Curated OER
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Students read the novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, and explain public attitudes towards slavery in 19th century America.
Curated OER
Perspective on the Slave Narrative
Students work with the slave narrative as a resource for historical study and evaluate it as a work of literature; students then examine the narrative in the context of political controversy as an argument for abolition.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Library: Abolitionism in America: Introduction
The introduction of an extensive website from the Cornell University Library, which includes text, documents, and other primary sources in an examination of the anti-slavery movement known as abolitionism.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Mosaic: Influence of Prominent Abolitionists
See documents and pictures of those actively involved in the anti-slavery movement. From the Library of Congress.
Library of Congress
Loc: The African American Mosaic: Colonization
Library of Congress presents a collection of primary source material on the beginnings of the American Colonization Society and efforts of free blacks to return to Liberia during the Nineteenth Century.
Cornell University
Cornell University: Library: Samuel May Anti Slavery Collection
An extensive online digital collection of the pamphlets and leaflets that document the anti-slavery struggle at the local, regional, and national levels.
Digital History
Digital History: Explorations: John Brown: Hero or Terrorist?
Comprehensive account explores John Brown, the Attack at Harper's Ferry, and his trial. You decide if he was a hero or a terrorist.
![C3 Teachers: u.s. History Module: Did Charles Sumner Deserve It? [Pdf] Unit Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "C3 Teachers: u.s. History Module: Did Charles Sumner Deserve It? [Pdf] Unit Plan")
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: u.s. History Module: Did Charles Sumner Deserve It? [Pdf]
A comprehensive learning module on the abolitionist Charles Sumner that includes three supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and primary source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics addressed include...
Virginia Commonwealth University
American Transcendentalism Web: William Ellery Channing
This resource provides information about William Ellery Channing, including samples of his work.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Stamped With Glory: Lewis Tappan and the Africans of the Amistad
Read about Lewis Tappan, "an abolitionist and devout Christian," and his participation with the Amistad trial. Providing detailed information and original documents, this is an excellent resource on Tappan and his efforts to expedite...
University of Virginia
Uva: Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture: Multi Media Archive
This site provides links to many different topics surrounding "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe.
University of Missouri
Famous Trials: Amistad Trials
This site discusses the history and significance of the Amistad trial. Make sure to click on the "cont." link for more information on the history of the case.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Photo Gallery: Significant Abolitionists
Learn about the countless people who made important contributions to the abolitionist movement to end slavery. In this photo gallery from American Experience, explore some of these leaders and their vocations.
PBS
Pbs: Bleeding Kansas 1853 1861
This site details events surrounding the era known as "Bleeding Kansas" due to the conflict surrounding slavery in what is now Kansas.
Other
New York Historical Society: New York Divided Slavery and the Civil War
Visit this virtual museum exhibit to learn about New York City's divided opinions about slavery before and during the Civil War. There are three themes covered: Pro-Southern City, Fighting Slavery, and Civil War. Students use a...
Other
House Divided Project: Letters and Diaries: Thomas Garrett to William Still #2
Transcript of an original letter from Thomas Garrett to fellow abolitionist William Still regarding the intricate workings of the Underground Railroad.
Other
Abolitionists, Free Blacks, and Runaway Slaves: Surviving Slavery in Maryland
Read about the groups of people who lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the mid-1800s and fought against slavery: the Quakers, former slaves, and fugitive slaves. This article describes the efforts of both whites and blacks, who...
Other
American Abolitionism Project: A Brief History of American Abolitionist Movement
Provides a short history of the American abolitionist movement, and breaks the movement down into different categories of abolitionists and some key people involved in each group. Includes links to additional information.
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.
Other
New York History Net: The Gerrit Smith Virtual Museum
Find a biography and primary source documents about Gerrit Smith, who was a leader of anti-slavery activities in Syracuse, and nationally. He converted Frederick Douglass to political abolitionism and helped to finance his work.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?"
Explores the argument made by Frederick Douglass and his appeals to convince northern whites to oppose slavery and favor abolition. Lesson content includes resources for both teachers and students.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Manifesto: American Anti Slavery Society
Find the goals of the American Anti-Slavery Society, founded in 1833 by abolitionists in Philadelphia. The object of the group was the immediate abolition of slavery.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Slavery and Freedom: Frederick Douglass
This concise biography presents author/journalist Frederick Douglass, who was groundbreaking in his slave narratives and establishing "The North Star" abolitionist periodical in mid-nineteenth-century America. See "Frederick Douglass...
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.