PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Writing in u.s. History: The Emancipation Proclamation
Assess how the Emancipation Proclamation expanded ideas of freedom and liberty, looking at the antislavery debate that led to the proclamation, the influences on Lincoln's decision, and the provisions of the document. In this interactive...
Other
After Slavery Project: Race, Labor and Politics in Post Emancipation Carolinas
This site is a collaborative work-in-progress involving a team of four scholars based in the US, Ireland and the UK. It consists of ten learning units on topics revolving around the emancipation of slaves in the American South following...
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: A War to End Slavery: Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Children at War [Pdf]
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that takes students through an investigation of two key battles of the Civil War--Vicksburg and Gettysburg. Students determine why these battles...
University of Oregon
Mapping History Project: Slavery in the American South: 1790 1860
Watch this interactive map to see the spread and concentration of slavery in the South from 1790 to the eve of the Civil War Click on the map to begin. The timeline at the bottom indicates the year. Be sure to access the key. Shockwave...
Other
American Girl: Addy, a Courageous Girl
Meet Addy, a character in the American Girl series, and learn about her courageous struggle over slavery during the Civil War through this collection of stories, games, and activities. Also, includes teacher guide and worksheets.
Read Works
Read Works: Lincoln and the 13th Amendment to End Slavery
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief history of the official end to slavery in America, the 13th Amendment. A paired passage is part of this module, along with a lower level passage with related...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Forever Free: The 1870s: William H. Holland
Read a brief bio on William H. Holland, a man born into slavery who not only fought in the Civil War but also involved in politics and working to advance African Americans during the Reconstruction. Read about some of his work as a Texas...
American Battlefield Trust
American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Biography: Frederick Douglass
Biographical profile of Frederick Douglass is shared on this site. Links provide related lesson plans, connected texts, and content about other abolitionists.
Library of Congress
Loc: From Slavery to Civil Rights
This interactive timeline lets students select an era in the history of blacks in United States. Text tells the highlights of the time and primary source materials are linked that pertain as well.
Other
Afgen.com: Address to the Colored People
This page from Afgen.com contains the address delivered to the colored people at Galesburg, Illinois, 1867 by Robert G. Ingersoll. It emphasizes the rights of blacks as a result of the Civil War and Ingersoll encourages African-Americans...
Other
Binghamton University: Lincoln, Labor and Liberation
The free labor ideology of the nineteenth century was grounded in the beliefs that Northern free labor was superior to Southern slave labor. It was this free labor ideology and not the republicanism of the Revolutionary War era that...
Library of Congress
Loc: Slavery in the United States: Primary Sources
This lesson introduces students to primary sources- what they are, their great variety, and how they can be analyzed. The lesson begins with an activity that helps students understand the historical record. Students then learn techniques...
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: Grade 7 Social Studies: Slavery Compromise
Students develop and express claims through discussions and writing which compare and contrast how the early compromises over slavery, including their effectiveness and impact on different regions of the United States.
Digital History
Digital History: America's Reconstruction
An overview of Reconstruction provided by the University of Houston. Provides images and the political climate that occurred during this part of American History.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1844 1877: Reconstruction: Life After Slavery
Discusses what life was like for African Americans who were freed from slavery after the Civil War. Includes questions for students.
Tennessee History For Kids
Tennessee History for Kids: Slavery and Tennessee's War
This website provides information about slavery in Tennessee.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source: The Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs
This collection uses primary sources to explore Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: The Transatlantic Slave Trade
A collection uses primary sources to explore the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Uncle Tom's Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe
This collection uses primary sources to explore Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: The American Abolitionist Movement
A collection that uses primary sources to explore the American Abolitionist Movement.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Beloved by Toni Morrison
This collection uses primary sources to explore Toni Morrison's Beloved.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Civil Conflict: The Crittenden Compromise of 1860
Web page on the Crittenden Compromise of 1860 which assured the continuation of slavery where it already existed in an attempt to appease Southerners and halt secession of Southern states from the Union.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Civil Conflict: The Corwin Amendment
Web page on the proposed Corwin Amendment which, if ratified, would have forbade Congress from interfering with states' right to make decision to slavery. Site contains textual information, video [3:28], and fun facts for students.
Digital History
Digital History: Civil War in Kansas [Pdf]
The Compromise of 1850 did not solve all the slavery issues in the territories, which was not surprising. Read about the Kansas-Nebraska Act, put forth by Sen. Stephan Douglas, who proposed that the issue be decided by popular...