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Lesson Plan
Texas State Historical Association

Texas State Historical Association: Counties and County Seats [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 8th
An activity guide where students refer to the Texas Almanac, which is free to download, for information needed to complete assigned tasks. In this lesson, they look at the history of a Texas county and its courthouse and fill in a data...
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Article
Texas Public Broadcasting

Texas Pbs: Texas Our Texas: Early Statehood 1845 1861

For Students 9th - 10th
Examines the circumstances surrounding Texas's entry into the Union in 1845 as a slave state. It was an uneasy union, with ongoing controversy around the issue of slavery. This lasted through the Mexican-American War and helped to...
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Article
Other

Texas Bob: The Tri Weekly Telegraph: Death of Gen. Houston

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the article from Texas' Tri-Weekly Telegraph from July 29, 1863, recounting the death of General Sam Houston. He was known for bringing Texas into the United States as a constituent state.
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Handout
San Jacinto Museum of History

San Jacinto Museum: How Did the Battle of San Jacinto Change the World?

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an interesting look at the impact of the Battle of San Jacinto not only for the Republic of Texas, but for places in North America and in Europe. Links to additional information.
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Handout
Lone Star Junction

Lone Star Junction: Archives of the West: Compromise of 1850

For Students 9th - 10th
This interesting website shows four plans of establishing the boundaries of Texas for its annexation into the U.S. This break-up of Texas lands became part of the Compromise of 1850.
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Website
Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Hard Road to Texas 1836 1845: The Election of 1844

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the election of 1844 and the views of the two candidates, James Polk and Henry Clay.
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Article
US Department of State

U.s. Department of State: Office of the Historian: Milestones: 1830 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Concisely written accounts of three important events in the history and shaping of Texas: the Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
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Website
Other

Dmwv: The u.s. Mexican War: 1846 1848

For Students 9th - 10th
Dedicated to the memory of U.S. veterans who fought in the U.S.-Mexican War, this website provides documents, images, maps, and FAQs.
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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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Handout
Texas A&M University

Sons of Dewitt Colony: Thomas Jefferson Rusk

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this site to learn about the life and accomplishments of Thomas J. Rusk (1803-1857). Rusk's Secretary of War Report on the Battle of San Jacinto is also included here.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: u.s. History Map Interactive

For Students 9th - 10th
Become a geography whiz as you learn how the United States was settled. Discover how the continent was irrevocably changed by European colonization, the events that caused the wholesale displacement and decimation of the land's original...
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Article
Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum

Rutherford B. Hayes Center: Who Is James K. Polk?

For Students 9th - 10th
This page features an analysis of the Democratic Party's decision to nominate the relatively unknown James Polk for their presidential candidate in 1844. This article gives insight into the political atmosphere of the time.
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Handout
US Department of State

Bureau of International Information Programs: History Outline: Sectionalism

For Students 9th - 10th
Article reviews several conditions of American society that sowed the seeds of civil war, particularly slavery and sectional conflict.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Educational Technology Clearinghouse: Maps Etc: Mexico and Texas, 1845 1848

For Students 9th - 10th
A map of Mexico and Texas from the annexation of the Republic of Texas by the United States (1845) to the end of the Mexican-American War (1848). The map is color-coded to show the territory of Texas in 1845, the territory of dispute...
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Article
Other

Global Security: 54 40 or Fight

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the significant territorial changes that took place in the United States under the presidency of James K. Polk. These included the annexation of Texas, the settling of the dispute with Great Britain over claims to Oregon...
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Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Lone Star Republic

For Students 5th - 8th
Why did Mexico encourage settlement of Americans in Texas? Why did the Americans chafe under Mexican rule? Find out how this led to the Texas Revolution and the declaration of Texas as an independent country.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: America's Manifest Destiny [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
After a brief discussion of Manifest Destiny in other parts of country, read about the Texas rebellion against Mexico, the battles against Santa Anna, and the treaties that made Texas an independent country. [pdf]
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Primary
History Tools

History Tools: John O'sullivan Coins the Phrase Manifest Destiny 1845 [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
What was "manifest destiny"? In this excerpt, learn the role race played in American expansionism and the proposed addition of Texas to the United States.
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Website
Digital History

Digital History: Western Expansion: Conclusion

For Students 9th - 10th
A good overview of the territorial expansion and its results that occurred in the United States over the first half of the 19th century.
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Activity
Curated OER

National Park Service: Fort Scott National Historic Site: The Mexican War

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a very brief overview of the Mexican War, organized into the following sections: "Zachary Taylor's Army," "The Army of the West," and "Invasion of Mexico City." Includes links to related articles and websites.
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Interactive
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: United States History Map: The Nation Expands

For Students 9th - 10th
After examining a map showing the expansion of the United States, click to read about each addition to the country and see where that addition is. Play Expansion Concentration to test your skills.
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Handout
PBS

New Perspectives on the West: Sam Houston (1793 1863)

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography on Sam Houston focuses his life as an advocate for Indians and his controversial political career.
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Article
Henry J. Sage

Sage American History: Expansion and War: The United States 1840 1860

For Students 9th - 10th
Article on the era of westward expansion and the resulting Mexican American War. The author demonstrates how Manifest Destiny and frontier settlement led to the annexation of Texas and ultimately war with Mexico over the territory.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Etc: Territorial Growth of the United States, 1783 1900

For Students 9th - 10th
A map from 1911 of the United States showing the territorial acquisitions from the original states and territory established in 1783 to the Tripartite Convention of 1899 in which Germany and the United States divided the Samoan...

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