Where to find modern history sources online
Whether you are investigating revolutions, wars, social movements, political leaders, or economic change, access to quality evidence helps you develop informed and well-supported conclusions.
The websites and source collections listed below provide access to a wide range of primary and secondary materials, including government records, newspapers, photographs, speeches, letters, academic articles, and archival film footage.
Below are some general resources for finding sources for Modern History. However, there are also dedicated sections for:
Primary Sources
Fordham University provides a list of links to online primary sources from the modern era.
A massive collection of resources from American history.
This is the largest library in the world. Also provides:
A great place for finding sources on modern warfare, particularly from a British perspective.
The British archive website which provides access to a huge range of materials.
British History Online contains primary and secondary sources for the history of the British Isles. You can find a diverse range of sources here.
Search for advertisements from over 100 years of publications.
The British Parthé News Footage Archive
Find real primary source film footage of major historical events from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.
Transatlantic Slave Trade Sources
Drawn from first-hand testimony, medical observation, and later historical analysis, these sources present a confronting account of the transatlantic slave trade.
The sources on this page bring together a range of historical accounts examining the causes, events, and consequences of the French Revolution.
Reign of Terror during the French Revolution Sources
Set against the violence and political upheaval of 1793 to 1794, these sources examine the Reign of Terror through official decrees, eyewitness-style narratives, and more.
The sources collected here trace that sequence in clear stages to explain the creation of a two-chamber legislature and a five-man executive.
The following sources on Napoleon Bonaparte trace his early life in Corsica, his education, his military career, and the political changes that accompanied his rise to power.
These ten sources trace the history of British colonialism from its earliest royal authorisations through to its formal treaties of expansion and, eventually, its legal limitations.
This collection of sources traces the creation, operation, and eventual collapse of the League of Nations across the first half of the twentieth century.
The following sources present a range of perspectives from this decade, including political speeches, cultural commentary, economic analysis, and personal reflections.
Historical sources on the Great Depression help show how Americans explained, experienced, and responded to one of the worst economic crises of the twentieth century.
Indian Independence and the Partition Sources
The sources on this page examine these dramatic developments through speeches by leading figures.
Secondary Sources
An online academic database used by universities worldwide that is a superb resource for History students. To view full articles, you will require membership.
Modern History Flipboard Magazine
A collection of online articles and news reports about Modern History.
Please Note: Some internet browsers do not handle the Flipboard website well, and it is sometimes better to have the Flipboard App to view the magazine.
This searches internet sites for academic articles and books. It often only provides one or two pages, but it is often enough to find quotes and bibliographical details.
Search millions of free academic articles, chapters, and theses.