Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Roland Burris
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Roland Burris, an American Democratic politician who was the first African-American elected to statewide office in Illinois. His appointment as U.S. senator (2009-10) to fill the seat...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Forever Free: The 1870s: Education
Read about the development of free education for African Americans following the emancipation of this enslaved population. This article focuses on schools in Texas, including what is now known as Texas A&M University. Includes a...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: African Americans and the 15th Amendment
Article on equal rights and the series of events leading to the passage of the 15th Amendment. Includes questions for discussion and an activity in which students re-create the Voting Rights Convention.
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Slavery & the Making of America
Using primary documents, oral histories, and other historical resources, discover how the arts of Africa, Europe, and pre-Civil War America influenced the culture of enslaved African Americans.
Starfall
Starfall: Puzzles
In this interactive students click on one of the black statues to break them down into shapes; then they reconstruct the statue by putting the puzzle pieces together, which shows the animal that it represents and replaces the statues...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Battle of Little Bighorn Facts
Provides a summary and list of interesting facts about the Battle of Little Bighorn.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Institutions: Power
This sermon by Rev. Alexander Crummell calls for racial solidarity and self-help, forcefully addressing the question of why African Americans should have their own distinctive institutions.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: 14th Amendment to the Constitution
After the Civil War, the 14th amendment granted citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States. This included former slaves. Learn about the protections this amendment offers to citizens, including those who were once...
University of Groningen
American History: Biographies: Amdrew Jackson: The Battle of New Orleans
This resource presents a short narrative of Jackson's surprising victory against the British in the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815.
Teaching American History
Teaching American History: Document Library: Civil Rights Act of 1866
Read the complete text of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which set out guarantees for citizenship in post-Civil War America as well as the punishments for those who tried to obstruct these guarantees.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Alonzo J. Ransier
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Alonzo J. Ransier, a black member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina during Reconstruction.
Digital History
Digital History: The 14th Amendment and the Jim Crow Laws [Pdf]
Read about the background of the passage of the 14th Amendment which resulted in the famous case before the Supreme Court, Plessy v Ferguson, almost thirty years later. Suggested student exercises ask students to assess the issue of...
PBS
Pbs the West: Exodusters
Contains a description of the Exodusters and their impact on the American West through their immigration.