U.S. History Reading Passages

A horrible crime in Jim Crow Tennessee led to the conviction of Ed Johnson, a probably innocent young black man. […]

Justice Samuel Chase was the first and only Supreme Court justice impeached. Impeachment is an important check against executive and

During the early and mid-20th century, communism loomed like a specter, seen as a dangerous threat to American values. The

Polio was a deadly childhood disease that originated in prehistorical times. An outbreak of polio could cause paralysis, sometimes resulting

President Warren Harding has a bad historical reputation, but let’s still remember some bright spots when he promoted racial justice.

The 1920s began a golden age of radio which lasted for decades. The whole country could listen in from the

The Constitution carefully establishes how the government can prosecute crimes. Each branch of government serves an important role. The government

The fight for sexual equality in the United States began when Abigail Adams told her husband to “remember the ladies.”

Democrats and Republicans were the two major political parties in the United States since 1856. Democrats became more liberal and

The framers of the Constitution worried about the people breaking into factions that would not focus on the needs of

The Chief Justice of the United States is the only judge singled out by the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution only

The Declaration of Independence explains why the American people felt compelled to rebel against the British. Thomas Jefferson, with some

Abraham Lincoln used the Gettysburg Address to provide meaning to the battle that was the turning point of the Civil

The supernatural and decisions on basic questions of our existence play a central role in our lives. Religious liberty enables

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) was a Christian evangelical group that arose in the 1640s. They believe each person

The famous flight of the Wright Brothers was the first controlled, sustained flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft. The Wright Brothers

The United States began as a result of protests against the status quo. People by word and deed argued that

Native Americans view American history quite differently from other Americans. They were the original settlers, adapted to the land, and

The Alien and Sedition Acts are four laws passed during the Adams Administration in response to partisan and foreign policy

William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) was an orator, three-time presidential candidate, Secretary of State during the Wilson presidency, and opponent of

Impeachment is a constitutional means to check the power of presidents who commit treason, bribery, and other serious crimes. Conviction

Marian Anderson (1897-1991) was an African-American singer who became a civil rights icon. She was honored as the “baby contralto”

Disabled people have always been a part of American society. Disability can be physical or mental. Disabilities arise from genetics,

The Supreme Court held in Griswold v. Connecticut that there is a right to privacy arising from multiple constitutional provisions.