Free Civics Studies Lesson 9: The Treasury & The Post Office

How the government makes and spends money and the curious Dead Letter Office.

Read the current chapter online: “The Treasury and the Post-Office.”

Suggestions

Learn more about “The Soldiers Home.”
View the Winfield Scott statue mentioned in the book.
Learn more about “the hero of Lundy’s Lane.”
View “The Old Soldiers’ Home.”
Compare and contrast the Hôtel des Invalides with the Old Soldiers’ Home.
View a photo of Sugar Loaf Mountain, MD.
View a photo of the Treasury Building.
Compare and contrast the Treasury Building with the Temple of Minerva in Athens (Parthenon).
The Treasury Building is featured on what U. S. bill?
Make a list of the reasons that a national currency is absolutely necessary (pg. 123).
“Tour” the Treasury Building.
Read another version of Jackson’s influence in how the Treasury Building came to be at its location.
Learn more about the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) in the video below.
You, too, can take a Field Trip to the Money Factory!
View the past Secretaries of the Treasury portraits.
Enjoy a side trip through the Secret Service.
Learn more about the Cash Room.
Find out more about the BEP’s currency redemption program.
The Lifesaving Service was created in 1871 as a part of U. S. Treasury’s Revenue Marine Bureau. The service became part of the U. S. Coast Guard in 1915 — after the book was written.
Which is the tenth commandment? Copy it in your copybook.
When it comes to money, what did “philosophic Bert” mean by “too much is as great a bother as too little”? (Hint.)
Learn more about Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, in this PBS video.
Older students can learn the basics of Federal income taxes.
Create a timeline showing the history of the U. S. Customs and Border Security.
Learn more about U. S. currency.
Learn the history of the office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Explore the history of the U. S. debt.
List the duties of the Department of Treasury.
The Federal Reserve system was created in 1913 after the book was written. Learn more about the creation and function of the Federal Reserve through history.
View a photo of the 2-cent stamp.
View a timeline of U. S. Postal history.
The United States Post Office Department was in operation from 1792 through 1974. It is now the United States Postal Service.
Learn more about the Old Post Office building.
Read the 1792 Postal Act.
View a list of Postmasters General.
Read a list of the duties of the Postmaster General.
View current numbers on the size and scope of the U. S. Postal Service today.
From the current U. S. Postal Service financials, determine if the office is still operating at a loss today.
Read about the 500 BC Roman Postal System.
Find out what a money order is and why one might wish to use one.
Learn more about the Dead Letter Office.

Learn more about the Federal Reserve from The Book of Knowledge:

The Federal Reserve System is banker to the Government and banker to the banks. It holds the reserve funds of the banks. It issues the currency of the United States Government…. The Federal Reserve banks provide a nation-wide system for paying checks between cities, and they control the country’s supply of money. These banks do not do business directly with the public.

The Federal Reserve System was established in 1913 to solve a problem that had been growing since the Civil War. This problem was to see that there was plenty of money in every part of the country. Before that time, in some cities there would be large amounts of money, while in others there wouldn’t be enough to make loans to businessmen to pay wages and for other needs.

Another important part of the American banking organization is the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Like the Federal Reserve banks, this corporation is managed by the Government but owned by banks. The FDIC, as it is called was formed in 1934 to insure bank deposits; and now each bank deposit is insured….

“Banks and Banking” from The Book of Knowledge

Additional Resources

The Treasury Building: A Historic Landmark
31-page color download.

U.S. Department of the Treasury
Learn more about the building from the National Park Service.

Treasury Department Building
For a more complete read, enjoy this timeline.

U.S. Department of the Treasury
Duties and organization.

Chronology of Events
Extensive timeline.

U.S. Life-Saving Service
History.

Surfmen of the U.S. Life-Saving Service
Photos, stations, duties, equipment from the National Park Service.

History of the Administration of Lighthouses in America
Originally administered through Treasury under Hamilton!

Bureau of Printing and Engraving
(You may want to install an ad blocker before viewing.)

The United States Postal Service
History.

Activities

Introduction to Greek Architecture
Fun aside from Khan Academy.

The Basics of Treasury Securities
Interactive at TreasuryDirect KIDS that covers savings bonds, bills, notes, and more!

Explore All Things Hamiltonian
Exhibition narrated by Richard Brookhiser.

Alexander Hamilton and George Washington
Video from PBS exploring the length to which Washington depended on Hamilton.

Alexander Hamilton Quiz
Fun for wrapping up from PBS.

The Office Where Mutilated Money Gets Repaired
Less-than-4-minute NPR audio.

Great Minds Think Activity Book
Download about financial skills for students from the Fed.

Escape from Barter Island
Interactive from the Fed exploring the role of money on the economy.

Books

The Life Savers {Free eBook & Activities}
Excellent!

The Post Office and Its Story by Bennett
Accessible public domain work.

Units & Lesson Plans

The Secret Service: A Unit Study
Established in 1865 as part of the Treasury Department, the Secret Service was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

Explaining Taxes to Kids
Lesson plan from USA.gov.

Understanding Taxes
Lesson plans from the IRS.