Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1865 1898: The Ghost Dance and Wounded Knee
Explains the origin of the Ghost Dance movement and the massacre of the Sioux that happened at Wounded Knee. Includes questions for students.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1890 1945: Introduction to the Age of Empire
Discusses the transition of the United States in the late 19th century from an isolationist country into an imperial power with colonies of its own and the reasons for this abrupt change in foreign policy. Includes questions for students...
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: Gold Rush Chronology 1846 1849
A nice timeline of events that occurred from 1846 to 1849 in the California Gold Rush. Hyperlinks to additional information. From the Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco.
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Journeys West
A series of lessons utilizing primary texts, including narratives, photographs, and maps, through which learners explore the following question: "What motivated thousands of people to journey west during the 1800s?"
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of San Francisco: William T. Sherman and Early California History
From the memoirs of William Tecumseh Sherman you can read about his arrival in California during the Mexican War, his dealings with John Fremont, and the Bear Flag Revolt.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Ap Us History: 1865 1898: Chinese Immigrants and Mexican Americans
Discusses the conflict with Mexican American and Chinese groups as white settlers pushed westward in the nineteenth century. Explains what brought so many Chinese immigrants to America and the roadblocks and discrimination that they had...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe
Selected (12) reading passages (grades 6-11) to pair with "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe. In this classic novel, Okonkwo, a wealthy and respected member of the Umuofia clan, resists the forces of change brought to Africa by...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Native American History
This is a collection of 27 Grade-Leveled texts (4-12) on the topic Native American History. Before European settlers came to North America, millions of native people lived in many unique societies. Explore the history of Native Americans...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Westward Expansion
Throughout the 1800s, Americans pushed ever westward in the search of prosperity and the American dream. It was a time of growth and adventure for settlers, and loss for most American Indians. This collection includes 7 Grade-Leveled...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad
In the novel "Heart of Darkness," Marlow travels up the Congo River on behalf of a Belgian trading company. Once he is far upriver he encounters the mysterious Kurtz, a man who has set himself up as a god amongst the natives. Selected...
Museum of the City of San Francisco
The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: The Mexican American War
The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco displays the history of the Mexican-American War, including an explanation of border changes in the California and Mexico areas. It also discusses the idea of Manifest Destiny.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: 54 40 or Fight
See how James Polk's plan to claim the Oregon Territory, which had been shared with Great Britain since 1818, led him to victory with the slogan, Fifty-four forty or fight. Read about the settlers who traveled the Oregon Trail and why...
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: William Walker
This is an in-depth site from the Museum of San Francisco covering the adventures of William Walker, including his conquering of Nicaragua.
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: The Diary of Johann August Sutter
In an book by Douglas S. Watson published in 1932, you can read the introduction which tells about the life of Johann August Sutter, who emigrated to California, built a mill where gold was found, and suffered for that discovery....
Museum of the City of San Francisco
Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco: California Before Gold Discovery
From the "Century" magazine, an article from 1890 by James Bidwell who came to California in 1841.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Spice Up the Nineteenth Century!
Students will make interactive outlines using the Internet of the reform movements, literature, trails, religion or technology of the early nineteenth century.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion
Students engage in a discussion of "Manifest Destiny" using a timeline of events from 1830 - 1860, and a biographical sketch of a real person who lived during that time period. During the discussion, students will use the biography to...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Settling the West: Westward Expansion
During this instructional activity, learners will have the opportunity to experience the westward expansion through literature and the Internet. By creating a brochure and a slideshow presentation, students will become aware of the...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Richard Caton Woodville, War News From Mexico
Richard Caton Woodville's "War News From Mexico" is an example of an American genre painting. It depicts a group of people reacting to news about the Mexican-American War. View pictures of this painting and read the backstory in this essay.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Quiz 1
A quick five question quiz over US history in the mid 1800s.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1844 1877: Annexing Texas
Quickly following Texan independence, the United States admitted Texas into the republic as a slave state.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Cherokee Removal and the Trail of Tears
The sources in this primary set uses documents, images, and music to reveal the story of Cherokee removal, which is part of a larger story known as the Trail of Tears. Includes teaching guide.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan
The sources in this primary set document Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan. Includes teaching guide.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Cole, the Oxbow
Thomas Cole was best known for his landscape paintings which embodied the beauty and grandeur of the American wilderness during the first half of the nineteenth century. When viewed through the lens of nineteenth-century political...