LibGuides: Early Presidents Research: Home

Research about the Early Presidents

Use the resources below to research presidents George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Andrew Jackson.

American Presidents by Salem Press
Call Number: 973.09 PRE

ISBN: 9781637003633

Publication Date: 2022-12-30

"The American Presidents presents essays on the life and politics of each U.S. president, in chronological order from George Washington to Joe Biden.

Encyclopedia Databases

Start with encyclopedia style databases to get a basic understanding of your research topic.

Navigate with ease
Find strong articles to introduce your topic
Identify key terms for further research

ABC-CLIO: American History
Encyclopedia articles for background research and exploration in American History.
Facts on File: Issues and Controversies in History
Explore controversies from American and World history.
Britannica
A great online encyclopedia database for background and introductory research.

Article Databases

Explore article databases when you know a little about your topic.

These databases give access to articles from newspapers, magazines, journals, and more.

Access more articles
Dig with greater depth
Try out a variety of key terms for the best results.

Gale US History OneFile
A curated collection of resources about US history.
Gale Power Search

Search all Gale databases.

Race and Ethnicity in America [4 Volumes] by Russell M. Lawson (Editor); Benjamin A. Lawson (Editor)
ISBN: 9781440850967

Publication Date: 2019-10-11

This set provides an overview of the history of racial and ethnic relations in America, from pre-contact to the present. It contextualizes the experiences and contributions of minorities within American politics, society, and culture; includes all people and ethnic groups that experienced minority status.
The Colonial and Revolutionary Era by Rodney P. Carlisle
ISBN: 9781438126975

Publication Date: 2009-01-01

From the series Handbook to Life in America. This book explores the way ordinary Americans lived, covering everything from the foods people ate to how they dressed and popular pastimes.
The Early National Period and Expansion by Rodney P. Carlisle
Call Number: 973.4 EAR

ISBN: 9781438116921

Publication Date: 2009-01-01

From the series Handbook to Life in America. This book explores the way ordinary Americans lived, covering everything from the foods people ate to how they dressed and popular pastimes.
The American Economy by Cynthia Clark Northrup
Call Number: 330.973 NOR

ISBN: 9781598844627

Publication Date: 2011-03-11
Bureau of Indian Affairs by Donald L. Fixico
Call Number: 323.11 FIX

ISBN: 9780313391798

Publication Date: 2012-01-16

This book provides information and history about a federal agency that shaped US policy toward Native Americans.
Encyclopedia of Media and Propaganda in Wartime America by Martin J. Manning (Editor); Clarence R. Wyatt (Editor)
Call Number: 303.3 MAN

ISBN: 9781598842272

Publication Date: 2010-12-20

Examines the relationship between the media, propaganda, and the military since before the American Revolution through today.
The National Security Doctrines of the American Presidency by Lamont C. Colucci
Call Number: 355. COL

ISBN: 9780313392283

Publication Date: 2012-08-08

This two-volume set provides a chronological view of the foreign policy/national security doctrines of key American presidents from Washington to Obama.
Revolts, Protests, Demonstrations, and Rebellions in American History by Steven L. Danver (Editor)
Call Number: 303.48 DAN

ISBN: 9781598842227

Publication Date: 2010-12-17

ABC-CLIO ebook. History of Revolts and Rebellions in America. Volume 1: 1600s - 1840. Volume 2: 1840 - 1914, Volume 3: 1915 - 2006
U. S. Foreign Policy by Akis Kalaitzidis; Gregory W. Streich
Call Number: 327.73 KAL

ISBN: 9780313383755

Publication Date: 2011-09-13

A critical tool for the study of U.S. history, this volume offers an analysis of important documents and decisions in U.S. foreign policy from George Washington to Barack Obama.
The Jacksonian and Antebellum Eras by John R. Vile
Call Number: 973.5 VIL

ISBN: 9781440849817

Publication Date: 2016-11-14

Primary Source documents from the Jacksonian and Antebellum eras are analyzed and given historical context.

Primary Source Resources
Links, eBooks, and Databases from the SHS Media Center to explore primary sources.

Newspapers.com
Accessible in the Shrewsbury High School building.
HeritageQuest Online
HeritageQuest is a family history database powered by Ancestry and provided through ProQuest.

Digital Public Libraries of America
A collection of primary source sets from American history.

Daily Life Through American History in Primary Documents by Randall M. Miller; Theodore J. Zeman; Francis J. Sicius; Jolyon P. Girard
Call Number: 973 MIL

ISBN: 9781610690331

Publication Date: 2011-12-12

Get insight into how American Life in past eras really was. Eras included: Colonial Period through American Revolution, American Revolution to the Civil War, Civil War to World War I, and World War I to the Present. ABC-CLIO

New Nation Documents from the Library of Congress
A collection of documents from 1783 - 1815

George Washington's Mount Vernon
Find detailed information about Washington's 1st and 2nd terms. This resource should include information about all the listed topics for Washington. Mount Vernon hosts many primary source documents from Washington's presidency and includes a number of articles related to his history.
The President’s Cabinet Was an Invention of America’s First President
Chervinsky, a White House historian, is interviewed for the Smithsonian magazine about the establishment of Washington's first cabinet.
The First Bank of the United States
An article from the Federal Reserve History. "Alexander Hamilton's grand experiment in central banking began in 1791 to assist a post-Revolutionary War economy and ended 20 years later."
Whiskey Rebellion
An article with links to primary sources from the Library of Congress.
The Citizen Genet Affair
An article from the Office of The Historian Department of State United States of America.
Treaty of San Lorenzo / Pinckney's Treaty 1795
Article from the Office of the Historian Department of State United States of America.

The XYZ Affair
From Jefferson's Monticello website. This article discusses the XYZ Affair, Adam's involvement, and the ramifications.
May 16, 1797: Special Session Message to Congress (XYZ Affair)
Transcript of Adam's message to congress about the XYZ Affair.
The Alien and Seditions Act
Article from PBS American Experience about the Alien and Seditions Act with images of the actual document.
Alien and Sedition Acts
Entire text of the Alien and Sedition Acts with a short article from the National Archives.
The Midnight Appointments (Judiciary Act of 1801)
From the White House Historical Association. An article that separates the truth from the myth of the Midnight Appointments.

Jefferson's Monticello
Articles and primary sources from the history of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson's Presidential library is housed at Monticello. Will include information about most (or all) of the Jefferson topics.
How the Louisiana Purchase Changed the World
Article from the Smithsonian Magazine. "When Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, he altered the shape of a nation and the course of history"
Barbary Wars, 1801–1805 and 1815–1816
Article from The Office of the Historian State Department United States of America.
Sally Hemings
An article from Monticello.org about Sally Hemings, a woman who was enslaved by Jefferson and gave birth to some of his descendants.

Fort McHenry (War of 1812)
An article from American Battlefield Trust which discusses the information about the battle, it's significance, the causes, and the aftermath.
Capture and Burning of Washington DC
An article from American Battlefield Trust which discusses the information about the event, it's significance, the causes, and the aftermath.
The Burning of Washington
An article about the attack on the Whitehouse during the War of 1812 from Whitehousehistory.org.
Treaty of Ghent
Transcript and short article about the Treat of Ghent from the US Archives.

Andrew Jackson
From History.com. This article explores Jackson's life, his presidency, and his complicated legacy.
Indian Removal Act Documents
A collection of primary source documents from the Library of Congress about the Indian Removal Act.
American Indian Removal. What Does it Mean to Remove a People
This is a lesson from the National Museum of the American Indian. It includes a number of resources with interesting perspectives on this time period from Jackson's presidency.
Did you Know? Facts about the Indian Removal Act
A PDF resource from the National Museum of the American Indian with facts related to the Indian Removal Act.