PBS
Sojourner Truth: Abolitionist and Women’s Rights Activist
Scholars dive into the life of former slave, abolitionist, and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth. Using video evidence, speeches, and primary documents, class members complete a project on a current "Truth-figure" they see in...
Reading Through History
Ain't I a Woman?
Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech has reverberated through American history, giving voice to women of color who had not previously been heard. Learners analyze the tone, audience, purpose, occasion, and speaker of the speech’s...
Curated OER
The Second Inaugural Address (1865)—Restoring the American Union
Learners explore the content of Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. In this Abraham Lincoln lesson, students analyze the text of the speech to determine how Lincoln sought to reconstruct the country as the Civil War drew to a close.
Curated OER
Dedication to Douglass
Students study the controversy surrounding the proposed Frederick Douglass Circle monument in Central Park. They review the notion of historical inaccuracy by reading and discussing the article, "In Douglass Tribute, Slave Folklore and...
Curated OER
Perseverance and the First Amendment
Young scholars investigate the right to petition and assemble. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students read the First Amendment and discuss the rights guaranteed by the amendment. Young scholars research selected groups and...
Curated OER
Underground Railroad
Students research the underground railroad and create a journal as if you were either a slave running away or the "railroad operator". They then draw a map detailing the escape routes and stops of African-American slaves on the...
Other
Univ. Of Detroit Mercy Black Abolitionist Archive: Black Abolitionist Archive
A collection of speeches by African American abolitionists from the 1800s, accompanied by interpretative readings in audio files.
University of Michigan
Making of America: Speeches, Lectures, and Letters by Wendell Phillips
Offers the complete text of the book "Speeches, Lectures, and Letters" by Wendell Phillips. Searchable by page number or you can download the entire text.
Black Past
Black Past: Ain't I a Woman?
Contains parts of the stirring speech, "Ain't I a Woman," given by Sojourner Truth at the Women's Rights convention in Akron, Ohio.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Powerful Symbols and Words: Abolitionism & Women's Rights
This collection looks at an image and phrase used widely in abolitionist materials, and at how that symbol was adopted and adapted by Sojourner Truth and/or other women's rights activists. Students will examine an abolitionist medallion...
Library of Congress
Loc: The Champions of Human Liberty
Frederick Douglass gave as speech praising John Brown and his raid on Harper's Ferry. He viewed Brown as a real hero of the abolitionist cause. Read his speech or listen to an excerpt.