A database is a collection of articles, encyclopedia entries, images, or other content that has been chosen by experts and has been purchased for your use by the library. Information in a database can be trusted to be correct and reliable. The databases below are the best ones to use for the Supreme Court paper.
The databases in this column are best for finding reference sources about your topic and cases. Reference sources have background information that weill allow you to build your knowledge of your topic. Some of these databases also include primary or secondary sources, so make sure you are aware of what kind of source you are using.
Why search here? Covers the origins and structure of U.S. government as well as historical events, political issues, and the American political process.
What's included? Reference articles and primary sources including speeches, letters, political documents, and Supreme Court opinions.
Why search here? Covers U.S. history, including social, political, and cultural events and turning points from the revolutionary era to today. Explore by topic or time period for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles and primary sources including speeches, letters, political documents, cultural products, photos and more.
Why search here? Good starting point for historical research in all eras and across the globe. Topic overviews offer a basic understanding of a topic and reference sources and articles from scholarly journals and other magazines provide further information.
What's included? Reference articles, magazine articles, scholarly/journal articles, primary source documents, biographies, maps and photographs
Date range: Ancient world-Present
The databases in this column are best for finding more in-depth and detailed information about your topic or cases, including primary sources. Two of them, Opposing Viewpoints and Issues and Controversies in History, give pro-con explorations of important topic. America's Historical Newspapers may allow you to find newspaper articles from the time about your cases. US History in Context and American History have a good mix of different kinds of sources that may help you gain a deeper understanding of your topic.
Why search here? Covers U.S. History, including social, political, military and cultural events and turning points from the colonial era to today. Explore by topic for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles, maps and charts, timelines, biographies, and primary sources such as speeches, photos, government documents, videos and more.
Date range: 1500-Present
Why search here? Includes searchable newspaper articles published in the United States, but the best feature of this database are the curated collections of articles about significant events in American history.
What's included? Newspaper articles
Date Range: 1690-2000
Why search here? Includes resources which support the exploration of historical questions, debates and controversies in world and American history. Also a great place to find curated primary sources.
What's included? Pro/con articles, timelines, primary sources
Date range: Ancient history-Present
Why search here? Includes resources which support exploration of current topics and controversies in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture.
What's included? Pro/con articles, statistics, primary sources, videos, news articles, and more
Date range: Contemporary
Why search here? Includes primary, secondary and reference material about all aspects of US history. Explore by topic for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles, scholarly/journal articles, magazines and other periodicals, primary sources, Supreme Court case overviews, images, and more
The databases in this column all belong to the series The American Mosaic. They have detailed information about the experiences of different groups of people in American history, so if your topic affects or involves people in any of these groups, you may find these databases useful. They include mostly primary and reference sources.
Why search here? Covers a wide range of topics related to African American social, political, and cultural history. Explore by topic or time period for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles, biographies and primary sources including speeches, letters, political documents, cultural products, slave narratives, transcripts, videos, photos and more.
Date range: 500 C.E.-Present
Why search here? Covers a wide range of topics related to the history and contemporary practices of more than 150 Native American tribes across North America. Explore by topic or time period for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles, biographies and primary sources including speeches, letters, political documents, cultural products, videos, photos and more.
Date range: 1400s-Present
Why search here? Covers a wide range of topics related to Asian American social, political, and cultural history. Explore by topic or time period for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles, biographies and primary sources including speeches, letters, political documents, cultural products, transcripts, videos, photos and more.
Date range: 1500-Present
Why search here? Covers a wide range of topics related to Latino American social, political, and cultural history. Explore by topic or time period for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles, biographies and primary sources including speeches, letters, political documents, cultural products, videos, photos and more.
Date range: Pre-1500-Present
Why search here? Covers a wide range of topics related to women’s contributions, perspectives and challenges from pre-contact indigenous societies to the present. Explore by topic or time period for curated resources.
What's included? Reference articles, biographies and primary sources including speeches, letters, political documents, cultural products, transcripts, videos, photos and more.
Date range: Pre-1600-Present