Curated OER
Sectionalism and the Kansas-Nebraska Act
Pupils use their knowledge of Kansas history to support their position in support of or against slavery in Kansas.
Curated OER
James K. Polk
For this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about James K. Polk. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Curated OER
Constitution Word Search Puzzle
In this social studies learning exercise, students find the words that are related to the concept that is the theme of the word search puzzle.
Curated OER
Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
Young scholars examine the transcripts of the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates and create a platform for each candidate in the 1858 Senate race. They utilize the candidates' arguments to explore the historical and political impact.
Curated OER
Slavery and the Legal Status of Free Blacks: Rhetorical Analysis of Debates During the 1847 Illinois Constitutional Convention
Eleventh graders read actual arguments regarding the status of free blacks in Illinois and slavery in the United States more generally.
Curated OER
Dear Wife and Children Everyone
Middle schoolers study the issue of slave vs. free states. They explore the actions and personal commitment of John Brown and write a newspaper article about the Battle of Osawatomie from John Brown's perspective.
Curated OER
The Kansas and Nebraska Act
Students use a primary source of a political cartoon to set the context for a lesson. They answer key questions in writing or orally. Students conduct a class discussion about the issue to stimulate higher order thinking skills like...
Curated OER
Politics during the Civil War
Students investigate the politics of the Civil War. They use a graphic organizer in order to help sort the information. The use of key questions help to create starting points for class discussion or student essay responses.
Curated OER
Bill of Rights -- Texas v. Johnson, 1989
Students examine the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. During a visit to the George Bush Presidential Museum, they watch a video about the Texas v. Johnson flag burning case. In groups, they discover the role of the Supreme Court...
Curated OER
George to George
Students use the internet to research the beginnings of the United States government. In groups, they examine the presidency of George Washington while they are guided along a museum tour. They end the lesson by discussing the changes...
Curated OER
Key Idea Chart
In this "key idea" worksheet, students complete a "KIM" graphic organizer: key idea, information, memory clue. Students are given a sample organizer, then complete a blank one on as assigned topic.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Lesson3: The Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854: Popular Sovereignty
Lesson plan focuses on the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, popular sovereignty, the political polarization over slavery, Stephen Douglas, and Abraham Lincoln. It provides four detailed activities for use with the lesson and includes...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Popular Sovereignty
Read about the concept of popular sovereignty in relation to issue of expansion of slavery in the territories. It was not as simple as it seemed. Find out about how the issue of slavery was addressed in the election of 1848. Included is...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Popular Sovereignty and Slavery
Comprehensive resource explores the use of Popular Sovereignty in debates about the slavery extension issue in new territories.
Siteseen
Siteseen: Government and Constitution: Popular Sovereignty
Summary of the idea of Popular Sovereignty, the belief that government is created by and subject to the will of the people.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854
An exploration of how the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 impacted the debate between free and slave states, and the precarious political equilibrium. It looks at how Stephen Douglas tried to avoid a national conflict in the debate over...
University of Chicago
The Founders' Constitution: Popular Basis of Political Authority
Read the words of John Adams at the Constitutional Convention where he is debating the meaning of "the people" in the Constitution.
US National Archives
National Archives: Teaching Six Big Ideas in the Constitution
The Constitution can be broken down into 6 main themes: Limited Government, Federalism, Republicanism, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, and Popular Sovereignty. Students will study background on the Founding Fathers and use...
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...
Digital History
Digital History: "Bleeding Kansas" and "Bleeding Sumner"
Read about how the concept of popular sovereignty expressed in the Kansas-Nebraska Act resulted in political intrigue and murder in Kansas and the caning of a U.S. Senator in the Senate chamber.
US National Archives
Our Documents: The Kansas Nebraska Act
An outstanding, interactive copy of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the legislation that repealed the Missouri Compromise. Historical context included, as well as links to larger images, a typed transcript, and a downloadable PDF file.
US Department of State
Bureau of International Information Programs: History Outline: Sectionalism
Article reviews several conditions of American society that sowed the seeds of civil war, particularly slavery and sectional conflict.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: The Debate Over Slavery
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart contains information about the renewed debate over the spread of slavery after the Mexican War. It describes the Wilmot Proviso, popular sovereignty, the Compromise of 1850, the Fugitive...
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.