Eras in American History Teacher Resources
Find Eras in American History lesson plans and worksheets
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The Civil Rights Movement: Grades 6-8
From Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X to Rosa Parks and Muhammad Ali, the Civil Rights Movement united African Americans in a struggle for quality. Including an array of lesson plans, presentations, videos, activities, and...
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Hidden Stories: A Three-Part Lesson in African-American History, Research, and Children’s Literature
Groups of high school learners conduct research on a particular era of African-American history, focusing on events, people, and places important to that era. Next, they review children's literature in four different genres. As a...
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US History Overview 2 - Reconstruction to the Great Depression
Ambitiously spanning American history from 1865 to 1941, this video discusses and clarifies topics such as women's suffrage, the sinking of the Maine, and the development of America as a world empire. Maps and photographs will engage...
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After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans
Students describe issues or problems facing African Americans following Reconstruction. They explain possible solutions to these problems suggested in the sources you find, and cite arguments for and against these solutions.
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Reliving History through Slave Narratives
Helpful for an American literature or history unit, this lesson prompts middle schoolers to examine slavery in the United States. They read slave narratives that were part of the Federal Writers' Project and then conduct their own...
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America's History in the Making: Classroom Applications Three
How can primary sources bring history to life? Scholars create detailed lesson plans on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in American history. The 17th installment of a 22-part program exploring American history examines...
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US History Summer Instructional Packet
Can you boil the historical, cultural, and political events and movements from the last 150 years into a descriptive study guide? You don't have to—it's right here! A thorough resource includes informative text, discussion questions,...
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The Fabric of History
African-American history is an integral part of what America is. Learners examine important events, read informational texts, and create quilts depicting specific eras in African-American history. Each image created for the quilt will be...
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African American History: Climbing the Wall
Imagine the challenge of trying to trace your family genealogy if no records were kept of births and deaths. Where would you look for information? What types of documents could provide you with the information you seek? History...
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The Rise and Fall of the Jim Crow Era
Students explore African American history by researching the Jim Crow laws. In this Civil Rights lesson, students define the Jim Crow laws, the reasons they were put into place, and how they were ultimately defeated. Students write a...
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Practice Test: Colonialism and the Foundations of American Democracy
Which document introduced the idea of limited government? What is the official beginning of the American Revolution? From the colonial period to the establishment of the Constitution, this assessment includes 40 multiple choice questions...
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History Review: Colonial America
Explore key moments in American history with the click of a mouse! Learners read 50 questions from different eras in early America, and watch the rest of the presentation to find more questions to answer.
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The Great "What If" Question. How might American history have been different had Lincoln lived?
Eleventh graders study the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. In this American History lesson plan, 11th graders analyze documents related to Reconstruction. Students participate in a debate on Reconstruction.
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The Jim Crow Era
Young scholars examine how African-Americans were affected by the Great Depression. In this African-American history lesson, students conduct independent research on the social conditions of the time period using the suggested resources....
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Progressive Era Lesson Plan
The women working for equal rights in the early 20th century weren't a part of one large group; rather, they were members of dozens of small groups focused on social reform. Explore the ways groups in the Progressive Era like National...
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This Isn't Right: A History of Women in Industry
Women were in the workplace long before Rosie the Riveter pushed up her sleeve. Learn about the working options available to women during the Industrial Revolution, the Progressive Era, and the Great Depression with a instructional...
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Curriculum Guide For Teaching Texas History
Follow Texas history from Native Americans all the way to the 21st Century. Teachers analyze the creation of a year-long course on Texas history and use a wide range of teaching subjects and materials to guide them through the state's...
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Billie Holiday's Song "Strange Fruit"
Pupils analyze a variety of primary source materials related to lynching (news articles, letters written to or written by prominent Americans, pamphlets, broadsides, etc.) in order to assess the effectiveness of the anti-lynching...
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US History and Government Examination: January 2010
From the trade of the colonial era to the Clean Water Act, water has shaped American history. Class members unpack how water affected the American story using primary sources that span events including the Lewis and Clark expedition to...
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Taming the American West
Have you ever seen a movie about the romance of the American West with its buffalo, horses, cowboys, and endless frontier? The 13th installment of a 22-part series on American history presents the myths associated with the American West....
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Zoom-In: Depression Era
Primary scholars investigate economics by analyzing images of the Great Depression. They will view a photograph from the era and discuss the imagery with a partner. In addition, they answer study questions about their photograph and...
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American Revolution Project
Here you will find three simple and engaging American Revolution projects that will allow your learners to not only express their comprehension of major events and key terms during the war, but also offer the opportunity for great...
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20th Century American Art
See the changes, controversy, and innovations that define postwar American art. The onset of the modern art era in American history is well-defined in this slide-show. You'll see how Abstract Expressionism shifted into conceptual, pop,...
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Antebellum Era: Daily Lives of Slaves
New ReviewLearners evaluate primary sources from the antebellum era to determine the accuracy of textbooks. They examine narratives from enslaved people, then compare them to their own text. Extension activities include the opportunity to write a...
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Events leading to the American Revolution
The Stamp Act, Paul Revere's ride, and the Boston Tea Party pushed American colonists to the tipping point that led to the American Revolution. Fifth graders research the key figures of the war, study the Declaration of Independence, and...
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History of Immigration Through the 1850s
Everyone living in the United States today is a descendant from an immigrant—even Native Americans. Learn about the tumultuous history of American immigration with a reading passage that discusses the ancient migration over the Bering...
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What if YOU Lived During Jim Crow?
Young historians envision what life was like for African Americans living in the Jim Crow South through hands-on, experiential activities.
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Texts and Era Introduction
Make text-to-world connections between 1920s American history and The Great Gatsby. Upper graders share facts they researched about the 1920s the evening prior, view two video clips about F. Scott Fitzgerald, and then choose a book to...
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American Revolution or Civil War?
Sixth graders analyze images of American history. In this research skills lesson plan, 6th graders examine primary document images from the Library of Congress website. Students compare the images to determine whether they represent the...
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2017 AP® United States History Free-Response Questions
Were unfair taxes really the cause of the American Revolution? Learners explore the complicated historiography behind the revolutionary period using authentic College Board prompts. The free-response questions from the exam feature...
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After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans in the South
Lynchings, race riots, and Jim Crow laws were just a few examples of antagonism that African Americans faced after Emancipation. Class groups investigate these and other events, and prepare a presentation to inform the class about the...
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Chapter 18: The Reconstruction Era (Test)
Six pages and 41 questions await your class, as they show what they know about the era of Reconstruction. Each question asks who, what, where, when, or why, regarding the people, places, laws, and events related to Reconstruction. You...
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On This Day: OPEC Declares Oil Embargo
The memories of gas lines from the OPEC Oil Embargo linger in the memories of many Americans. A series of video clips—including those from experts on the subject of oil importation, Jimmy Carter addressing the country, and Congress...
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Black History Month - Past to Present, Grades 4-6
Students complete a unit on Black History Month. They explore various websites, develop a diagram of the Underground Railroad, create a postage stamp for an African American, and develop a resume for an African American scientist.
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World War II
December 7th is remembered as a tragic time in American history, but some scholars may not know why. The resource explains the significance of the bombing of Pearl Harbor as well as how World War II relates to American history. The...
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2016 AP® United States History Free-Response Questions
The British and Spanish both had footholds in the New World, yet they had different approaches. Scholars explore the dynamics, along with the reasons behind immigration to the United States and business practices of the Gilded Age in a...
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The Federalist Era ( 1789-1800)
Focus on early American history with this set of 14 short answer questions, all related to the Federalist Era. George Washington, James Madison, and the US Constitution, what could be better than that?
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African Americans in California’s Heartland – The Civil Rights Era
Events related to the Civil Rights Movement in Sacramento, California during the 1960s offer class members an opportunity to compare the nonviolent resistance approach favored by Dr. Martin Luther King and the NAACP with those of the...
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Revolutionary War Era Research Project
Young historians interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources in this American Revolution lesson. They select topics from the time era that they are interested in researching. Additionally, they follow the...
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The Impact of the Jim Crow Era on Education, 1877–1930s
Even though American slaves were officially emancipated in 1865, the effects of slavery perpetuated throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Middle and high schoolers learn about the ways that discrimination and the Jim Crow laws...
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Mercantilism and The Colonial American Economy
The invisible hand of trade. Viewers use the AP review video to learn the impact of mercantilism on the American Colonies. They examine the question of taxation without representation as the colonists get more and more upset with the...
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U.S. History I Final Exam Questions
In this American history final exam worksheet, students respond to 10 essay questions regarding Industrialization, Reconstruction, American Imperialism, World War I, and the Great Depression.
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African American Soldiers in World War I
Eleventh graders analyze the fight of African Americans. In this American History lesson, 11th graders analyze the attitudes towards blacks in the military during WWI. Students debate the performance of the 92nd division.
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An African American Represents Alabama during Reconstruction
The era after the Civil War saw a flourishing of African Americans exercising their rights. Using graphic organizers and Internet research, pupils consider the legacy of Benjamin Sterling Turner, who sat in Congress. Afterward, they...
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American History Test Prep
To be used with middle or high school US history classes, this tool provides three different methods of reviewing for a chapter or unit exam. Read the highlights of selected topics, study virtual flashcards, or take a review quiz.
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Colonization Effects From First Encounter through US Federal Policy
Learners examine American policies. In this Native American history lesson, students compare and contrast life in America prior to colonization and following it. Learners discuss policies that displaced Native Americans.
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History of Immigration From the 1850s to the Present
The Statue of Liberty may embrace the huddled masses of the world, but has American society always joined in? After young historians read a passage about the history of American immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on...
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The Pre-Civil War Era (1815–1850)
For this online interactive U.S. history worksheet, students respond to 9 short answer and essay questions about 19th century America. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
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America's History in the Making: Classroom Applications Four
The final installment of a 22-part American history series examines the many faces that make up the country's story. From Henry Ford to Tulio Serrano, scholars use biographical evidence and Internet research to uncover the people behind...
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African-American Soldiers in World War I: The 92nd and 93rd Divisions
Students research the role played and contributions made by African American soldiers during World War I. They discuss the evolution of civil rights in America's history, and the progress that has been made in the last 100 years.
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Diverse Voices-African American Ventures
Students research African-American participation in the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students read the article "Fighting Rebels with Only One Hand" and write a persuasive paragraph on whether the participation of the...
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American History Impact of the Women’s Movement
Take a look at important images that depict the women's suffrage movement, the support for the Equal Rights Amendment, and wage equity for women over the last two centuries. As class members work through a activity on primary source...
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US History and Government Examination: June 2016
A comprehension check uses multiple-choice and essay questions for a balanced examination concepts in both US History and government. The test covers a variety of topics, including British mercantilism, the Monroe Doctrine, and the...
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American History: The United Farm Workers (UFW) and Pesticides
Students are able to answer research questions through internet research. They write a bridf history of the UFW using research. Students are able to create resumes of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta by researching their biography.
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Slave Narratives: Constructing U.S. History Through Analyzing Primary Sources
Learners access oral histories that contain slave narratives from the Library of Congress. They describe the lives of former slaves, sample varied individual experiences and make generalizations about their research in journal entries.
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American Revolution Multimedia Project
Students create multimedia projects based on the American Revolution Era. In this American History lesson, students combine photographs, slides, and video to present the time line of the American Revolution to the rest of their class.
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Gatsby and the American Twenties Newspaper
Students research 1920's US History. For this historical literature lesson, students use the novel The Great Gatsby as a tool to examine the era. They work in individually to create newspaper articles based on different historical and...
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Roots of Women’s Rights Advocacy: Pre and Post Revolutionary War Eras
Pupils consider the role of women in Revolutionary War America. In this women's rights instructional activity, students examine photographs, letters, and documents that reveal the role of women at the time. Pupils create political...
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Teaching Hard History: A Framework for Teaching American Slavery
Pupils investigate American slavery from colonial times through the Civil War. They incorporate primary sources, video clips, and firsthand accounts to understand how the slavery issue gripped the nation. Essays, presentations, and...
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Alabama BEFORE the American Revolution
Did you know that prior to the American Revolution, Alabama was a part of the British empire and called New West Florida? Class members research the economic, political, and social realities of this territory and compare them to those of...
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From Slavery To Civil Rights
Students investigate the lifelong fight for equality by researching U.S. History. In this African American history lesson, students discuss the effects of slavery and the beginning of the United States. Students view a slide show of...
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From Jim Crow to Linda Brown: A Retrospective of the African-American Experience from 1897 to 1953.
Students research the American Memory collection to explore the African-American experience from 1897 to 1953.
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African Americans in the United States Congress During Reconstruction
The Civil Rights Act of 1866, which granted citizenship to all males in the U.S., resulted in the first African Americans to be elected to Congress. Class members research 11 of these men, the challenges they faced, and craft...
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How Did the Progressive Party affect American Society
Ninth graders explore the political views of the Progressive Party. In this U.S. History lesson, 9th graders read the "LaFollette Platform," then share their thoughts of the reading in a class discussion. To conclude the lesson, students...
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African Americans after the Civil War
Students explore the events of Reconstruction after the Civil War. In this US History lesson, students complete several activities and worksheets that reinforce challenges and social upheaval experienced in the South after the Civil War.
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From Jim Crow To Linda Brown: A Retrospective of the African-American Experience from 1897 to 1953
Students examine African American issue between the years 1897 and 1953. In this African American history lesson, students research the social, economic, and political conditions of African Americans during the aforementioned time span...
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Fights, Freedom, and Fraud: Voting Rights in the Reconstruction Era
As part of a study of post Civil War era, young historians investigate the changes in voting rights during the Reconstruction Era (1863-1876), the fraud involved in the Hayes-Tilden presidential election of 1876, and efforts by Pap...
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Introduce Vocabulary: Rap a Tap Tap (Dillon)
Explore the dancing prodigy and Depression-era African-American icon Bill Robinson as scholars learn new vocabulary words in context. As you read Leo Dillon's Rap a Tap Tap they listen for six new words: clatter, greet, passion, pause,...
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The AME Church in U.S. History
Ninth graders explore the history of the African Methodist Church in the United States. In this African American history lesson, 9th graders discover why the church was founded and research its history and noteworthy members. Students...
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American Colonists Protest Song
Students explore the role of protest songs. In this early American history lesson, students research the acts passed by the British that angered colonists. Students then listen to protest songs from contemporary American history prior to...
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Diverse Voices - African American Ventures
Students research African American history and the Underground Railroad. In this African American history lesson, students discuss the Drinking Gourd. Students read 'If You Traveled the Underground Railroad' and discuss. Students work in...
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The Two-Party System in American History: Ch 5
Five matching and 5 multiple choice questions to challenge your class. Their answers will test their knowledge of early American government. Party systems, Electorate, and major constituents of the time are the topics included.
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African Americans After the Civil War
New ReviewYoung historians learn what life was like in the South during the Reconstruction era. They complete hands-on-activities and participate in group discussion to understand how experiences varied between African Americans and white...
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History of Money and Banking in the U.S.
Why was there a lack of confidence in the money and banking system of the early United States government? What historical events led to the establishment of the Federal Reserve System? Here you'll find reading materials and worksheets to...
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Three Visions for African Americans
Students consider the plight of African Americans in post-Reconstruction America. In this African American history lesson, students discover the visions of African American leaders Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Marcus...
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"I Cannot Tell a Lie"
Students examine and debunk historical myths, using the American Revolution as a starting point. They create and play a game of "American History: Fact or Fiction?"
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Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Students examine life in an internment camp. For this civil liberties lesson, students discuss the advantages of looking at a historical event from the points of view of multiple eyewitnesses. Students read letters from young Japanese...
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Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois: The Problem of Negro Leadership
Students focus on the problem of African American leadership throughout American history. In groups, they research the life and works of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois and how they worked to promote the need for African American...
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Cold War Conflict in Vietnam: The Vietnam-Era Presidency
Comparing and evaluating various media types is a great way to build critical analysis skills. Learners read about the Vietnam era presidency, specifically the foreign policy established by Johnson and Nixon. Then they compare several...
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Examining Women's Roles through Primary Sources and Literature
Pupils interpret historical evidence presented in primary resources. In this women's history lesson, students examine the role of women prior to and following the suffrage movement. Pupils also read selected pieces of women's literature.
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Review of our Presidents from the Progressive Era to Cold War
Covering the main events of the Cold War, this (mistitled) presentation includes photographs, political cartoons, and amusing graphics to illustrate its points. The information on the slides is helpful for an overview of the Cold War,...
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U.S. History: Chapter 11, Sections 1 & 2
Reviewing American history from 1818 - 1832 (chapter 11 of an unspecified textbook), this presentation includes key terms and ideas about the era of Jeffersonian politics and the election of John Adams. The slides are in all caps, making...
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Middle and Recent Earth History
In this middle and recent Earth history worksheet, students are given 20 statements about the changes in the Earth and life on Earth and they determine if they are true or false. If the statements are false, students change the...
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Blacks During Reconstruction
Students investigate U.S. history by examining the post Civil War era. In this reconstruction lesson, students identify the changes the Civil War brought to African Americans in the South. Students view a presentation based on personal...
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American Revolutionary War: Two Sides...Two Perspectives
Students investigate the American Revolutionary War era from the perspective of Britain and the American colonists by researching causes, effects, events and people. They compare the views of the Colonists, and the British and recognize...
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Native Viewpoints In Their Own Words
High schoolers consider the perspectives of Native Americans regarding various historical events. In this cultural diversity instructional activity, students read essays from an anthology titled Native American Testimony: A Chronicle of...
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Introduction to American Revolutionary War
Fourth graders research the important people of the American Revolutionary War. In this social studies/US history lesson, 4th graders discover the important people in the American Revolutionary War by researching them and viewing a...
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American Biography: Alice Paul, Life in a Box, Reconstruction, Timeline, Pathfinder
Eleventh graders study historical sources and analysis tools to gather information about a person. In this American History lesson, 11th graders write a biographical story. Students research a historical person's life.
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Ben Franklin and the Origins of American Diplomacy
Students study the origins of American diplomacy. In this early American history lesson, students research Ambassador Ben Franklin's missions to England and France on behalf of the United States. Students share their research results...
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Prelude to the Revolutionary War
Work on analyzing primary source documents and informational text with a set of reference material about the American Revolution. Middle schoolers read about the precursors and significant events of the Revolutionary War, and demonstrate...
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On This Day: Prohibition
Before Prohibition, America was literally awash in alcohol, according to one historian of the topic. When the Eighteenth Amendment was enacted, loopholes allowed Americans workarounds, such as the ability to make up to 250 gallons of...
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Kentuckians in the Civil War Era: Constructed Response Essay
What part did Kentucky play in the Civil War? A constructed response essay assignment tests to ensure scholars understand the concepts and the arguments for the causes of the Civil War. Learners must read a primary source quote and then...
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Voting Rights since the Fifteenth Amendment
What does it mean to have the right to vote? To what extent have interpretations of the Fifteenth Amendment changed over time? Young historians examine and analyze primary source documents, an interactive website, and historical analysis...
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Simple Machines, Ben Franklin and the Technology of the 1700s
Benjamin Franklin was an inventor, and he was fascinated by the mechanics of machinery. Using a fun exploration, pupils examine simple machines from the pre-Industrial era. Then, they must identify and build their own using common objects.
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Chronology: Civil Rights in the 20th Century
New ReviewTest pupils' knowlege of history and the way civil rights movements unfolded using a series of images. With a primary source analysis activity, scholars practice their chronology and deductive reasoning skills. They use their knowledge...
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The Pre-Civil War Era (1815–1850)
In this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the United States from 1815-1850. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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Slices of American Pie: The 1960s Through Music
Eleventh graders examine political, cultural, and social movements through music. For this 1960s American history lesson, 11th graders explore the music of the decade in order to better understand the complexity of the time period....
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Stroking the Senses: The Literature, Music, and Art of the Harlem Renaissance
Young scholars investigate the history of African Americans by researching Harlem. In this culture lesson, students examine a slide-show of images and identify the great African American singers and performers of the 20th century. ...
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Triangular Trade
This activity has it all, primary source documents, an interactive trade game, clear teacher background information, and sailing to the West Indies chance cards. You will play, trade, and live out the experiences of early colonists in...
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Assessing Change: Women's Lives in the American Revolutionary Era
Students examine the state of women's rights in Revolutionary America. For this women's history lesson, students research Internet and print sources regarding the evolution of women's right, or lack thereof, from colonial times to the...
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Poster: The Revolutionary Era
Young scholars study primary sources from the Revolutionary era. In this primary source research lesson, students use the provided prints and songs to look at the American Revolution from different perspectives.
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Colonists or Native Americans?
Students analyze the Colonial era by viewing photographs. For this U.S. History lesson, students view a PowerPoint slide-show of numerous images representing the Colonial era of the United States. Students practice sorting the pictures...
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Teaching With Documents Lesson Plan: Images of the American Revolution
Young scholars interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this American Revolution instructional activity, students examine international involvement in the war as well as major events of the war.
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The Most American Thing in America: The Chautauqua
Middle schoolers explore the Chautauqua movement. In this Pennsylvania history lesson, students use primary documents to explore what the Chautauqua was and how it made a difference in the American way of life.
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Exploring the Harlem Renaissance Through Primary Sources
Young scholars investigate the history of African Americans by researching art and culture. In this Harlem Renaissance lesson plan, students complete a graphic organizer based on the artistic and musical history of Harlem in the early...
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Female Movers and Shakers in History
Students research famous women in history. In this history lesson, students explore women that made an impression in the world and create a timeline of what they did that was important and when they did it.
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Harvesting the New World: Changing Land Uses and Contact Between Cultures in Colonial Times
Ninth graders differentiate the Native American and European values. In this world history lesson plan, 9th graders define colonialism in their own words. They study the effects of epidemics and other diseases to Native American...
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Slave Narratives: Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and the Columbian Orator
Young historians practice in-depth, quality analysis of primary source texts in this three-lesson unit, which examines excerpts from the slave narratives of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Jacobs, and Caleb Bingham.
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Two Different African-American Visions: W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington
The strategies civil rights activists Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois proposed for blacks to achieve racial progress is the focus of an activity in which class groups identify the strategies as well as the benefits and drawbacks...
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The Progressives
The Progressive Era brought about a word that often leads to turmoil—change! Learners research the late 1800s in American history to uncover societal issues gripping the nation back in the day. The 15th lesson of a 22-part series...
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Reconstructing a Nation
Think back to the aftermath of an family dispute. The awkwardness of having to make up, get along, and move forward can be very difficult. The tenth lesson of a 22-part series on American history examines the Reconstruction Era following...
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Egalitarian America
What does a true American represent? Scholars investigate the equal rights era of the 1960s and 1970s in the 20th installment of a 22-part series on American history. Using photographic, magazine, written, and video evidence, groups...
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The Education of Women in Colonial America
What educational opportunities were available to women during the colonial era in American history? How did the opportunities available to women differ from those for men? To answer this question, class members examine a series of...
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Postwar Tension and Triumph
Go get the American Dream lifestyle! The 19th lesson in a 22-part series exploring American history shows learners the post-WWII economic boom. Using primary sources, photographs, and cartoons, groups discuss their findings and present...
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Founding of the Laurel Grove School and Other "Colored" Schools in Fairfax County, 1860–1890
The right to public education was not always so clear in American history. Readers study several primary and secondary source documents, including property deeds, maps, and photographs, about the founding of local schools during the...
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14th Amendment with Jeffrey Rosen
What makes the Fourteenth Amendment relevant to today's America? Jeffrey Rosen, president of the National Constitution Center, attempts to answer the question by walking through the clauses of the Reconstruction-era amendment. Due...
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Step into the Painting: Social Studies, Literature, and Art
Travel back in American history to the era of slavery and abolition. After reading about the Underground Railroad, young historians examine a painting depicting the event, and write a narrative from the point of view of a person in the...
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Writing American Diaries
Young scholars examine the concept of historical perspective in writing. They read the diary of Sally Wister, a young Patriot from Philadelphia during the Revolutionary Era. Additionally, they must include different points of view in...
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The Living Museum: George Washington, the Slave Owner
Eighth graders bring early America to life. In this George Washington lesson, 8th graders listen to a lecture about the first president, explore the relationships he had with his slaves, and research the backgrounds of some of his...
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The Human Journey: Original Migrations
Eleventh graders study human migration patterns. For this migration lesson, 11th graders watch videos about the history of human migration. Students then select an activity from the provided list of 6 to complete.
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Progressives Intro Blue Book
In this 20th century American history instructional activity, students read noted pages in their textbooks and then respond to 11 short answer questions regarding the Progressive Movement in the United States.
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World War I Propaganda: Targeting all Americans to Join the War Effort
Is propaganda from World War I any different than the propaganda of today? Class members learn about the effectiveness of advertising and its influence on American's behavior. Activities include a propaganda think sheet, assessments of...
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1920s Variety Show
To better understand the cultural achievements of the Harlem Renaissance and become familiar with its major figures, class members examine a painting by Aaron Douglas and a poem by Langston Hughes and compare how the artists develop...
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Perspectives on Indian Removal Policies
High schoolers investigate the role of the U.S. government in Indian removal. In this Native American history lesson, students examine primary and secondary sources about the Jackson's policies to move the Cherokee Nation. High schoolers...
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History of African-American Music
Students are introduced to African-American music history through this lesson. They begin their study by taking a look at the slave work song and work their way through to modern rap and hip-hop. Students also take a closer look at...
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Early Earth History
In this earth history worksheet, students answer 12 questions about geological time, the eras of Earth, the changes taking place in early Earth and the life present during the eras. They also answer 2 questions about the Paleozoic Era.
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American Civil War: Conflicting Newspaper Reports
Students examine the happenings at the Battle of Antietam from all sides. In this American Civil War instructional activity, students analyze newspapers accounts from different perspectives regarding the battle and then write their own...
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The Supreme Court: The Civil Rights Cases
The relationships between civil rights and the Supreme Court is a long, complicated chapter from American history. Pupils view a video, engage in discussion, and read background information to learn about the steps the highest court in...
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Modern Interpretations
To conclude an eight-lesson study of the events that occurred in the early colonial period in Deerfield, Massachussetss, class members evaluate the point of view and bias found in late 19th and early 20th century retellings.
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Rosie the Riveter: The Embodiment of the American Woman’s Economic and Social Awakening
Critical events force change. World War II forced a change in perceptions of and attitudes toward women. When thousands of men joined the military American factories were left shorthanded. Young historians investigate how media was used...
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The Brief American Pageant:The Triumphs and Travails of the Jeffersonian Republic
Add these slides into your lecture about the Jeffersonian Era in American history. Slides detail the results of the Presidential Election of 1800, four Barbary states of North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Tripoli) and the...
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American History Games
Introduce your class members to the essential questions and information they will be learning in an American history unit with a game app that can also be used again as a review at the end of the study.
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The Progressive Era
How did citizens in the United States work to solve problems associated with development of American industrial capitalism during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? Discover the progressive era with an engaging and...
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The Vietnam War & its Impact on American Society
Foster discussion in your advanced high school history class with primary sources from the Vietnam War era. After a timeline activity involving manipulatives, pupils get down to business analyzing and categorizing the document set. All...
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School Segregation
Young historians explore monumental events in the history of school segregation in the United States, such as Brown v. Board of Education and the Little Rock Nine. They conclude with an experiential activity by delivering an argument in...
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Westward Expansion Project Choices
What a great list of brief research projects for reviewing the era of westward expansion in the United States! Learners are directed to choose and complete three of the projects on the given list, which includes opportunities to design...
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Antebellum Freedom
From indentured servitude to involuntary race-based servitude, slavery has taken many forms in American history. Class members examine three manumission petitions that reveal how the rights of African Americans and African American...
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Dominion of War: With Liberty and Justice (not) for All
Pupils investigate the Revolutionary War by viewing PowerPoint presentations. They analyze photographs from a slide show and discuss why African Americans were treated differently during the Revolutionary War. They also complete a...
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Unit 3: The Negro Motorist Green Book
What was it like to travel as an African-American motorist in the Jim Crow era? Learners consider the question as they examine digital copies of the Green Book, which documented places that served African American patrons during the time...
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The Gilded Age & the Progressive Era (1877–1917)
In this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the Gilded Age and Progressive Era in the United States. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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The Events That Led Up To The American Revolution
Fourth graders explore the events that led to the American Revolution. In this history lesson students analyze primary source images to find a common theme. Students look for clues to everyday life around the time of the American...
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American Biography: Phillis Wheatley, Life in a Box, Revolutionary Timeline, Pathfinder
Fifth graders study the contributions of Phillis Wheatley to America. In this primary source research lesson, 5th graders use the provided pathfinder to locate historical documentation of Wheatley's contributions during the Revolutionary...
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Revolutionary War Captions
Fourth graders review major events in the Revolutionary War. In this American history lesson, 4th graders view pictures from the Revolutionary War and write a caption for each of the seven pictures.
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A New Society Project
Ninth graders examine the social and political movements of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era. In this American history lesson plan, 9th graders work in groups to form their own society and laws. Students make a diagram of their town...
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President Jackson's Indian Removal Policy
Eleventh graders examine the Indian Removal POlicy during President Jackson. In this American History activity, 11th graders analyze various paintings by George Catlin. Students discuss their findings as a whole group.
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Battle of Lexington and Concord
Eleventh graders study the causes of the American Revolution. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read a story "Guns for General Washington. Students read and discuss statements about war.
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New Nation
Fourth graders investigate primary documents and maps. In this early American history lesson, 4th graders record their observations about documents and maps from the Revolutionary era.
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Not Only Paul Revere: Other Riders of the American Revolution
Students examine circumstances surrounding rides of the American Revolution other than Paul Revere's, explore why posterity treated them differently than Revere's ride, and create original poems based on historical fact.
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American Civil Rights Tour
Students construct a virtual tour of the civil rights movement. In this United States history lesson, students research various websites to find out more information about the events that took place in the specified cities. Students...
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American Revolution
Learners review the events leading to the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Using the internet, they examine many different political cartoons from the time period and discuss the political atmosphere. In groups,...
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The Equal Rights Amendment
The debate over the Equal Rights Amendment continues. To better understand the controversy, class members research the history of attempts to get the amendment ratified. In addition, pairs engage in a structured academic conversation...
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African Americans and the Populist Movement
Why did the Populist Party fail to ally itself with African American farmers? To answer this essential question, class members investigate the Populist Era (188-1900) and read an article written by Tom Watson, a Populist leader.
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Once Upon A Time (Saxipak’a): Lesson Plan 1
As part of a study of the history of the Chumash on California's Channel Island chain, class members view the documentary Once Upon a Time, respond to discussion questions, and create a timeline for the different waves of migration.
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The African American Experience in NC After Reconstruction
Race relations in the early 20th century are the focus of a series of activities that asks high schoolers to examine excerpts from five primary source documents to evaluate arguments for and against African American progress....
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Martin Luther King and Malcom X on Violence and Integration
Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were contemporaries. Both were gifted orators, both were preachers, both were leaders during the Civil Rights era, both were assassinated. But the two had very different views on violence and...
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"New American Characters" - Analyzing the Impact of Cultural Change in "The Great Gatsby"
Learners annotate text from The Great Gatsby before working through a character development map. They then use text evidence in a final essay to describe the connection between central ideas and character development.
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American Indian Civil Rights
Students examine social justice issues regarding American Indians. In this civil rights lesson plan, students investigate the Red Power Movement of the 1960's and 1970's. Students then roleplay interviewing Native American protesters.
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Enslaved African Americans and Expressions of Freedom
Students analyze a painting from African-American culture to determine its meaning. Reading slave spirituals, they discover what live was like for African-Americans who were enslaved in the South. They draw conclusions about their desire...
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US Civil Rights Movement: Beginnings through the 60s
A real find for a U.S. History teacher, this presentation could supplement many class sessions about the Civil Rights Movement. Pictures of events, major figures, and "Whites Only" signs are striking and effective for even your most...
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Images of the American Revolution
High schoolers analyze several documents as they research the Revolutionary War. They evaluate documents and examine them for bias and perspective. They use their research to write monologues from the point of view of a famous...
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Worksheet #51 Questions - Early American Government
In this early American government quiz instructional activity, students test their knowledge through the ten fill in the blank questions covering the aforementioned topic.
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African American Women Before and After the Civil War: Slavery and Freedom
Students listen to data on African American women in Texas before the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, students compare and contrast the lives of slave and free women, and discuss case studies, locating areas on a map. Students...
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American History Review
Students review American History. In this American History lesson, students create a timeline that lists major events in American history. Students write a speech about their favorite American and create a diorama to model a scene or era...
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Master of the Airwaves: How FDR Used Radio to Ease the Public’s Fears
The political and economic climate during the 1930's was uncertain and tumultuous. But Americans' minds and hearts were eased with the reassuring words of their president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and addresses over the radio. High...
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Learn about BCE and CE through Events in Afghanistan
BCE and CE? Class members create a timeline of key events in the history of Afghanistan before and after the Christian Era using the provided list. They then add their own birth dates and events in American history as well.
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Native American Policy
Young scholars examine federal policies regarding Native Americans. In this Native American assimilation and removal policies lesson, students conduct research to compare the changes in federal policy regarding Native Americans between...
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Let Your Motto Be Resistance: African American Portraits
Students explore the contributions of African Americans of the 20th century. In this African American history lesson, students examine portraits of Muhammad Ali, Romare Bearden, Lorraine Hansberry, Judith Jamison, and Leontyne Price in...
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Lewis and Clark and the Native Americans
Students practice using maps and identifying landmarks on the Lewis and Clark expedition. They research Lewis and Clark's relationship with the Native Americans and report their findings to the class. They identify the impact of the...
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Hunters to Herders
Young historians discover the many ways that the lives of the Native Americans in Colorado changed over time. Learners research and trace the various events that led to their lifestyle being primarily nomadic, to a lifestyle of permanent...
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Great Depression Era Movies: What do the Endings Tell Us?
In the best of times and the worst of times the ticket lines for movies are long. Why? Why do people go to the movies? What can films and their endings tell us about the era in which they are made? These questions guide class members as...
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Virtual Museum
Ninth graders explore various time-periods in American history. They select important events, people, places, and artifacts to explore. Students present their information to the class using PowerPoint.
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A Look at Virginians During Reconstruction, 1865-1877
The transition between rebellion to reunification was not smooth after the Civil War. Young historians compare primary and secondary source documents in a study of the Reconstruction era in Virginia, noting the rights that were not...
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Stars, Stripes and Symbols of America: Comparing Our Flag, Past and Present
Your young historians will compare and contrast the details of the American flag today with an an image of the nation's flag from the post-Civil War era, and identify the flag's importance as a national symbol through analysis worksheets...
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American Biography: Samuel Adams and Early Riots, Life in a Box, Revolutionary Timeline, Pathfinder
Fifth graders examine photographs from the Library of Congress website. In this American Revolution lesson, 5th graders analyze the photographs and documents from the era and determine their impact on the war.
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Upton Sinclair, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harvey W. Wiley
Though Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle shocked the American public into a thorough examination of the meat-packing industry, the author was disappointed that his book's main argument—the exploitation of American immigrants—was not part...
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The Media and the War: The Penny Press, Walt Whitman and the War
The Mexican-American war marked a significant moment in United States history, as well as in the history of American media. The mid-nineteenth century saw the introduction of the Penny Press, which provided many American citizens with...
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Making Choices
What factors go into a decision to enter a war? Use a collection of primary source documents and images to prompt a discussion about the American Revolution and the reasons for entering a war against Britain.
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Imperialism and Expansion: Part 1
Students explore the era of imperialism and expansion of the United States. In this American history lesson, students play a game regarding the U.S. attempts to expand the nation in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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Early Modern: Global Interactions
The moment Christopher Columbus's ships touched the shores of a New World, the old world changed forever. But has it been for the better? High schoolers consider the effectiveness, benefits, and drawbacks of the Columbian Exchange with a...
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The Great "What If" Question. How might American history have been different had Lincoln lived?
Students examine the impact of the assassination of President Lincoln. After researching the Republican positions on Reconstruction and analyzing documents related to the Reconstruction, students take a position and explain their...
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Letters from the Japanese American Internment
Learners explore the concept of Japanese internment. In this Japanese internment lesson, students examine primary sources that enable them to discover what internment camp life was like and its implications, Learners write their own...
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American History: Finding A Voice
Students are able to analyze speeches and articles by outlining their content. They are able to create a list of dominant themes used in speech and article writing through class discussion and participation.
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Meanings of Freedom: Voices of Freedpeople During Reconstruction
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students read quotations from freedpeople during Reconstruction and then paraphrase each of the 9 quotes.
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The Revolution: Interactive Guide
If you're looking for another resource to supplement your teaching of the American Revolution in United States history, you may want to consider this app. As an interactive textbook, this can afford you opportunities for deeper analysis...
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African American Life After the Civil War - Sharecropping
What is the sharecropping system? What role did it play in the post-Civil War economy of the South? Who were the sharecroppers? Who employed them? How were they paid? To answer these questions, kids examine a series of sharecropper...
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Mapping My Spot in History
Students create their own town's history. They place themselves on the map in a literal as well as figurative sense. Students produce portions of an updated version of an early twentieth century panoramic map. Students gather information...
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A Brief History of the Short Story
Before you begin a unit on short stories, give your class some background information about the development of the short story. The presentation includes the history of the short story, starting with the first authors to explore and...
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Progressives Perspectives
Eleventh graders consider the case for Progressive politics. In this Progressive Era lesson, 11th graders read excerpts from The Jungle as well as articles about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Students also analyze images from the...
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Reconstruction (1865–1877)
In this online interactive history quiz worksheet, students respond to 50 multiple choice questions about the Reconstruction Era. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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Slavery and the American Founding: The "Inconsistency Not to Be Excused"
High schoolers examine slavery in the revolutionary and colonial eras of the United States. In this slavery lesson, students investigate the presence of slavery in early America, the language of the Constitution, and the intent of the...
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Post-WWII Boom: Transition to a Consumer Economy
The war is over! Scholars investigate an AP review video to uncover the post-WWII era in the United States. Viewers examine and analyze the consumerism that arose in post-war America. This is the eighth installment of a nine-part series.
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Civil Rights: US History
To gain an understanding of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, class members investigate the Jim Crow Laws, the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution, and the 1898 Supreme Court case,...
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The Called Themselves the K.K.K.; The Birth of an American Terrorist Group
How did Ku Klux Klan develop and flourish in the US? How did the government respond to acts of terrorism conducted by the KKK following the Civil War? How does the government respond to acts of terrorism today? This resource launches a...
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Segregation: From Jim Crow to Linda Brown
Students examine the African American social, economic, and political conditions between 1896 and 1953. In this segregation lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the plight of African Americans'...
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Forced to Move in More Ways Than One
Eleventh graders explore the Native American movement. They study the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Dawes Act of 1887, and the Indian Boarding Schools in 1887. They research each episode and create a Venn diagram poster.
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HOW ABOUT A T-BONE?
Learners investigate the events that created the historical context for the Progressive Era in the United States. They evaluate the conflicts of business and common people of the time. The research is done using primary and secondary...
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The Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and Today
Discover the fascinating history of the Equal Rights Amendment and discuss the major implications and considerations associated with it today. Here you will find background information on the topic, a graphic organizer summarizing...
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Changes for African Americans in Virginia
Fourth graders research slaves in Virginia during the Civil War. In this changes for African Americans instructional activity, 4th graders view images and discuss how their position and power has changed over time.
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Boston Massacre
The Boston Massacre was a propaganda victory for those protesting British rule over the American colonies. By using images from Patriots, as well as the testimony of witnesses, scholars consider what may have happened on that fateful day...
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Stand Up and Sing: Music and Our Reform History
Students examine events of historical significance in music. In groups, they are given pieces of sheet music and work together to try to determine the social and political conditions of the time based on the lyrics. They write their own...
