PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: The Freedmen's Bureau
This collection uses primary sources to explore the history, successes, and failures of the Freedmen's Bureau during Reconstruction.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Women in the Civil War
A collection of primary sources that explore women in the Civil War.
Library of Congress
Loc: Mary Church Terrell Papers
The papers of educator, lecturer, suffragist, and civil rights activist Mary Church Terrell consist of approximately 13,000 documents. Spanning the years 1851 to 1962, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1886-1954,...
Library of Congress
Loc: Anna E. Dickinson Papers
The papers of lecturer, reformer, actress, and author Anna Elizabeth Dickinson span the period 1859-1951 but are chiefly concentrated in the years from 1859 to 1911. The collection consists of approximately 10,000 items. Included are...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Blackface Minstrelsy in Modern America
This collection uses primary sources to explore blackface minstrelsy in modern America.
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Grade 8 Social Studies Units
A grade 8 scope and sequence document with six complete units.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Freedom: Charles W. Chesnutt: African American Identity
Short story that explores the cultural and linguistic resources that sustained African Americans in the first years of freedom. This resource focuses on Charles Chesnutt and the influence he achieved by writing about race for a white...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: "With Malice Toward None"
A four-page discussion of Reconstruction from the plans Lincoln made while the Civil War was still raging to the end of Reconstruction with the election of Rutherford B. Hayes.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Opposing Views on Reconstruction
A look at how Andrew Johnson tried to carry out Lincoln's plan for reconstruction. Read onto the second page to find out how the congressional plan thwarted Johnson and was much more punitive.
University of Groningen
American History: Presidents: Proclamation on the Wade Davis Bill, 7 8 188
Here is the text of Abraham Lincoln's response to the Wade-Davis Bill, Congress' response to his plan for Reconstruction.
Library of Congress
Loc: Civil War and Reconstruction
This site from the Library of Congress provides overviews of the South and North during the Civil War include soldiers' stories from both sides. There are primary documents on these topics as well as Freedmen and the Reconstruction.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Radical Reconstruction
During this period of American history, the presidents were in agreement, but the Republican party had some differences. This resource provides an explanation of those differences.
Digital History
Digital History: America's Reconstruction: A Visual Timeline of Reconstruction
This resource provides a timeline of the Reconstruction era in the South.
Digital History
Digital History: Two Plans for Reconstruction [Pdf]
Before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln was already making plans for Reconstruction in the South. Read about his plan and the plan of the Radical Republicans. See the reasoning behind each plan.
Digital History
Digital History: The Problem of Reconstruction [Pdf]
How does a country put itself back together after a civil war? Read about the problems with the destruction of the Southern economy and land, the recognition of former slaves as freedmen, and the ways to bring the Southern states back...
Digital History
Digital History: President Johnson Impeached [Pdf]
No love was lost between the Congress' trying to pass Reconstruction plans and President Andrew Johnson's attempts to thwart those plans. Read a short biography of Andrew Johnson to get an idea of the man. Follow the timeline of...
Digital History
Digital History: The Red Shirt Election in South Carolina [Pdf]
Opposition to Congressional Reconstruction was strong in South Carolina. Read about how this opposition was carried out and how it affected the newly freed African Americans in state elections in South Carolina. The national election of...
Digital History
Digital History: The 14th Amendment and the Jim Crow Laws [Pdf]
Read about the background of the passage of the 14th Amendment which resulted in the famous case before the Supreme Court, Plessy v Ferguson, almost thirty years later. Suggested student exercises ask students to assess the issue of...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Origins of the Civil Rights Movement
Overview of the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement in post World War II America.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Radical Reconstruction
Article outlining the development of new thought, legislation, politics, and the Reconstruction plans in the South.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Battle Over Reconstruction
In this Curriculum Unit, students will consider "The Battle Over Reconstruction" in 3 Lessons. The unit also includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Aaa Newsletter: Excavations at Little Africa a Missouri Freedmen's Community
A look at a Freedmen's community based on the archaeological study of a site in central Missouri.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: The Tenure of Office Act 1867
A description of the Tenure of Office Act and why it caused problems for Andrew Johnson, leading to his impeachment. From part of a larger site filled with primary source information about Johnson's trial.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Freedmen's Education During Reconstruction
Freed slaves had a hunger for education. Find out how they supported their own schools in addition to receiving aid from the Freedmen's Bureau and northern aid societies.