U.S History DBQs: 18 ICivics Document Based Questions

by | May 21, 2025 | College, Education, Latest News, teaching, US History, writing | 0 comments

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ICivics has so many great resources for middle school and high school students and teachers. The content is easy to understand and age-appropriate for the students. The current administration is used when material is presented on the Executive Branch. This increases the relevance of the lessons. 

How to Use: DBQuests: “DBQuest uses document-based questions to guide students in primary source analysis.” Icivics is committed to sharing amazing resources. Being able to provide students with an opportunity to analyze primary sources with a personal assistant is so valuable. The information on the link above gives more detailed information for educators. 

Some features we find valuable,

  1. The DBQuest is ready to use. The DBQuest can be completed in 1-2 class periods.
  2. Teachers can track the progress of students. This is a great way to hold students accountable and to provide feedback. 
  3. Many Additional Resources. Many print resources can be used in addition to completing the DBQuest, or a teacher can choose to use the materials separately. 
  4. Many of the DBQuests offer “Extension Support.” These additional resources can help the teacher develop a deeper understanding of the materials.
  5. There are two modes for students to use. Free-form mode and Guided Mode. We recommend using guided mode to start.
  6. There are 15 different DBQuests.
  7. There are 44 quality primary source documents.
  8. There is a glossary with each DBQ.

We have listed the DBQuest below. There is a link to the DBQuest, link to the materials document, and we have identified the primary source documents. Good Luck! 

  1. America’s Founding Preambles: Preambles_DBQuest Teacher & Student Materials.pdf (12 pages)
    1. Declaration of Independence – Introduction & Preamble
    2. The Articles of Confederation
    3. The U.S. Constitution
  2. The Constitution’s Cover LetterCover Letter_DBQuest Teacher & Student Materials.pdf
    1. Washington’s Letter To Congress, September 17, 1787
  3. Hamilton and the National Bank Hamilton_DBQuest_10_6.pdf (17 Pages)
    1. Report on a National Bank (excerpt) | Alexander Hamilton, December 13, 1790
    2. Letter to George Washington from James Madison | February 21, 1791
    3. Report on the Constitutionality of a National Bank (excerpt)
  4. The Louisiana Purchase: Branching OutA Purchase DBQuest Teacher & Student Materials.pdf (20 pages)
    1. To Appoint & Approve Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to the Senate Jan. 11, 1803.
    2. The Pocketbook Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to Congress Jan 1, 1803
    3. Beyond the Treaty ​​Thomas Jefferson’s Letter to Congress October 21, 1803
  5. Cherokee Resistance Cherokee_DBQuest Teacher Docs.pdf (32 pages)
    1. Excerpt from “An Address to the Whites” (Elias Boudinot) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1826
    2. Major Ridge’s Speech Before the Signing of the Treaty of New Echota New Echota, Georgia, 1835
    3. Cherokee Petition Protesting Removal Washington D.C., 1836
  6. Resisting Slavery Resisting Slavery_DBQuest Teacher & Student Materials.pdf (18 pages)
    1. Nancy’s Story From the Darkness Cometh the Light; or, Struggles for Freedom, 1891, St. Louis, MO
    2. Polly’s Story From the Darkness Cometh the Light; or, Struggles for Freedom, 1891, St. Louis, MO
    3. Lucy’s Story From the Darkness Cometh the Light; or, Struggles for Freedom, 1891, St. Louis, MO
  7. Woman Suffrage and World War I Woman Suffrage_DBQuest Teacher Docs.pdf (18 pages)
    1. 6 Women Pickets Are Sent to Jail (Newspaper Article)
    2. If You Are Good Enough for War, You Are Good Enough to Vote (Drawing)
    3. Suffrage as a War Measure (Leaflet Excerpt)
  8. Women in Service Women in Service DBQuest.pdf (20 pages)
    1. Colonel Mary A. Halleran’s testimony to Senate Armed Services Committee 1947, Washington, DC
    2. Interview with Commander Janie Mines, US Navy, Retired October 2, 2020, Washington, DC
    3. Press Release: Carter Opens All Military Occupations, Positions to Women December 3, 2015, Washington, DC
  9. The Nashville Sit-Ins Nashville_DBQuest Teacher & Student Materials.pdf (11 Pages)
    1. Bernie Schweid Interview Transcript
    2. Newspaper Photograph
    3. Diane Nash Interview with Transcript
    4. Textbook Excerpt
    5. Rev. James Lawson Interview Transcript
  10. Little Rock: Executive Order 10730 Executive Order_DBQuest Teacher Docs.pdf (24 pages)
    1. Headline Round Up: Newspaper Headlines
    2. Ark. Gov. Defies Federal Order (Newspaper Article) The Detroit Tribune, September 7, 1957
    3. President Eisenhower’s Address on the Situation in Little Rock (Speech)
    4. U.S. Constitution, Article II and 14th Amendment
  11. Historical Monuments & MeaningMonuments_DBQuest.pdf (33 pages)
    1. The Western Sanitary Commission; A Sketch. . . Report by J.G. Forman, 1866
    2. The Story of Archer Alexander: From Slavery to Freedom Biography by William Eliot, 1885
    3. “A Suggestion” National Republican, April 19, 1876 A Letter to the Editor by Frederick Douglass
  12. Non-Voting Delegates in Congress Non-Voting Delegates DBQuest_Teacher & Student Materials.pdf (19 pages)
    1. Interview clip with DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton C-Span video transcript January 4, 1997 Washington, DC Citation: District
    2. Congressman A.B. Won Pat Reports From Washington 1973 Washington, DC 
    3. What is a Resident Commissioner? 2021 From website of Office of Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón
  13. Kids Making a Difference – Garden Edition Kids Making a Difference.pdf (14 pages)
    1. My Summer’s Work c.1917, New York
    2. Letter to the Editor: My Victory Garden Boston Herald, 23 May 1943
    3. Spotlight: Katie Stagliano, Founder of Katie’s Krops 2018, Washington, DC
  14. DC Voting Rights DC Voting DBQuest.pdf (18 pages)
    1. For District Suffrage (Evening Star, Washington, DC. January 22nd, 1895, pg. 12)
  15. Policy, Public Interest, and… Margarine? Public Policy Public Interest and Margarine_ DBQuest.pdf (17 pages)
    1. Address by HC Adams The 28th Annual Report of the Wisconsin Dairymen’s Association February 14, 1900 Watertown, Wisconsin
    2. Washington Post Article Martha Ellyn’s Platter Chatter: Margarine Again Meets Demands of War Time October 8, 1943 Washington, DC
    3. Gallup Poll Public Opinion News Service March 5, 1949 Princeton, New Jersey

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