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PPT
Curated OER

Manifest Destiny

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Complete with maps, photographs, and historical documents, this presentation would be a great resource throughout a unit about mid-19th century America. Manifest Destiny, Texas Independence, the Oregon Trail, and the Mexican War are all...
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PPT
Curated OER

Chapter 12: American History

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Short and to the point, these slides cover some basic points about life in 19th centrury America. Topics such as Texas Independence, the California Gold Rush, and the Oregon Territory are briefly mentioned, and some of the facts are hard...
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Primary
PBS

Pbs: Archives of the West: Declaration of the People of Texas: Nov. 7, 1835

For Students 9th - 10th
This document, offered on this PBS website, is the declaration of the people living in Texas objecting to the treatment by Santa Anna and asking for help from the Mexican government.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: New Perspectives on the West

For Students 9th - 10th
This in-depth resource presents a history of the American West from pre-Columbian times until World War I with profiles, documents, and images. It encourages visitors to link these into patterns of historical meaning for themselves....
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Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Address of the Honorable s.f. Austin, March 7, 1836

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the text of an address Austin made to the people of Louisville, Kentucky explaining the conflict between Texas and Mexico, and asking for support.
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Treaties of Velasco

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief description of how the Treaties of Velasco came about. The full text of the Public Treaty as well as the Secret Treaty are included.
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Handout
Other

In Search of Heroes: The Cost of Freedom: William B. Travis

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life of William B. Travis, a southern lawyer who died at the battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution. Includes a timeline.
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Primary
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Gilder Lehrman Institute: Texas Declaration of Independence, 1836

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Presents the history leading up to Texas declaring its independence in 1836, and becoming the Republic of Texas. The original document, a transcript of the declaration, and questions for discussion are...
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Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 4: A House Divided

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines how the United States became more connected with the world as it pursued an expansionist foreign policy, became the destination for many new immigrants, and encouraged migration to the Pacific...
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Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: David Gouverneur Burnet 1788 1870

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting profile of David G. Burnet, who fought for Texas independence from Mexico and served many political offices in Texas. Links to additional information on Texas history.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Stephen Austin

For Students 9th - 10th
A good description of the energetic life of this Texas colonizer. Following his father's lead, Austin leads Americans to Texas and works for years at improving the colony and working to pacify the Mexican government as well. (In Spanish)
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Article
University of Groningen

American History: Essays: Anglo Amer. Colonization in Texas: Texas 1836 1848

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief look at the declaration of independence from Mexico by Texas in 1836, the removal of restrictions on slavery, and how this dramatically increased the population and led to a much greater reliance on the cotton industry in the...
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Texas Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Why would American citizens emigrate to Spanish-held, and later Mexican-held Texas? Read about the reasons, their grievances against their Mexican rulers, and the eventual revolution that brought independence to Texas.
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Handout
Texas A&M University

Sons of De Witt Colony: General Lawrence De Zavala

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed "sketch" of De Zavala. Includes a picture of his portrait and information about his role in the new Republic of Texas.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: The Expansion of the United States, 1846 48

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This online lesson plan shows young scholars through primary sources how the borders of the U.S. changed in just a few years. They are asked to analyze maps and use map skills. All maps and worksheets are included as well as additional...
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Handout
PBS

The West: Stephen Fuller Austin (1793 1836)

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS presents a biography on the life of Stephen Fuller Austin. Known as "The Father of Texas," Stephen F. Austin established the first Anglo-American colony in the Teas province of Mexico and saw it grow into an independent republic.
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Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: Juan Seguin

For Students 9th - 10th
Juan Seguin, a Mexican American Tejano who helped lead the Texas revolution and independence survived the Alamo but was then exiled from the new state, a victim of prejudice.
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Primary
Texas A&M University

Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas: Battle of San Jacinto

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive website from the Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas provides first hand accounts of the Battle of San Jacinto, and the eventual surrender of Santa Anna. Site complimented by battlefield map and the reports of the opposing commanders.
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Handout
Texas A&M University

Sons of De Witt: Susannah Wilkerson Dickinson, Alamo Widow and Survivor

For Students 9th - 10th
This webpage on the life of Susannah Dickinson (1814-1883) includes the text of an interesting letter from Mexican General Santa Anna to the people of Texas, written after the Alamo.
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Handout
Other

Our Georgia History: James Walker Fannin

For Students 9th - 10th
"Our Georgia History," presents a biography on James Walker Fannin. Includes background information and discusses his involvement in the Texas Revolution.
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Website
Other

Bound for Texas!

For Students 9th - 10th
Contains a series of articles on the history of Texas such as "The First People", "The Republic" and more.
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Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Stephen F. Austin 1793 1836

For Students 3rd - 8th
Often called "The Father of Texas", Stephen Austin settled the first American colony in Mexican controlled Texas and fought for Texas independence. Hyperlinks to additional information.
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Activity
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Jose Antonio Navarro

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of Jose Antonio Navarro, "most influential Tejano of his generation," and his struggle for Texas independence and for the rights of Tejanos as citizens of Texas and the US.
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Primary
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: Houston Keeps His Options Open

For Students 9th - 10th
What obstacles did Texas face in the 1830s during its request to become part of the U.S.? This article explores the setbacks Sam Houston and Texas faced due to the political climate of the times. Also, there are primary texts that...