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Article
Other

American revolution.org: The Revolution's Black Soldiers

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides extensive information on the African Americans who served in the Revolutionary War.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Young, Colonel Charles

For Students 9th - 10th
In this encyclopedia article, you can learn about Col. Charles Young, the first African-American colonel in the U.S. Army.
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Article
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

History: Slavery: Prince Estabrook

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the life of Revolutionary War soldier Prince Estabrook and his time as a slave in the northern colonies.
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Website
Other

Buffalosoldier.net: Buffalo Soldiers and Indian Wars

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent resource for all kinds of information on buffalo soldiers, including video clips and photos, as well as a four-part history.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Nara: Teaching With Documents: Black Soldiers in the Civil War

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This comprehensive site from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) describes the history of the participation of colored troops in the Civil War and government efforts to research and compile records about them....
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Primary
US National Archives

Nara: American Originals: 54th Regiment Casualty List

For Students 9th - 10th
An interesting webpage in that it contains a brief summary of the history of the Regiment as well as the Casualty List from the assault on Fort Wagner and two historic photos.
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Primary
Patrick McSherry

Spanish American War Centennial: The Transport Service

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains historical information on the transportation of soldiers who fought in the Spanish-American War. It discusses the difficulties of moving so many soldiers to Cuba and the Philippines.
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Article
Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Historical Society: Waging War: The Battlefront: Men of Color to Arms?

For Students 9th - 10th
When the war began, many African Americans - North and South - volunteered to serve as soldiers. The vast majority were former slaves who sought to strike at slavery and improve their position in society. Desperate to avert defeat, the...
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Frederick Douglass' Role in the Civil War

For Students 3rd - 8th
Frederick Douglass had the ear of Abraham Lincoln. Read about how he used his influence to allow African Americans to join the Union Army,
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Website
Other

Camp Nelson: United States Colored Troops at Camp Nelson

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Camp Nelson provides text, photos, and original documents of Camp Nelson, a refugee and training camp for African-Americans during the Civil War.
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: Comparing Civil War Recruitment Posters

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners will compare and contrast military recruitment posters to analyze various perspectives regarding the role of African Americans during the Civil War. They will determine the purpose of each poster - one recruiting black men for...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

National Archives: Comparing Civil War Recruitment Posters

For Teachers 6th - 8th
The Lincoln administration struggled with the idea of recruiting black troops until it became a necessity for the Union army. Compare and contrast the following recruitment posters - one for recruiting black men for the Union army and...
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Handout
Other

Hart Island History: Ny State's Civil War "u.s. Colored Troops"

For Students 9th - 10th
After a brief history of African-American regiments from New York, you can read about the United Stated Colored Troops in general, where they fought, how they were paid, and the number of casualties among the troops.
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Handout
Other

History of War: Meuse River Argonne Forest Offensive, 26 Sept. 11 Nov. 1918

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a good overview of the Meuse River-Argonne Offensive at the very end of World War I. Find out about the "lost batallion" and the African Americans who fought in this long battle.
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Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Buffalo Soldiers

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork for a U.S. postage stamp issued in 1994 to commemorate the buffalo soldiers. Includes a short passage about the soldiers' military service record.
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Primary
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: The Negro in the Regular Army

For Students 9th - 10th
This etext contains the history of the Philippine-American War. In this passage by Oswald Garrison Villard you will read about African Americans who fought in the War.
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Article
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Brown, View of the Lower Falls, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

For Students 9th - 10th
The falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone by Grafton Tyler Brown depicts the Grand Canyon, the one found at Yellowstone in Wyoming. Grafton Brown was one of the first African-American artists to depict scenes of the West. View...
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Emancipation: Civil War Ii: Soldiers

For Students 9th - 10th
Photographs of and letters from slaves and former slaves who fought for the Union or were forced to fight for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
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Unit Plan
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: School Publishers: Black Civil War Soldiers Honored

For Students 3rd - 8th
Article describing the ceremony in Boston in 1997 in which Colin Powell honored the black soldiers who fought in the Civil War.
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Article
PBS

Africans in America: Revolution: Colonel Tye, 1753 1780

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this exciting account of Colonel Tye, a guerrilla leader of both blacks and whites who spread fear throughout New Jersey while fighting for the British in the Revolutionary War. From PBS.
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Handout
State Library of North Carolina

N Cpedia: Hiram Rhoades Revels

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Hiram Rhoades Revels, who is best remembered as not only the first African American to hold a seat in the U.S. Senate, but also for his dedication to improving the spiritual and educational needs of the African American...
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: How Black Women Fought for Civil War Pensions and Benefits

For Students 9th - 10th
In a time when military pensions were a large part of the federal budget, Black women faced unique challenges in securing compensation. Widows of Civil War soldiers could begin applying to the Bureau of Pensions during the war, and one...
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Graphic
Other

Sherman's March and America: Mapping Memory

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of five interactive maps that each focus on a different perspective of Sherman's March to the Sea. These include a factual map, one that looks at African Americans and Southern civilians, one about travel, one on soldiers,...
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Handout
American Battlefield Trust

American Battlefield Trust: Civil War Biography: Robert Gould Shaw

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical profile of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who led the 54th Massachusetts, one of the first-formed African American regiments of Union soldiers.