Digital History
Digital History: The Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision caused a ripple throughout the country. Read a summary of Supreme Court Justice Roger B. Taney's proslavery decision, and see how it intensified the rancor between the North and the South.
Digital History
Digital History: The Presidency of John Quincy Adams
Read about the many problems encountered by John Quincy Adams during his presidency, most not of his making, but a reflection of the split in the philosophies of the National Republicans and the up-and-coming Jacksonian Democrats.
Library of Congress
Loc: Incorporating the Western Territory
A discussion of the process the congress went through in determining what would happen to the territory west of the original thirteen states. Read the final provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
University of Groningen
American History: Essays: The Iron Horse: North and South
From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes how the debate over where to place the transcontinental railroad line - in the North or in the South - began to take shape. It began with...
The History Cat
The History Cat: Us History: George Washington
A summary of George Washington's term as the first President of the newly formed United States. Presents two of his major accomplishments of his Presidency (the Jay Treaty and the establishment of the first Cabinet), and two major...
Illinois Institute of Technology
Oyez Project: Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
This U.S. Supreme Court case dealt with the issues of slavery, citizenship, and property rights. It is detailed with an abstract providing a concise summary and a record of the justices that sat on the Court at that time.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: The Gag Rule
Details concerning the Gag Rule that limited discussion or debate on a particular issue and banned petitions calling for the abolition of slavery.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Political Divisions
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart details the growing political divisions in the United States in the decade before the Civil War. It includes information on the election of 1856, the Dred Scott Decision, the Lincoln...
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: John C. Calhoun
A brief biography of the life of Vice President John C. Calhoun, along with photos of his monument and tomb. The Library of Congress also includes a sample of Calhoun's forty-two page speech against the Compromise of 1850.
Cengage Learning
Studying Harriet Beecher Stowe
This site is geared for teachers but also gives some good insight for students about studying the work of Harriet Beecher Stowe such as major themes, historical perspectives, personal issues, form, style, artistic conventions, audience,...
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Abraham Lincoln Speeches and Writings
Excerpts of various speeches, debates and writings on slavery from Abraham Lincoln 1854 and 1858, giving the reader a glimpse of Lincoln's position on the issue of slavery.
Library of Congress
Loc: American Memory: African American Odyssey
An online version of the exhibit, "The African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship", on the struggle of African Americans from Slavery to Civil Rights. Information about voting issues can be found under Reconstruction and the...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Presidential Election, 1856
A map of the United States during the heated presidential election of 1856, showing the States carried by the Republican Party (John Fremont), Democrat Party (James Buchanan), and the newly formed American Party, or 'Know-Nothing’ Party...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Presidential Election , 1856
A map of the United States during the heated presidential election of 1856, showing the States carried by the Republican Party (John Fremont), Democrat Party (James Buchanan), and the newly formed American Party, or 'Know-Nothing’ Party...
Curated OER
Etc: Maps Etc: The United States, September, 1850
A map of the United States at the time of the passing of the Compromise of 1850 (September, 1850). This compromise was a series of bills attempting to resolve territorial and slavery issues raised by the Missouri Compromise (1820) and...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Compromise of 1850, 1850
A map of California and the western territories at the time of the Compromise of 1850. The compromise was a series of bills dealing with the slavery issue, and under its provisions California was admitted to the Union as a free state,...
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Party Situations, 1855
A map of the United States showing the results of the 1855 State elections, indicating the political trends regarding the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 and the slavery issue in the admission of Kansas into the Union.
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, former United States President, involved in slavery issues and the Civil War.-E. Benjamin Andrews 1895
Curated OER
Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Clip Art Etc: William H. Seward
William H. Seward, former United States Senator from New York involved in slavery issues.-E. Benjamin Andrews 1895
C3 Teachers
C3 Teachers: Inquiries: Children's Rights
A learning module on children's rights that includes several supporting questions accompanied by formative tasks and source materials, followed by a summative performance task. Topics covered include how children's rights are defined,...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Cult of Domesticity: Resource Menu
A collection of eight primary resources and reading guides focusing on women's issues in the 1800s including domesticity, slavery, and suffrage.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Lincoln Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858 exemplified the rift in the nation concerning the issue of slavery and who should be able to determine whether states were free or slave. Read about this war of ideas that moved from the stage in...
TexasHistory.com
Texas history.com: The Home Front: Life in Texas During the Civil War
Looks at what life was like in Texas during the Civil War. Discusses the issue of slavery, military conscription, frontier defense, the role of women, the role of slaves, how the blockade affected exports to the South, and the...
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Women's Rights
Read about some outspoken women in the 1830s and 1840s, who began speaking out for reforms of many kinds, particularly on the issue of slavery and the rights of women to vote. The Seneca Falls Declaration pushed this idea of equality.