Women & the American Story (WAMS) is a free curriculum website from the New-York Historical Society. WAMS connects educators with classroom resources that illuminate diverse women’s contributions to the American past.

Explore the Units

1492–1734 Early Encounters 1692-1783 Settler Colonialism and the Revolution 1783-1828 Building a New Nation 1820-1869 Expansions and Inequalities 1832-1877 A Nation Divided 1866–1898 Industry and Empire 1889–1920 Modernizing America 1920–1948 Confidence and Crises 1948–1977 Growth and Turmoil 1974-2018 The Information Age

Browse Highlights

Growth and Turmoil, 1948-1977

Marsha P. Johnson: Transgender Activist

Marsha P. Johnson was a key figure in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. She was an activist and self-identified drag queen.

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A Nation Divided, 1832-1877

Desegregation of Public Transportation

100 years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Elizabeth Jennings refused to leave a streetcar in New York City.

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Settler Colonialism, 1692-1783

Collective Action for a Revolutionary Cause

In 1774, a group of women published their intention to boycott British goods. It was the first women’s public collective political action in American history.

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Modernizing America, 1889-1920

Preserving Hispanic Heritage through Journalism and Education

Jovita Idar Juárez was a newspaper reporter and publisher who advocated for education and social services for the Hispanic community.

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