National History Day
Turning Points in History
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Secondary Sources
Begin your research with the databases below. Not all topics will be in all databases! Use KEYWORDS to search.
Primary Sources
Primary sources: United States
Library of Congress general search--use the search box at the top to put in your topic and keywords
Digital Public Library of America: Sets of primary sources by topic. Include US Domestic Affairs, US Foreign Policy and Debate and Diplomacy Abroad.
Docs Teach (National Archives): sets of primary sources by broad topic
Smithsonian History Explorer--search on the right side of the screen
World Digital Library (Library of Congress)--search by topic and time period
Yale Avalon Project--thousands of documents organized by time period
LIFE Magazine Photo Archive--search photos by keyword and date
Chronicling America: Library of Congress--use the filters at the top of the screen to narrow down time period and topic.
Primary Sources: Europe
World Digital Library (Library of Congress)--search by topic and time period
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Document Set: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (French Revolution)
European Reading Room (Library of Congress) browse huge collection of digitized primary sources
Yale Avalon Project--thousands of documents organized by time period
Primary Sources: Mexico, Central and South America
Hispanic Reading Room (Library of Congress) browse digitized primary sources
Inter-American treaties and documents - documents between North, Central, and/or South American nations
Yale Avalon Project--thousands of documents organized by time period
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Primary Sources: Africa & Middle East
Internet African History Sourcebook - search for all topics in all countries and kingdoms
African and Middle Eastern Reading Room - primary sources from the Library of Congress
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Primary Sources: Asia
Internet East Asian History Sourcebook - search for all topics in all countries
Asia Primary Sources from U of Washington - use the links on the left to narrow down to East Asia, South Asia, or Southeast Asia
Internet History Sourcebooks (Fordham University)--search by topic or browse topics on the left
Primary vs Secondary Sources
Click the links below to see the differences between primary and secondary sources.