History of the Fourth
EXPLORE AMERICA'S PAST
Explore these sites to find out more about the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution, the American flag and other important pieces of American history.
A Virtual Marching Tour of the American Revolution – Explore the numerous battles of the revolution.
Spy Letters of the American Revolution: Contains a gallery of letters, stories of spies, secret methods, people of the revolution, a timeline and a section for teachers.
Liberty! The American Revolution: Allows visitors to compare differences between British and American soldiers, use an interactive map to find out what other events were going on at the same time as the Revolution and discover daily life in the colonies by exploring a virtual barnyard.
LOC: Declaring Independence/Drafting the Documents: Contains a chronology of events and archival letters about one of the most important documents in the history of the United States.
American Memory-Library of Congress: Historical Collections for the National Digital Library contain documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, along with helpful links to the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Liberty Bell: Features a timeline, facts, trivia, quotes and a photo essay about the bell.
Smithsonian Institution/National Museum of American History: Learn about the museum's ongoing efforts to preserve a treasured national symbol, the Star-Spangled Banner that inspired our national anthem.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine: Extensive information on the Fort, whose defense by American soldiers during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that eventually became the national anthem.
The Betsy Ross Homepage: The story of Betsy Ross, who sewed the first American flag, and a virtual tour of her house.
The Star-Spangled Banner Flag House: Dedicated to the story of Mary Young Pickersgill, who made the enormous Star-Spangled Banner now housed in the Smithsonian Institution.
