Since the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the United States has transformed from a small, agricultural, slave society—based on the rights of the few—into a large, industrial democracy based on the ideal of freedom for all. WBA units ask teachers and students to examine the role of ordinary people in these social, political, and economic changes and to think about how this past matters to us today.

Each WBA inquiry unit addresses one of four essential questions about ongoing efforts of Americans to build a nation, and they are designed to help teachers and students effectively bring Common Core in the history classroom. (Read more about our units.)

To earn WBA Unit Builder Badges, select a unit to study, plan, teach, and then revise. WBA History Educators will be on hand to provide feedback and answer questions.