court by adding extra justices. Click on the link to start the documentary.

FDR Library: Fireside Chats Of Franklin D. Roosevelt So, we all know FDR reassured a worried nation through a series of radio messages, but what did he actually say? This archive gives you the full text of the critical addresses.

Studs Terkel: Recordings From Hard Times Studs Terkel has spent his entire career interviewing Americans about their experiences. This page from his website offers you the opportunity to listen to some of the inteviews conducted for Hard Times, his oral history of America in the 1930s.

America In The 1930s A remarkable website from the University of Virginia. Contains numerous examples of popular culture - including advertising and radio - as well as a helpful, detailed timeline.

Voices of the Dust Bowl: The Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Worker Collection Library of Congress site providing text and audio from California's migrant labour camps.

America From the Great Depression to World War II: Photgraphs from the FSA/OWI, 1935-1945. Library of Congress site including photgraphs by Dorothea Lange.

Action Comics, No. 1 (June 1938) Toward the end of the depression, Superman made his first appearance in this comic. The whole of it is reproduced here - what can Superman, and the other stories here, tell us about the period in which it was produced?

A Gullible Nation? A Closer Look At That Night Of Panic Great site offering full audio of the night in 1938 when Orson Welles convinced thousands of Americans that aliens had landed via a radio play of War of the Worlds. Provides context of the scare within American radio and world events.

Portrait of America: Survey Graphic In The 1930s Collection of articles from the magazine that charted the social development of the United States through the 1930s. A great resource.

1940-1945

Japanese American Internment, Civil Rights, Rosie The Riveter


The War: Themes & Topics Database A tie-in to the Ken Burns tv series for PBS, this site has film, photos, diaries, interviews etc covering combat and the home front - this is a truly excellent resource.

Bound for Glory: America in Color 1939-1943 Colour images taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. A great set of pictures you can use to investgate smalltown America in depression and war.

Studs Terkel: The Good War Studs Terkel was an oral historian who has spent much of the past fifty years talking to Americans about their life experiences. These selections were used in his book The Good War that traced the impact of World War Two on American society.

The Evacuation of the Japanese Following Pearl Harbor The late Roland Marchand's source task asks us to consider the competing forces that shaped policy toward Japanese Americans during World War Two and consider their effects.

"What We're Fighting For": American Visions of National Purposes and Social Relationships During World War II A great collection of posters/advertisements that asks students to develop an analysis of how these images aimed to either reflect or mould public opinion. Another fine resource from the late Roland Marchand.

FDR on African Americans in the Military (Sept 27 1940) The Miller Center For Political Affairs has produced this audio & transcription of FDR's discussion with A. Phillip Randolph and Walter White regarding the presence of African Americans in the US army. A truly incredible insight from over 60 years ago.

THE VOICES OF WWII FOR USE IN THE CLASSROOM This site provides audio and video testimonies from US war veterans. The site covers the European, Pacific and domestic fronts and the issue of Japanese-American internment.

Densho: Testimonies of Japanese American Incarceration Website full of the testimonies of Japanese-Americans incarcerated during World War Two. The site contains different sections privding chronology and maps. You must complete free registration to access the testimonies.

Voices of World War II: Experiences From the Front and at Home A collection of radio broadcasts and oral histories from the war era.

After the Day of Infamy: "Man-on-the-Street" Interviews Following the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Audio interviews with American citizens.

The Stanley Hayami Diary, 1941-1944. Stanley Hayami was a Japanese American student from Los Angeleswho attended high school at the Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming. This is his diary. An excellent resource.

PBS Zoot-Suit Riots Website exploring the race riot that hit Los Angeles in 1943. White servicemen and locals turned on young Mexican and African-Americans - especially those wearing Zoot-Suits. Find out about this conflict over race, space and fashion here.

The Authentic History Center: World war two In Toons See how Donald duck, Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny were used to confront the Nazis & Japanese in these excerpts.

Historic Government Publications From World War Two Southern Methodist University's collection of official government documents & pamphlets. Fully searchable, documents appear in PDF format.

“That’s Why I’m Marching”: Mobilizing African Americans for War Contains propaganda material designed to bring African Americans into the war effort. Contains propaganda film using the battle between Max Schmelling and Joe Louis as a metaphor for the broader conflict.

ROSIE THE RIVETER PROJECT A set of oral historries conducted with veterans of the home front. Requires adobe acrobat as the interviews open in PDF files.

Aliens In Our Midst (1942). On May 10, 1942 the University of Chicago Round Table broadcast Aliens In Our Midst over the Red Network of the National Broadcasting Company. This "radio discussion" broadcast from the University of Chicago raised questions such as "What are we doing abou

PRODUCE FOR VICTORY: Posters on the American Home Front (1941-45) World War II posters helped to mobilize a nation. Inexpensive, accessible, and ever-present, the poster was an ideal agent for making war aims the personal mission of every citizen. Government agencies, businesses, and private organizations issued an array

Radio Days: The Battle for Iwo Jima Contains radio accounts of some of the heaviest fighting of the Pacific War.

Voices of World War II: Experiences From the Front and at Home Great set of audio/pictures/documents dealing with all aspects of the home front from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Highly Recommended.

Doctor Seuss Went to War Wartime cartoons by the creator of the Cat in the Hat.

Donald Duck: The Spirit Of 1943 Disney cartoon in which Donald Duck takes on the axis.

NARA: Powers of Persuasion, Poster Art of World War II Exactly as it suggets.

African American mosaic: Cavalcade of the American Negro Documents relating to the black contribution to the Chicago exposition of 1940.

Rutgers Oral History Archives Go to "conflict index" to find interviews with people recallingtheir experiences on the American Home front.

Library of Congress: Rosie Pictures: Select Images Relating to American Women Workers During World War II Selection of photographs, posters and cartoons relating to the employment of women workers during World War Two.

A. Philip Randolph 1889-1979 Go to the civil rights section to view a few documents relatingto the MOWM.

1945-1960

Cold War, Anticommunism, Cultural Conformity, Eisenhower


The Truman Doctrine, March 12th, 1947 Truman Library copy of Harry Truman's speech which outlined the nature of the growing conflict between the United states and the Soviet Union. Explore the rest of the site for details of the dfarting process.

Executive Order 9835: Federal Loyalty Program, March 21st, 1947. Full text of the Truman loyalty order from teachingamericanhistory.org. The order was designed to root out communists from all branches of government service.

Arthur Miller, "Are You Now Or Were You Ever?" Playwright Arthur Miller's reflections on the postwar red scare - worth reading alone to see what effect his relationship with Marilyn Monroe had on HUAC - his response at the time was the Crucible.

"X Article" Sources of Soviet Conduct, George Kennan, July 1947. A core text by one of the chief architects of the Cold war strategy of Containment. Kennan was based in the U.S. embassy in Moscow. The text covered similar themes to the "long telegram" Kennan had written in February 1946.

Universal News reels: Hollywood 'Red' Probe Begins, October 1947 Newsreel detailing the start of HUAC hearings on Hollywood.

Statement by the President on the Government’s Employee Loyalty Program, November 14, 1947 "I believe I speak for all of the people of the United States when I say that disloyal and subversive elements must be removed from the employ of the Government." read on to explore the justification of the loyalty program.

Truth In Advertising - Cigarette Ads of the 40s and 50s If the 1950s marked a peak in American consumption, how were products sold to people - this features some masterpieces of advertising that sold the public cigarettes through aspiration.

“You Are the Un-Americans, and You Ought to be Ashamed of Yourselves”: Paul Robeson Appears Before HUAC Paul Robeson's testimony before HUAC from 1956.

The Literature & Culture of the American 1950s Large set of links relating to the decade. Useful for study of anticommunism.

1948: Year of Turmoil & Triumph Collection of documents from the Harry Truman Library.

Arthur Schlesinger, "Not Left, Not Right, But A Vital Center", New York Times Magazine, Sunday, April 4, 1948 (sec. 6) Article pointing to the development of the Cold War Liberal ideology by one of its key architects.

The Alger Hiss Trials, 1949-50 Website providing biography and transcripts of the trials of Alger Hiss, a State Dept employee charged with communist subversion and eventually sent to jail for perjury. The investigation, conducted by HUAC, made a star of Richard Nixon.

American Radicalism: The Hollywood Ten Group of 10 Hollywood producers, directors, and screenwriters who, questioned by the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947, refused to testify to possible communist affiliations. They were imprisoned and blacklisted.

Cold War: Excerpts from the Hollywood HUAC Hearings The page contains links to testimonies of four people called before the hearings of the House Committee during the hearings held to investigate subversion in the movie industry.

NSC 68: United States Objectives and Programs for National Security (1950) Planning document produced by Paul Nitze and presented to the National Security Council (hence the NSC) which outlines the nature of the threat posed by the Soviet Union.

American Radicalism: The Rosenberg Case. Accused of passing on atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death in 1951. Read documents relating to their failed campaign for clemency.

Senator Joseph McCarthy, Wheeling, W. Virginia Speech, February 9, 1950 Shorter version of the famous speech alledging communist subversion of the state dept.

Excerpts From Senate Proceedings on Senator Joe McCarthy's SpeechRelating to Communists in the State Department, Feb. 20, 1950 The congressional record of McCarthy's most infamous speech explaining the relationship between the rise of communism, the fall of China and infiltration of the US State Dept. Includes context of the speech. Look for the bold type for the speech itself

Censure Of Senator Joseph Mccarthy (1954) Full text of the Senate motion that damned the practices of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Herblock: Fire! Cartoons on McCarthyism Herb Block was an editorial cartoonist for the Washington Post from the 20s to the early 21st century. These cartoons are a great way of exploring the issues of McCarthyism and its impact on American life.

The Times Looks Back: Eisenhower vs Stevenson, 1952 & 1956. New York Times website offering articles covering the two presidential elections of the 1950s - both fought between Dwight Eisenhower (Rep.) & Adlai Stevenson (Dem.)

Senator Richard Nixon's Checkers Speech (1952) Richard Nixon's first major brush with corruption. Read how Nixon, as a vice-presidential nominee, attempts to reconcile the public with his alleged receipt of a secret $18,000 donation from backers.

Prelinger Archive: Communism (1952) Educational film outlining the perils of Communism.

Eisenhower Library: McCarthyism Documents detailing the response of President Eisenhower to the communist threat and the role of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

Eisenhower Library: The Rosenberg case Collection of documents detailing how the Eisenhower Adminstration dealt with clemency appeals regarding the execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for spying.

Edward R. Murrow:A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy See it Now (CBS-TV, March 9, 1954) Full transcript of the Ed Murrow's damaging investigation of Sen. Joseph McCarthy's practices.

“Have You No Sense of Decency”: The Army-McCarthy Hearings History Matters transcript that details the destruction of Senator Joseph McCarthy by attorney Joseph Welch. After the televised hearings, McCarthy, a broken man, succumbed to alcoholism, while Welch went on to star in the movie Anatomy Of A Murder.

This I Believe - Americans and their fundamental beliefs In the 1950s Edward Murrow asked American citizens, some famous some not, to record a 600-word statement of their fundamental beliefs. These brief essays, only 5 minutes when broadcast, provide us within an insight into the values of 1950s America.

The Beat Page Website full of short biographies of leading writers of the beat generation including Kerouac, Ginsberg and Burroughs. Also includes examples of their work and links to other sites. A good place to start when you're reconsidering 50s cultural conformity.

Prelinger Collection: Duck and Cover (1951) Watch/download this cheery/scary film giving kids advice on how to survive impending nuclear war. Fronted by an animated tortoise!?!

D E C L A S S I F I E D: The Nixon/Khruschev Kitchen Debate Short Colour clip of the infamous kitchen dbate between the soviet premier and the American Vice-President.

Levittown: Documents of an Ideal American Suburb Documents/photographs relating to the archtypal 1950s suburb.

The Kinsey Institute: Data from Alfred Kinsey's Studies Brief collection of data from Alfred Kinsey's two studies into sexuality: Sexual Bahavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953).

1960-1975

Cuba, SDS, Great Society, Women's Rights, Antiwar, Watergate


The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962: The 40th Anniversary Excellent collection of audio, documents and analysis from the National Security Archive.

The Cuban Missile Crisis: The Washington Post Full text of The Washington Post covering the period October 22nd to October 29th, 1962.

Free Speech Movement Digital Archive More documents from the University of California, Berkeley.

Free Speech Movement Archives Collection of speeches/documents from the Berkeley protests

SDS Documents Michigan Some quite specific documents. Also useful for study of the anti-war movement.

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum: Selected Speeches & Messages Useful collection of speeches outlining critical policy decisions/statements.

Lyndon Johnson Library & Museum: Media On Demand Audio and video of critical moments in the Johnson presidency.

TeachingAmericanHistory.Org - Lyndon Johnson Selection of Speeches, Documents relating to Johnson's Domestic & Foreign Policies.

You Tube: Republican For Johnson campaign ad (1964) 4 minute election broadcast in the form of a monologue by a liberal Republican talking to camera. As striking as the "Daisy" ad in its way. For other campaign adverts, explore the EASE history site in the general links section.

Lyndon Johnson, "The Great Society" University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, May 22, 1964 Lyndon Johnson's speech outlining the nature of the proposed Great Society/War On Poverty.

August 1968: Gore Vidal vs William F. Buckley (You Tube) Gore Vidal gets involved in a heated debate with conservative William F. Buckley over the American presidency. A row that gives you some idea of either how much these two hated each other, or the visceral nature of politics in 1968.

Richard Nixon, Address to the nation on the war in Vietnam ("Silent Majority" speech), November 3, 1969. Richard Nixon's election victory was partly a consequence of appealing the to the "silent majority". How does he define them here?

Peter Schrag, "The Forgotten American," Harper's, August 1969 Peter Schrag's piece for Harper's magazine captures the boiling resentment of those whites who felt ignored and disadvantaged by government policies designed to eradicate poverty. An example of the entrenched opposition to the movement.

“We Are Living in a State of Anarchy”: Radical Assessments and Agendas in theYear 1968 Six years prior to these statements, Tom Hayden had co-written the Port Huron statement. What had changed?

George Wallace for President 1968 Campaign Brochure In 1968, George Wallace, the former Governor of Alabama, ran as a thrid party presidential candidate. While he didn't win his appeal streched far outside the South.

In Touch: One of the students remebers Kent State This Ohio University page contains a video in which Dean Kahler, one of nine students wounded at Kent State on May 4 1970 revisits the events. Contains excellent footage of the event. A great oral history resource.

Google Video: Ronald Reagan "A Time For Choosing" 1964 Ronald Reagan first came to prominence as a politician in 1964 through this campaign speech for Republican Presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. The speech offers a glimpse of the origins of the New Right politics that Reagan represented in the 80s.

Mayor Richard Daley on the Community Action Program, Dec. 1965 Miller Center audio and transcription in which the mayor of Chicago, Richard Daley, voices his opposition to one of the central planks of the War on Poverty: the Community Action Program. A great example of the tensions the policy caused.

You Tube: NETWORK EVENING NEWS CBS,NBC,ABC, SUMMARY OF VIETNAM NEWS (65-68) Apparently these excerpts are taken from Vanderbilt University's recording of news reports from US networks between 1965 & 1968. These clips provide us with a chance to explore the meaning of the term "tv war".

You Tube: CBS News (Feb. 27, 1968) - Report from Vietnam Trusted CBS News Anchorman Walter Cronkite informs the nation that, after the Tet Offensive, the United States is now "mired in stalemate" in Vietnam. Full text is avaliable from History Matters in the general links section.

Stonewall and Beyond: Lesbian and Gay Culture Use the index to reach the stonewall section. Includes newspapers reports and photographs covering the events at the Stonewall Inn in 1969.

Sir! No Sir! Companion website to the documentary detailing the anti-Vietnam war movement within the U.S. military. Click on archives and resources to examine interviews, newspapers and photographs from the movement. An excellent collection.

A Visual Journey:Photographs by Lisa Law 1965-1971 During the late 1960s Lisa Law toured California photographing members of the counterculture and some of the critical events from the period. If you're looking for pictures to help understand the period, this is a good place to start.

The Hard Hat Riots: An Online History Project Details one of the backlashes against the antiwar movement.

University of Washington: Vietnam War Era Ephemera Collection Scanned copies of documents relating to a number of areas, including Vietnam, the Women's Movement and the Gay Rights Movement.

Kent State University Online Exhibits and Chronologies of May 4 1970 Kent State University in Ohio was the site of one of the most notorious protests of the Vietnam era when National guardsmen shot 4 students dead on May 4 1970. The university's library provides these useful chronologies to guide you through the events.

"The Harvard Law School Forum: Women - Dare We Not Discriminate?" Full audio of 1966 discussion between Betty Friedan and Pauli Murray.

History and Politics Out Loud Website with audio from key events of the 20th century. Includes tapes relating to the Cuban Missile Crisis, Civil Rights and Watergate.

Two Days in October Companion site to Pbs documentary detailing first violent anti-war demonstration on a U.S. university campus and the fortunes of one platoon of American soldiers in South Vietnam. Contains video interviews.

Winter Soldier Site documenting the role of veterans in the anti-vietnam war movment.

George Wallace: Settin the Woods on Fire Companion site to PBS Documentary

The CWLU Herstory Website Project: Classic Feminist Writings Valuable collection of key documents and articles

Documents from the Women’s Liberation Movement Comprehensive collection of primary documents.

Oyez: Roe v. Wade (1973) Outline of the case that gave federal sanction to abortion. Site gives basics of the case, which justices supported the ruling, and links to audio including a podcast analyzing the case.

The Digger Papers Scanned reprint of the The Digger Papers – including “Trip without a Ticket”.

1968 Revisited Timeline and resources detailing student protest at New York University.

RFK: American Experience Go to the special features page and click on the "Shock Year: 1968" section. It provides an interactive timeline for the year.

Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, “Ballad of the Green Berets” (1966) Full audio of pro-war paen to the men of the green berets.

MSU: Vincent Voice Library: Richard Nixon Full audio of speeches given by Ricahrd Nixon, from the "checkers" speech, to the resignation address.

David Frost Watergate Interviews with Richard Nixon (1977) What happened during Watergate, and what did President Nixon think & do about it? Here is David Frost's challenging interview with Nixon from 1977 - you might have seen the movie, now watch the real thing.

Richard Nixon Re-election song (1972) This song by the Mike Curb Congregation attempts to explain why the US needed "Nixon now more than ever" in 1972. If you can listen to all of it you probably need help. Still, this was the state of the political campaign song in the 1970s.

Nixon White House Tapes - Online Nixon wasn't the first president to record conversations in the White House, but the tapes proved to have major consequences. Contains Watergate trial tapes, including the "smoking gun" tape and conversations about China. Go and have a look.

Gerald Ford Library: The Watergate Files Useful introductory site introducing Watergate and including a number of useful documents.

National Archives: When Nixon Met Elvis Great little site detailing the moment when the King met the President in order to become a "federal agent at large" to tackle America's drug problem(!!!) Pictures and documents to download.

Watergate Info Timeline and documents detailing the basics of (possibly) the mother of all acts of presidential corruption.

Herblock: I Am Not A Crook - Cartoons on Watergate Washington Post cartoonist Herbert Block produced these great cartoons analysing Nixon and Watergate as the case unfolded. A great resource for interpreting the downfall of Nixon by a man the president once professed "got to him".

Civil Rights/Black Power


Civil Rights Movement Veterans An encyclopedic collection of oral histories, interviews, photographs and a brilliant timeline produced by those involved in the movement themselves. If you're looking for primary source material, use this site.

Eyes On The Prize: America's Civil rights Movement, 1954-1985 This fantastic site is geat place to start for teachers and students. Every major theme/event of the movement is detailed through film, music and newspaper reports. Want to know the basics? Start here.

Museum of Broadcast Communications. After you join for free, this website allows you to watch PBS documentaries on Little Rock, King, Malcolm X, George Wallace and LBJ among others. Use the search function and enjoy.

Dick Gregory: Speech at St. John's Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama - May 20, 1963 Dick Gregory was/is a stand up comic/activist. This brilliant routine was delivered in Birmingham, Alabama during the 1963 protests. A great example of how the city's black community relaxed during one of the most hard fought campaigns of the struggle.

Fannie Lou Hamer: Testimony Before the Credentials Committee, Democratic National Convention (Aug 1964) Full text and audio of the speech that helped highlight the limits of Democratic agenda regarding civil rights. Hamer represented a group of black Democrats trying to replace the tradit. Mississ. Dem. Party. They failed.

Teacher's Domain: Diane Nash and the Sit-Ins In this interview, civil-rights leader Diane Nash recalls her role in the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, the 1961 Freedom Rides, and the 1965 voting rights campaign in Selma, Alabama.

Brown v. Board Of Education Digital Archive University of Michigan site containing summaries of key court cases/photos and discussions of consequent issues such as resegregation. A useful place to start.

Eisenhower Library: Brown v. Board of Education Documents detailing the executive response to the decision.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Newspaper Archive Searchable archive that includes free and pay content of a vast collection of newspaper articles on Martin Luther King. Try to search by date rather than subject if you want pieces from the period itself - otherwise.

The Murder Of Emmett Till PBS site with a timeline and documents relating to the murder of Till and the acquittal of his murderers. The site also contains the confession to two killers then gave to Look magazine and responses to that piece from the magazine's letters page.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott: They Changed The World Website established by the local Montgomery Advertiser newspaper. Contains text of local newspaper articles and a number of audio interviews with people who took part in the boycott. A fantastic resource.

Eisenhower Library: Emmett Till Case 1955 Offers documentation from the Eisenhower Administration, FBI and the NAACP dealing with the aftermath of the murder of Emmett Till. For instance, the FBI believed the murder would be exploited by the Communist Party.

Eisenhower Library: Civil Rights: Eisenhower and the Eisenhower Administration Set of documents detailing the Eisenhower Administration's investigations into segregation and its relationships with civil rights leadership.

Eisenhower Library: Little Rock School Integration Crisis A fascinating set of documents tracing the presidential response to the the school integration crisis at Little Rock High School, Arkansas, in 1957.

Eisenhower Library: Civil Rights Act of 1957 Documents detailing the process by which President eisenhower constructed the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

Greensboro Sit-ins: Launch of a Civil Rights Movement Contains interviews with the college students who challenged segregation in a Woolworth’s restaurant in North Carolina. Their protest led to a wave of copycat sit-ins across the South.

SNCC 1960-1966: Six Years of the Student Non-Violent Co-ordinating Committee Contains interviews with leading members on one of the key groups constituting the mainstream civil rights movement.

1961 Freedom Rider’s 40th Reunion: Jackson, Mississippi, Veteran's Day Weekend, November 8-11,2001 Small collection of newspaper articles covering the CORE/SNCC sponsored bus/bus depot desegregation campaign of 1961.

Unseen. Unforgotten. Collection of photographs from the Birmingham News (Alabama) covering the civilr rights movement from the 1950s through to the mid 1960s.

Television News of the Civil Rights Era, 1950-1970 Remarkable collection of films and documents covering the period. Well worth a look.

ry of Congress: Images of 20th Century African American Activists: A Select List

Integrating Ole Miss: A Civil Rights Milestone Documentation and audio from the struggle to integrate the University of Mississippi in 1962.

“The Basis of Black Power”: SNCC Position Paper 1966

Lyndon Johnson, "We Shall Overcome"", March 15th, 1965 at U.S. Historical Documents Archive Lyndon Johnson’s speech to Congress during the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

LBJ White House Tapes Access to Johnson’s taped phone conversations. Click on the subject section for calls relating to civil rights

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum Site contains speeches and oral histories relating to the civilrights movement.

The President, The Wildcard and the Link - Selma 1965 Another online exhibit from the Miller Center. This one explores how the Johnson Administration negotitated with Gov. George Wallace to secure a successful outcome to the Selma March of 1965.

Civil Rights Leaders and the President Includes scanned copies of letters and telegrams from civil rights leaders to President Kennedy. Includes

"Just the Meanest, Dirtiest Lowdown Stuff I've Ever Heard" Lyndon Johnson, Civil Rights &Voter Intimidation 1964 A Miller Center online exhibit presenting audio excerpts & transcripts detailing the Johnson Adminstration's response to continued intimidation of black voters.

Radio and Television Report to the American People on Civil Rights, June 11th 1963 In the aftermath of King’s Birmingham campaign and events at theUniversity of Alabama, President Kennedy addressed thae nation on the issue of civil rights.

Webcorp: Voices of the Civil Rights Era Audio clips

National Civil Rights Museum

Oh Freedom Over Me by John Biewen Contains interviews with campaigners from the 1964 Freedom Summer (the campaign to register voters in Mississippi) and images. Links to a three-part online radio programme on the subject.

African American Odyssey Library of Congress site. Contains several collections of documents and online displays.

Powerful Days in Black and White Charles Moore's photography of the Civil Rights Era - includes pictures of two of the most famous campaigns of the movement: Birmingham 1963 and Selma 1965.

Martin Luther King. Jr., “Letter From a Birmingham City Jail”, April 1963 Key text for understanding King’s fully formed concept of non-violent direct action.

Martin Luther King Papers Project at Stanford University As it suggests.

Malcolm X, “The Ballot or the Bullet”, April 1964

Malcolm X: A Research Site A useful collection of speeches.

It's About Time: Black Panther Party Legacy and Alumni General site. Excellent photo collections.

Black Panther Newspaper Collection

American Radicalism: The Black Panthers Small collection of documents relating to the BPP. Click on textto view scanned versions of the original documents.

General Resources

Elections, Online Video/Audio/Document Libraries, Book Shop!


FBI Newspaper Archive The FBI's own digitized newspaper archive of material relating to its work - from Capone to the civil rights era.

Life Magazine Picture Archive on Google Life magazine was Henry Luce's weekly general interest mag. published between 1936 -1972. Its picture archive covers the 1860s-1970s. An incredibly useful source for preparing lectures and presentations, or just gawping at fascinating pictures.

Museum of Broadcast Communications. A great resource if you want to watch PBS documentaries. Once you register for free, you can watch complete documentaries from the PBS collection - subjects including Malcolm X, Harry Truman, The Sixties. Go and look for yourself!

ehistory Ohio State University's collection of online primary source material covering a range of subjects from the 19th & 20th centuries. A great resource for cartoons, documents, speeched, audio.

100 Milestone Documents Website from ourdocuments.gov that provides original documents and a transcription of their contents. Very useful for the development of the modern American state.

Debating Our Destiny Website companion to a tv programme in which Jim Lehrer interviews those who participated in presidential election debates. A useful resource in the study of campaigning over the past half century.

Veterans History Project What were the experiences of those who have served in the United states military in the 20th century? This Library of Congress website provides transcripts audio and video from veterans describing their experiences of service and conflict.

Ad*Access This online archive of advertisements dating from 1911-1955 is a great resource for mapping the rise of consumerism, and changing attitudes to, among other things, race and gender.

Internet for Historians A useful starter guide for to use the internet for historical research. A great site to make you think how and why we can use the internet for the study of history.

U.S. History to 1877 The story continues...Another set of links, this one offers resources covring the Colonial Era to Reconstruction. A work in progress...

African-American History Links The companion page to this site. Contains links devoted to the history of African Americans.

Book Shop A Selection of some of the best survey texts and subject studies for those exploring subjects on this site.

History Matters Collection of primary sources and links on U.S. History. Use theAdvanced search function to save time finding documents and websites. Very useful.

Ease History Large collection of film clips relating to twentieth century history, especially post-war material. Includes great library of political campaign ads. Very useful.

The Authentic History Center Great collection of speeches, audio documents, and cultural artefacts. Includes sections on comics, music, trading cards etc. and the way they allow us to explore 20th century America.

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers Currently running in a test (Beta) version, this Library of Congress site contains scanned copies of numerous regional American newspapers dating from 1900-1910.

National Security Archive: Cold War Interviews The Nat. Sec. Archive at George Washington University has made available transcripts from the interviews conducted for the tv series Cold War. These are of interest to those studying foreign and domestic developments over the period 1945-91.

4President.tv Another accessible collection of presidential campaign ads - from 1952 to the present.

Digital History: A Guide To Gathering, Preserving & Presenting The Past On The Web Thoughtful online guide for those wishing to build history resources on the web. Wish I'd read it before I started this.

History And Politics Out loud Collection of audio (speeches/interviews/broadcasts) from the 20th century. Collection builds from the 1930s onward.

The American Presidency Project University of California, Santa Barbara's resource bank of documents and speeches, audio and video relating to the presidency.

David Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections Good general resource. Allows you to plot results of electionsdown to county level.

Historical U.S. Census Browser Census information from 1790-1960. Allows you to explore the results down to county level and graph census results.

American Foreign Policy

Document Collections, Critical Documents


Vincent Ferraro: Resources for the Study of International Relations and Foreign Policy Stunningly large online collection of policy documents by era/subject. An essential resource for students of U.S. foreign policy.

The Teller Amendment (April 20th 1898) Text of the congressional resolutions proposed by Senator Henry Teller outlining the American desire for Cuban Independence.

William McKinley - Declaration of War with Spain (April 25th 1898) Text of the President's declaration of war with Spain.

The Open Door Note, U.S. Secretary of State, John Hay, September 6, 1899 A critical document in the history of the United States development as an international power. deals with U.S. Policy in relation to China.

The Platt Amendment (1901) The Platt Amendment was a rider appended to the Army Appropriations Act, a United States federal law passed on March 2, 1901 that defined the terms of Cuban-U.S. relations until 1934.

The Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine: December 6, 1904 Theodore Roosevelt's approach to the United States' relationship with its continental neighbours. Big stick anyone?

Woodrow Wilson: War Message, April 2nd 1917 As the title suggests. Check out the Vincent Ferraro site for Wilson's earlier statements.

President Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points, January 8, 1918. The Wilsonian Plan for lasting peace.

Waren Harding: Inaugual Speech March 4th, 1921 An in triguing read, mainly because most people associate Harding with isolationsim and "normalcy". While the speech does call for "normalcy to reach stability", it also notes the need for "a world-wide benediction of understanding" to prevent future war.

Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928 Full text of the treaty.

Neutrality Act (1937) Text of joint resolution attempting to prevent US involvement in foreign military conflict.

The Avalon Project: The Atlantic Charter, August 14th 1941 Text of the statement of shared values signed by Roosevelt and Churchill 5 months before Pearl Harbor.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt's address to Congress, December 8, 1941 Scanned copy of Roosevelt's speech to a joint session of Congress and audio of the war message.

Truman Library: The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb A chronological collection of letters, diary entries and minutes from meetings charting the development of the atomic bomb and the decision to use as written by President Truman himself. An invaluable resource for this controversial subject.

Atomic Bomb: Decision Another useful collection of documents on the decision to drop the bomb. Includes a great multiple-perspective recollection of the occasion at Potsdam when Truman told Stalin about the bomb's existence.

HIROSHIMA: Harry Truman's Diary & Papers A valuable companion to the Truman library site noted above. This site contains more personal material from Truman, including letters to his wife, that further help us understand the motivations behind the use of atomic weapons.

Voice of Hibakusha: Eye-witness accounts of the bombing of Hiroshima These testimonies offer accounts of the brutal impact of the first atomic bomb from survivors of its first use on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945.

BBC Newsnight: Hiroshima & Nagasaki A BBC news report from 1983 - height of the 2nd Cold War - that features original footage shot by the US army of the aftermath of the two atomic bombs. Click top right to watch.

George Kennan, Excerpts from Telegraphic Message from Moscow of February 22, 1946 Highlights from the "long telegram" that formed the basis of the Truman Doctrine. Dictated by George Kennan, charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The original telegram was c. 8,000 words, this site provides you with the highlights.

Truman Library: the Truman Doctrine Comprehensive site covering the drafting process of the Truman Doctrine speech to Congress on March 12, 1947.

The Avalon Project: North Atlantic Treaty; April 4, 1949 The basic text of the treaty establishing the key Western military alliance of the Cold War.

NSC 68: United States Objectives and Programs for National Security, 1950 This long document set out in detail the United States agenda within the context of the Cold War and the nature of the threat posed by the Soviet Union. If you don't want to read all of it, read parts I-IV.

CNN: Cold War Historical Documents Doucments to tie-in with the tv series

Learning Curve: Cold War British National Archives Resource. Contains some useful documents/links

The Cold war Files: Interpreting History Through Documents Resource bank of primary source material. Includes text and audio. Worth checking out before you move onto the Ferraro site.

Domino Theory Principle, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954 The press conference in which Eisenhower made public the "domino theory". To find the section, look for the questions on Indochina.

You Tube: President Kennedy's Address to the Nation, (Oct 22nd 1962) The President's address to the nation 6 days after learning of the presence of Soviet missiles on Cuba. As this is Your Tube, the link may not work so use the search function to find the link.

The National Security Archive: Cuban Missile Crisis Declassified documents, audio and photographs relating to the crisis.

The Avalon Project: Foreign Relations of the United States : 1961-1963 Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath Collection of declassified documents charting the US involvement with Cuba, from the Bay of Pigs fiasco, through the crisis and beyond. Worth having some idea of the crisis before pitching into these.

BBC Radio 4: Kennedy's Secret Tapes Radio documentary providing a narrative history of the missile crisis, somplete with excerpts from tape recordings of ExComm meetings. A useful place to start.

The Gulf of Tonkin, 1964: http://tapes.millercenter.virginia.edu/exhibits/tonkin/ Exactly what happened at the Gulf of Tonkin? What motivated President Johnson's response that led to escalation in Viet Nam? This online exhibit presents you with tasty snippets of taped conversations regarding the process.

National Security Archive: Nixon In China Declassified documents relating to the Nixon administration's relations with China.

1975-2000

Carter, Reagan, Clinton & Culture War


Contract With America 1994 The set of legislation proposals set forward by Repuiblican congressional candidates in 1994 intended to check the liberal tendencies of the Clinton Administration. Another key document in the culture wars of the period.

Bill Clinton - Radio address regarding deadlock with Congress In 1996 President Clinton and a Republican congress could not agree on budget issues. Clinton's radio address on the issue tells us about the struggle, and also offers an outline of the centrist Democrat approach to welfare.

RECORD LABELING - Congressional Hearings 1985 Full text of the congressional hearings on profanity in the music industry. A fascinating example of the debate over values and free expression.

Pat Buchanan; 1992 Republican National Convention Speech Want to understand the fault lines in the culture wars? Pat Buchanan's speech in 1992 highlights the polarisation of social values on the Republican right.

NPR: 1981 Strike Leaves Legacy for American Workers National Public Radio site offering a useful timeline of the showdown between Reagan and air traffic contollers. They went on strike, he sacked all of them. What were the consequences?

The Daily Diary of President Gerald R. Ford, April 28, 1975 Online version of the president's diary, with links to documents, on the day Saigon fell to the Communists. Fascinating insight into daily life in the Oval Office.

Key Presidential Speeches of Gerald R. Ford The kind of website you didn't know you needed. Still, some important documents regarding a neglected period in US history.

Jimmy Carter: "Energy and the National Goals - A Crisis of Confidence" Text and audio of Carter's 1979 speech outlining a national malaise.

Jimmy Carter Library: The Iranian Hostage Crisis Carter Library's own webpage offering a few documents relating to the hostage crisis that began in 1979. Includes excerpts from one hostage's diary.

The American Experience: Jimmy Carter PBS Website. Contains documents and news footge relating to the Carter Presidency.

WFMU's Songs Of Energy Crises Past (MP3s) Web page featuring MP3s of some of the protest songs released during the 1970s and 80s as oil crises hit the U.S. economy and consumers. Bobby B. Baker's "Take your oil and shove it" offers a unique response to the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979.

You Tube: Iran Revolution & Hostage Crisis part 1 These excerpts from a National Geographic documentary provide us with some useful footage of the 1979 crisis - if you can put up with slightly dramatic/overly urgent presentation.

Iran Revolution & Hostage Crisis part 2 These excerpts from a National Geographic documentary provide us with some useful footage of the 1979 crisis - if you can put up with slightly dramatic/overly urgent presentation.

You Tube: Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Speech (1981) pt 1. Part 1 of Ronald Reagan's first inaugural address. A great example of Reagan's ideas about government policy, domestic and foreign.

Miller Center: Jimmy Carter Oral History PDF's of the wide-ranging interview undertaken with Carter in 1982 covering all aspects of his nomination and presidency.

Miller Center: Reagan Administration Oral Histories Collection of transcripts from a number of members of the Reagan White House.

Miller Center: Ronald Reagan Speeches Audio and text of the key speeches from Ronald Reagan's career.

You Tube: Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Speech (1981) pt 2. Second part. "Time to check and reverse the size of government."

You Tube: Ronald Reagan's First Inaugural Speech (1981) pt 3. The final part of the address, broken up to meet with You Tube's time requirements.

NPR: Ronald Reagan, In His Own Words As this website puts it: Ronald Reagan's ability to connect with audiences, whether as a movie actor or the nation's 40th president, earned him the nickname the "Great Communicator." Hear and watch key speeches and other memorable moments from Reagan's car

CNN: The Reagan Years Contains and audio and video of some of the critical events from the Reagan presidency.

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: Speeches Text of key speeches from Reagan, including those from his 1980campaign.

Reagan Website created by PBS to tie in with their documentary. Includes full text of key speeches.

You Tube: CNN Special Report Televangelism 1/3 (1981) This 1981 special report provides a fascinating contemporary insight into the relationship between the religious right and US politics. Divided into 3 parts.

You Tube: CNN Special Report Televangelism 2/3 (1981) This 1981 special report provides a fascinating contemporary insight into the relationship between the religious right and US politics. Divided into 3 parts.

You Tube: CNN Special Report Televangelism 3/3 (1981) This 1981 special report provides a fascinating contemporary insight into the relationship between the religious right and US politics. Divided into 3 parts.

National Security Archive: The Iran-Contra Affair 20 Years On Collection of documents detailing the process of selling missiles to Iran, to free hostages, so you can take the money to back an army in Nicaragua that Congress has banned you from funding. Confused? Read on...

Google Video: Dream Deceivers: The Trial Of Judas Priest In 1985, a fan in Nevada took the band Judas Priest to court claiming their music had made him try to commit suicide. This tv documentary provides an insight into the cultural conflicts surrounding the case. Recorded on video, then uploaded.

The Harvard Law School Forum: Rev. Jerry Falwell, "The Role of Religion in Politics" (introduction by Professor Laurence Tribe) Discussion of the role of Christian Conservatism in politics.

The Harvard Law School Forum: Phyllis Schlafly - "The ERA - Is There a Future?" - April 25, 1984 Full audio of critique of the ERAby Phyllis Schlafly.

BBC On This Day: Jimmy Swaggart TV Footage of "televangelist" Jimmy Swaggart seeking forgivenessfor having an affair with a prostitute in May 1988.