U.S. Government and Civics

Free resources that align with your U.S. Government and Civics curriculum

A tourist gazes up towards the dome of the U.S. Capitol

Widen your lens on U.S. government, history, and civic learning with this curated list of videos, simulations, articles, and timelines.

Understand why a country's form of government determines whether citizens' voices are magnified or minimized.
Learn about the institutions and actors in the U.S. government who are responsible for shaping the country's international agenda through foreign policy.
Unpack how specific U.S. policies have affected the lives of Americans and people all around the world.
Dive into major moments in U.S. history that have shaped the United States since its founding.

Forms of Government

What Are Different Types of Government? Reading	Learn about different forms of government—including democracy, authoritarian rule, and monarchy—and how their distinctions aren't always so clear.
Foreign Cyberattacks and Election Security Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to foreign actors attempting to interfere in a U.S. election? Explore this simulation.

U.S. Government and Foreign Policy

What Is the National Security Council? Reading	Learn how the president’s advisors protect U.S. national security and help with foreign policy decision-making and coordination across the executive branch.
U.S. Foreign Policy: Multilateralism or Unilateralism? Mini Simulation	Should the next U.S. president prioritize a multilateral or unilateral approach to foreign policy? Explore this simulation.
How Do Forces Outside Government Influence Policymaking? Reading	Learn how journalism, social media, public opinion, and lobbies are all a part of American democracy and influence U.S. foreign policy.
Uighur Repression in Xinjiang Mini Simulation	Should the United States reassess its policy toward China in light of the ongoing repression of Uighurs in Xinjiang? Explore this simulation.
What Is the Relationship Between Domestic and Foreign Policy? Reading	Explore maps and charts that illustrate how climate change, terrorism, COVID-19, and internet freedom require both international and domestic solutions in an increasingly interconnected world.
What Roles Do Congress and the President Play in U.S. Foreign Policy? Reading	What does the Constitution say about foreign policy? In this free resource, explore how the powers of Congress and the president protect and advance the country’s interests abroad.
Armed Force Mini Simulation	Should the United States use armed force to address a conflict in another country? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
Soft Power Mini Simulation	Should the United States use soft power to enhance its standing in the world? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
A Red Line in Syria in 2013 Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond to the use of chemical weapons in Syria? Explore this historical simulation set in 2013.
Prisoner Swap Mini Simulation	How should the United States respond when an American citizen is unjustly detained? Explore this simulation.
What Is Government? Video	From direct and parliamentary democracy to authoritarianism, learn how rulers take power—and who decides.
Should the United States Ban TikTok to Preserve National Security? Mini Simulation	Should the United States impose a ban on TikTok to safeguard citizens’ data and the country’s security? Explore this simulation.
Laws, Norms, and Democratic Backsliding Reading	Are countries less democratic than they used to be? Learn how democratic principles like checks and balances, free elections, and freedom of the press are under threat around the world.
Trade Policy Mini Simulation	How should the United States leverage trade to respond when a rivalry between growing trade partners threatens regional stability? Explore this hypothetical simulation.
Why Does U.S. Foreign Policy Matter? Video	In this educational video on U.S. foreign policy, learn how the United States has shaped the world with its military and economic might.
U.S. Arctic Policy Mini Simulation	Should the United States launch a new Arctic policy in response to climate change and investments from countries like China and Russia in the region? Explore this simulation.

U.S. Policies Now and Then

How a Single Phrase Defined the War on Terror Reading	What is the 2001 AUMF and what does it have to do with 9/11? From the invasion of Afghanistan, to the Iraq War, and more, learn how the United States justified U.S. counterterrorism policy for over two decades.
History of U.S. Immigration Policy Video	Explore how the United States has responded to migrants throughout history—from the Chinese Exclusion Act to DACA—and how immigration policy influences the society, economy, and politics of a country.
The Marshall Plan Video	Understand how the Marshall Plan, one of the first large foreign aid programs, helped Europe rebuild after World War II, but also served the foreign policy interests of the United States.
How Do Treaties Get Made? Video	In this U.S. foreign policy video, understand the challenges of negotiating treaties and dive into two international climate agreements.
The Inflation Reduction Act Reading	What is the IRA? In this free resource, learn what the United States' largest-ever climate change legislation does.
Preparing for and Managing the Next Pandemic Mini Simulation	What should the United States do to secure global health preparedness before the next pandemic? Explore this simulation.
Asylum Seekers at the U.S. Southern Border in 2019 (NSC) Simulation

U.S. History

What Is the Enlightenment and How Did It Transform Politics? Reading	Explore how calls for liberty, equality, and individual rights caused revolutions around the world, from the American Revolution to the French and Haitian Revolutions.
How Did the United States Become a Global Power? Reading	Learn how domestic expansion and three wars—the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II—transformed the United States’ standing in the world.
How Did the Cold War Stay Cold? Video	Learn how the world’s superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR), avoided nuclear war.
Response to 9/11 Mini Simulation	Should the United States strike al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in response to 9/11? Explore this historical simulation set in 2001.
The History of Terrorism and U.S. Counterterrorism Since 1945 Timeline	From the creation of the CIA to the “War on Terror,” learn about the evolution of U.S. counterterrorism policies in this terrorism timeline.
A Brief History of U.S. Foreign Aid Reading	Where and why the United States gives foreign aid has changed over time. Learn the difference between military, economic, and humanitarian aid and the history behind U.S. aid.