Best of History Web Sites

History Resources

Best of History Web Sites, created by EdTechTeacher, is an award-winning portal that contains annotated links to over 1200 history web sites as well as links to hundreds of quality K-12 history lesson plans, history teacher guides, history activities, history games, history quizzes, and more.

Best of History Web Sites has been recommended by The Chronicle of Higher Education, The National Council for the Social Studies, The New York Public Library, the BBC, Princeton University, — and many others.

Historical People of Today, June 18

Frederick Douglass (began publication of his abolitionist newspaper, "The North Star", in 1847) The influential abolitionist Frederick Douglass published the first issue of “The North Star” in Rochester. The newspaper's motto was "Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Color – God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren," and it played a crucial role in the anti-slavery movement. Susan Anthony (was fined after voting in the 1872 presidential election) This entire episode drew immense national attention to the women's suffrage movement, highlighting the legal and political barriers women faced in their quest for the right to vote. Anthony's defiant stance became a symbol of civil disobedience in the fight for women's equality. Napoleon Bonaparte (fought the Battle of Waterloo in 1815) On this day in 1815, near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte were decisively defeated by the armies of the Seventh Coalition. This battle marked the end of Napoleon's Hundred Days return from exile and his final defeat, impacting the political landscape of Europe. Paul McCartney (born in 1942) He rose to global fame as the bassist and co-lead vocalist of “The Beatles”, one of the most iconic bands of all time. Alongside John Lennon, McCartney formed one half of the legendary songwriting partnership that produced timeless hits like “Hey Jude”, “Let It Be”, and “Yesterday”.

Where to Start?

  • See our Lesson Plans page for a curated list of sites offering quality resources ready for classroom use. Although there are many sites with good lesson plans, students are sure to enjoy the engaging ideas and primary sources offered by the Library of Congress and the U.K. National Archives, whose online offerings are generous.
  • Check out Games and Animations for links to historical simulations, educational video games, high-quality animations, online quizzes, and more! Learn about medieval water supply with the game Waterworks, or cook your way through the ancient world with Tasting History!
  • Our Election 2020 page collects links to the polls, think tanks, and interactives you'll need to help students make sense of the upcoming U.S. Presidential Election. Try PBS's Election Decoder, a useful interactive that brings students through the electoral maps of every election in U.S. history, or peruse the New York Times' list of 11 Ways to Engage Students from Now Until November.
  • We're proud to offer plenty of Medieval History links, including videos, interactives, lesson plans, and more. Explore quarantine and social distancing in Tudor England during the plague, or listen to the story of a Byzantine princess who chronicled the history of her empire.