A Young Nation
Project Resources for U.S. History
Louisiana Purchase (who,
what, why, when, background, influence on politics and economy, effect on Native
Americans)
Louisiana Purchase
(from the State of Louisiana)
This exhibition uses illustrated essays and maps to tell the story of the Louisiana
Purchase, which transferred the Louisiana Territory from France to the U.S.
in 1803. Subjects of the exhibit include Napoleon Bonaparte and Thomas Jefferson,
negotiation of the Louisiana Purchase, congressional debate, and more. Also
includes images of state flags from the time period. From the Louisiana Department
of State and Louisiana's Old State Capitol.
Louisiana:
European Explorations and the Louisiana Purchase
This presentation about the Louisiana Purchase "focuses on the various
documents -- from maps to newspapers to cultural artifact -- that help to describe
the region of North America that stretched from as far east as Alabama into
what is now the state of Montana." It features almost 120 items from Library
of Congress collections, and an essay on European explorations and the Louisiana
Purchase. From the American Memory project, Library of Congress.
Lewis and Clark expedition and the contributions made
Lewis & Clark
Bicentennial 1804 - 2004
An extensive list of Web links about the Lewis & Clark expedition, the Louisiana
Purchase, historical sources, Sacagawea, and places named after Lewis &
Clark. From Carlos A. Diaz, Government Documents Specialist for the Daniel J.
Evans Library at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington state.
In
the Footsteps of Lewis and Clark
Covers a wide variety of aspects of the Lewis and Clark, including the landscape
and natural history that Lewis and Clark encountered, their journal entries
with facsimile pages, and day-by-day entries from a nature journal and an almanac.
Provides a comparison of animal species encountered on the trail then and now,
a video, artwork, and links to other Lewis and Clark and Native American sites.
From the Sierra Club.
Lewis
and Clark: The Ultimate Adventure
Time Magazine celebrates the bicentennial (1803-2003) of the Corps of Discovery
expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Web site includes
two essays on the leaders, an interactive map of the journey, pages from the
original journals, a map of tribal lands then and now, a bibliography, and a
guide to more resources. See the full table of contents for essays on Sacagawea,
their Shoshone guide.
National
Geographic: Lewis & Clark
Features an interactive log (illustrated with historical photos, drawings, and
maps) based on the journal entries from the Lewis and Clark expedition. Also
offers a timeline, lists of expedition supplies and discoveries, photos of the
trail today, activities for children, and articles on Sacagawea and other related
topics. Includes message boards, a preview of the film "Lewis and Clark:
Great Journey West," a bibliography, and links. From the National Geographic
Society.
Lewis
& Clark: The Maps of Exploration, 1507-1814
This exhibit of history, maps, and navigational instruments "examines the
planning of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the cartographic tradition that
made the expedition possible." Includes maps of the emerging view of the
new continent of North America, French cartographic contributions, and those
"made to western exploration by the Virginia gentry." A bibliography
and related links are available. From the University of Virginia.
Lewis
and Clark: Mapping the West
This site provides access to Lewis and Clark maps, with related activities
Lewis
and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
This Web site is designed to accompany the Ken Burns documentary and includes
expedition maps and journals, a timeline, opinions from historians, classroom
resources, and more. Information on Sacagawea can be found in the list of the
corps members. Related Web sites and a bibliography of other resources are also
included.
Causes and effects of the War of 1812
American
Military History
Online version of a 1988 book designed to help "inculcate in ... [U.S]
officers and soldiers an awareness of our nation's military past." Features
an overview of battles, including the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War
I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Includes maps. From the
Center of Military History (CMH), United States Army.
African American AND white abolitionists positions regarding the position of
African Americans in society.
John Brown's Holy War
John Brown's Holy War explores the life and actions of the abolitionist known
for his violent crusade against slavery at Harpers Ferry. Includes biographical
information and timeline; excerpts from letters, speeches, and an editorial;
profiles of related people and events; information on the song "John Brown's
Body"; a bibliography; and a teacher's guide. This online companion to
PBS program also features a film transcript and interviews with historians featured
in the film.
"I Will Be Heard!": Abolitionism in America
A well-organized, content-rich site with a wide range of authoritative information.
Includes profiles of prominent abolitionists, slave narratives, background on
the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, critical resources on
Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," and much more. From Cornell
University, Division of Rare & Manuscript Collections.
Slavery
and the Making of America
Companion site to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) series "documenting
the history of American slavery from its beginnings in the British colonies
to its end in the Southern states and the years of post-Civil War Reconstruction."
Historical overviews, personal narratives, character spotlights, images, and
other materials highlight various aspects of the lives of slaves, such as family,
religion, and living conditions. Includes educational materials and related
reading, film and TV resources, and Web sites.
The
Frederick Douglass Papers at the Library of Congress
This site collects approximately 2,000 items about "Douglass's life as
an escaped slave, abolitionist, editor, orator, and public servant." Searchable
by keyword, and browsable by series (family papers, pamphlets, brochures, speeches,
reports, broadsides, newspaper clippings, manuscripts, typescripts, articles,
and maps). Includes biographical timeline, a family tree, links to full texts
of Douglass's autobiographies, and related resources. From the American Memory
Project of the Library of Congress.
The
Underground Railroad
Explores the system that helped escaped African slaves in the United States
to reach freedom safely. The site includes an interactive account of a runaway
slave's trip, a map of escape routes, a timeline of slavery in the New World,
and a section with portraits and short descriptions of abolitionists and civil
rights leaders. Also includes educational activities for K-12 students, a discussion
forum, and a list of resources and websites for further study. From National
Geographic.
Compare/ contrast the North, South, and Western regions of the US (mens
and womens occupations, social status, legal rights)
Valley of the Shadow: Two
Communities in the American Civil War
"The Valley Project details life in two American communities, one Northern
and one Southern, from the time of John Brown's Raid through the era of Reconstruction."
Contains photographs, maps, "thousands of original letters and diaries,
newspapers and speeches, [and] census and church records, left by men and women
in Augusta County, Virginia, and Franklin County, Pennsylvania." Many of
the sources are searchable.
Reconstruction:
The Second Civil War
Companion site to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) American Experience program
that "tracks the extraordinary stories of ordinary Americans — Southern
and Northern, white and black — as they struggle to shape new lives for
themselves in a world turned upside down" following the Civil War. Features
primary source materials, maps, a timeline, video clips, a teacher's guide,
a bibliography, related links, and a program transcript.
The reform movements (education, abolition, women’s suffrage)
American Memory
Timeline
Primary sources for seven time periods of United States history are provided
at this site covering 1783-1968. Each period is subdivided into various topics
and contains an overview. Included are images, letters, lyrics, interviews,
and more.
School:
The Story of American Public Education
Companion to a 2001 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) series that "that
chronicles the development of our nation's public education system from the
late 1770s to the 21st century." Includes essays on school choice, bilingual
education, and tests and standards. Also include profiles of education innovators,
a photo gallery, and a "Then and Now" section on changes in classroom
items (such as blackboards and pencils) and procedures.
History
Now: Abolition
The quarterly online journal History Now examines the role of religion, women,
and African Americans in the antebellum abolition movement.
Religion
and the Founding of the American Republic
A succinct history of the role of religion in stimulating organized benevolence.
History
of Woman’s Suffrage
This site provides information about the first women’s Rights Convention
in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848, as well as women’s struggle for the
vote.
Women's
Rights
From UC-Berkeley. Click on Timeline.
Women's
History Month: Timeline of Key Events in the American Women's Rights Movement
The timeline runs from 1848 to 1994, with brief notes on people and events,
some linked to related articles. From infoplease.
This
Shall Be the Land for Women: The Struggle For Western Women's Suffrage, 1860-1920
This exhibit from the Women of the West Museum offers a chronology and introduction
to the principal women involved in the women's suffrage movement in 10 Western
states. Browse the exhibit through an interactive map or the list of biographies
of the women. A bibliography, timeline, and activities supplement the exhibit
information.
Not
for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
This companion site to a PBS program explores the work of these suffragists.
Find information for use in the classroom, articles and essays, historic documents
including the "Declaration of Sentiments" from the Seneca Falls Convention,
and biographical information. Also find recommended books, related links, and
discussion forums.
Women
Working, 1870-1930
"Provides access to digitized historical, manuscript, and image resources
selected from Harvard's library and museum collections. This collection explores
women's roles in the US economy between the Civil War and the Great Depression.
Working conditions, conditions in the home, costs of living, recreation, health
and hygiene, conduct of life, policies and regulations governing the workplace,
and social issues are all well documented." Thousands of items are searchable,
or browsable by topic, individual, dates and events, or organization.
How did immigration, urbanization and industrialization affect the social fabric
of the country in the 18th century?
A Biography of America
This telecourse, video series, and Web site explores United States history via
26 topics, each including interactive maps, key events, transcripts of the series,
and Web links. Searchable. From the WGBH Educational Foundation. Click on the
buttons on the left to choose your topic.
General websites
The
Sectional Era of National Politics
Updated Oct. 2009