Students will be able to critically identify key tipping points in the evolution of political parties.  They will be able to connect this evolution to geographic elements and identify causation factors that led to this evolution. Key question: How did political parties impact the geography of the United States between 1792 and 1972? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal emphasizes geography’s impact on United States’ strategy in fighting World War II in the Pacific.  Students, through the use of Library of Congress resources explore geography’s impact on the average soldier in the Pacific.  They will also chart the progress that the armed forces made in their attempt to hop over non-strategic islands in their attempts to get ever closer to the home islands of Japan. Based on the images obtained from the Library of Congress, students will  be able to critically assess the toll that the geography of the Pacific took on soldiers. Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal centers on World War One. This was a conflict on a level never before seen on the planet. Initially, the conflict was largely a European affair until an impressive piece of spy work by the British intelligence community brought the USA into the conflict. Key Questions: How and why did the U.S. become involved in the Great War? How was the United States able to stay out of the war initially? What were the factors that led to the U.S. declaration of war? What were the logistics behind U.S. mobilization? How did the U.S. strategy differ from that of the Allies? How and when did the war end? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal focuses on westward expansion of the young United States during the 1800s by using online GIS technology and Library of Congress primary sources. Students will be able to: Visually identify the large territorial acquisitions of the continental United States. Demonstrate knowledge of how each territorial acquisition occurred. Key questions: How did the rapid expansion of the United States in the 1800s shape the United States today? Where and why did the United States expand during the 1800s? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This story map develops a historical context for the Civil Rights Movement, including Jim Crow Laws, Pullman Railroad workers, Great Migration, and restrictive covenants. The second main focus of the story map is the Civil Rights Movement itself. Students explore several map tours that highlight people, events, and organizations instrumental in bringing about legislation for equal rights during the 1950s-1960s. The story map concludes with a brief exploration of current civil rights injustices in the Unites States including issues such as same-sex marriage, Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements. Key questions: How did the Civil Rights Movement change the United States? When did the Civil Rights Movement begin? Has it ended? What events characterized the Civil Rights Movement? What are the enduring influences and consequences of the Civil Rights Movement? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal examines U.S. global expansion. In the 21st century, the United States is defined as a world power for its economic and political influence. This status did not happen overnight, but was a step-by-step expansion that occurred across a century. During the 19th century the United States was motivated by Manifest Destiny to control land from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. However, the leaders of the young nation were not satisfied with staying within the continent. From the Monroe Doctrine forward, the US expanded its international political and economic influence while gaining numerous territories. Students will explore this movement of global expansion through a GIS Story Map and Library of Congress primary sources. Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal has students analyzing the origins and destinations of immigrants during three main eras of U.S. immigration. Through analysis of migration flows, students will gain a better understanding of why people left their home countries when they did and consider why they settled where they did in the U.S. Finally, students will be asked to consider both history and current events to draft a plan for future U.S. immigration policy. Key questions: Where have immigrants settled in the United States and why? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.What patterns of immigration and settlement are noticeable throughout history? How have Americans viewed immigrants over time? What push and pull factors have influenced migration to and within the U.S.? What should the U.S. do concerning immigration in the future?

This Story Map Journal has students exploring the causes, course, and results of the direct conflicts between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. They will analyze documents, videos, photographs, drawings, and maps to understand the conflict, competition, compromises, and reactions of this worldwide event in an attempt to argue who is at fault and if the Cold War is even over. Major question: where and how did the United States and the Soviet Union find themselves in direct conflict in the years following World War II? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

The Progressive era is typically taught as through the lens that people shaped their world in response to the societal problems that came along with the eras of industrialization, urbanization and mass immigration to the United States.  This lesson is taught through the lens that geography also shaped reform.  Impacts of geography include the growth of Chicago due to its relative location as an intermediary between cattle drives and east coast cities, labor reform including building safety and the geography of buildings and fire exits, and conservative efforts such as the National Parks.  This lesson is not meant to teach the entirety of the Progressive era, but a few specific points that were impacted by geography. Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

World War II was a complex event with battles in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. Wars are more than battles. During World War II, the military were supported by civilian sacrifices and the workers at home. Their combined challenged and countered Nazi aggression in Europe. This Story Map will examine how the United States contributed to the Allied victory in Europe during World War. Three major topics will be addressed:support for Europe before the U.S. declared war on on Japan and then Germany in 1941, support from the home front, and the human and historical significance of D-Day.? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.

This Story Map Journal explores the issue of slavery from the early days of the republic through John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry, a prelude to the war between the states. Key questions: Why was slavery not legitimately dealt with during the founding period of the nation? How did the cotton gin help change the economy, culture, and demographics of the country? What correlations can be made between slavery and cotton? What issues arose between the northern and southern states as new territories were acquired in the west? What role did John Brown play in the lead-up to civil war? Contains links to student materials and teacher materials for creating lesson plans.