Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: The Civil War: The Nation Moves Toward War

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Examine the causes of the Civil War using primary source documents. This lesson plan gives background on the Civil War, includes a timeline, and a bibliography for further reading. Primary source documents include music, newspapers,...
Handout
Other

Ny History Net: The "Black Dream" of Gerrit Smith, New York Abolitionist

For Students 9th - 10th
This site talks about the life of abolitionist Gerrit Smith, who was convicted in the John Brown Raid on Harpers Ferry but maintained innocence in any involvement in planning the raid.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Daguerreotypes by Augustus Washington

For Students 9th - 10th
Augustus Washington, son of a former slave, learned to make daguerreotypes in 1843 to offset his college expenses, during his freshman year at Dartmouth College. Biographical notes and details about his work are provided in an annotated...
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Pottawatomie Creek Massacre

For Students 5th - 8th
John Brown, seeking revenge for the sack of Lawrence, Kansas, made Kansas even more bloody. Read about the Pottawatomie Massacre and its reverberations throughout Kansas.
Unit Plan
Read Works

Read Works: John Brown's Antislavery Raid

For Teachers 4th - 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief history of John Brown, an American abolitionist. A paired passage, a lower level passage with related content, and a question sheet are available to help students...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Westward Expansion and Reform

For Students 3rd - 8th
Part of a longer time line describing the history of the American West, this section covers the period 1829 to 1859 with hyperlinks to stories and people of this time period.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: John Brown's Raid

For Students 5th - 8th
John Brown was considered a madman by many and a martyr by others. Read about his ill-fated raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Why did this raid cause such a reaction in the Southern states?
Handout
Civil War Home

Home of the American Civil War: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
This website details the life of John Brown, the abolitionist, including his attack at Pottawatomie and the raid at Harpers Ferry. Information is from Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Quiz: Harpers Ferry and John Brown for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
History Questions: Harpers Ferry and John Brown Quiz, Test, and WebQuest
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Secession

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart describes events leading to secession, including John Brown's Raid, Lincoln's election, and South Carolina's break with the Union. It also includes information on the first states to...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Trouble in Kansas

For Teachers 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart contains information about the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the violence that followed in Kansas. It contains photographs of key figures.
Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive overview presents a biography and detailed facts and information on the famous events during the life of John Brown.
Graphic
Curated OER

Idealized Portrayal of John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides several maps which depict the slave states and the free states. There are links that will connect you with an abolitionist song and information on John Brown.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
Militant American abolitionist, tried to forceably liberate the slaves, hung for treason.
Graphic
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
(1810-1882) Scottish physician and essayist.
Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
(1800-1859) American abolitionist famous for the Pottawatomie Massacre, Bleeding Kansas, and the raid of Harper's Ferry.
Graphic
Curated OER

Smithsonian Libraries: Scientific Identity: John Brown (1819 1822)

For Students 9th - 10th
A portrait of John Brown from the Dibner Library of the History of Science and Technology, made available through the Smithsonian Institution's Scientific Identity Collection.