HIST 813 Primary Sources 30 September 2005

This week I spent some time exploring The Avalon Project at Yale Law School. Here, many legal and historical documents are digitized. They are grouped by century. I spent a lot of time looking at those from the 20th century. Some of the most interesting were the following:
* Agreement on Measures to Reduce the Risk of Outbreak of Nuclear War Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialists Republics - September 30, 1971
* Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Viet-Nam, July 20, 1954
* Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, April 22, 1968
* Annual Messages of the Presidents of the United States
* Arbitration Convention Between the United States and Austria-Hungary; January 15, 1909

I bookmarked this site for future use and shared it with my colleagues teaching American History and American Government. I think it is really beneficial when kids can actually READ some of the treaties and agreements made instead of just memorizing the names of them. It also helps them understand WHY the United States makes some of its decisions.