Modern America (1981-Present)

Why is the United States important to the whole world?

Topic 1: Activism to Fight AIDS

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources relating to AIDS activism.

Go to Topic 1: Activism to Fight AIDS

photo of the AIDS quilt with the U.S. Capitol building in the background

Topic 2: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources relating to the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989.

Go to Topic 2: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

screenshot of video showing President Reagan preparing to give a speech

Topic 3: Persian Gulf War: Female Veterans' Voices

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources and highlights women who served in Operation Desert Storm, or the Gulf War.

Go to Topic 3: Persian Gulf War: Female Veterans' Voices

Topic 4: Modern Immigration Stories

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources related to modern-day immigration.

Go to Topic 4: Modern Immigration Stories

screenshot of website with dark red text on a tan backround, includes black and white photos of immigrants

Topic 5: September 11th

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources examining the reasons for the energy crisis and the impact of the oil ban in the 1970s.

Go to Topic 5: September 11th

front page of newspaper declaring in a large headline that the U.S. has been attacked

Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress, Maryland Humanities and MPT developed the Teaching with Primary Sources Inquiry Kits and Research Learning Modules to support K-12 educators and students.

The MSDE Social Studies Department is committed to providing materials and professional development to teachers to assist them in teaching primary source analysis and in providing authentic, project-based assessments to students.