Curated OER
The American Civil War (1861 -1864)
Peek back in time and learn about the North and South of the American Civil War. Discussed in full are the causes, effects, major battles, and agreements that made Civil War history. Period technology, social changes, and the ultimate...
Curated OER
"In Defense of My Race and Country": African-American Soldiers on Why They Are Fighting
Why would an African-American slave fight in the Civil War? Read and analyze primary source documents to understand the ex-slave perspective on fighting in the Union Army. Everything to complete this lesson is included.
Student Handouts
The Emancipation Proclamation
Start your class on the Emancipation Proclamation. The entire text of the Proclamation is included here along with two questions to answer. Space is provided to allow pupils to write their responses right on the page. Use this as a quick...
Tennessee State Museum
Deciphering the Document: Unlocking the Meaning of the Emancipation Proclamation
Help your learners truly understand the Emancipation Proclamation by asking them the put it into their own words. After reading the document out loud to the class, and briefly discussing the legal language, split your class into small...
Curated OER
Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation: Race Relations in the South
A good outline to a larger project, these slides pose questions about Abraham Lincoln's views, motives, and politics surrounding the Emancipation Proclamation. The discussion questions and key points are helpful in the context of a...
Curated OER
The Freedom to Fight
Students study the African American troop experiences in the Civil War. In this American history lesson plan, students examine primary and secondary sources regarding the experiences and contributions of African American soldiers who...
Curated OER
Breaking the Chains: Rising Out of Circumstances
Study history through photographs. In this visual arts and history activity, students learn to analyze photographs to discover details about life during the Civil War era. Students write journal entries as if they are the...
Curated OER
Emancipation Proclamation
Students analyze key components of a portrait and relate the elements to the historical context. In this lesson students evaluate the "Emancipation Proclamation" and it's significance.
Curated OER
The Civil War
Students are able to describe all of the Civil War terms. They are able to wonder why things happened. Students are able to tell that the United States used to be two countries.
Curated OER
United States Colored Troops
Students explore the role that African American soldiers had in the Civil War and the impact they had on the US Civil Rights movement after the war. They complete a timeline, read an excerpt and analyze a primary image.
Curated OER
The Civil War Experience
Students write or design a creative project about the Civil War. In this Civil War instructional activity, students share memorable quotes from speeches and discuss documents historians could use to analyze the Civil War. Students read...
Curated OER
Emancipation Proclamation
Students examine the Emancipation Proclamation. In this Emancipation Proclamation lesson, students examine the document and respond to 6 questions regarding it.
Curated OER
Defenders of Justice
Students research abolitionists, civil rights advocates, and their allies to learn about racism and justice. In this racism and justice lesson, students define justice and sing a song about activism. Students review the biographies...
Curated OER
Exploring the Eras of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Movement
Eighth graders utilize many sources (books, computer, magazines, etc...) to research the eras of the Emancipation Proclamation and Civil Rights Movement and create a T-Chart comparison.
Curated OER
Using Art to Study the Past: Abraham Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation - 1863
Fifth graders analyze artwork as historical artifact and recognize that the Emancipation Proclamation was a major turning point in the Civil War.
Curated OER
1862 MARYLAND CAMPAIGN, AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Students explain why General Robert E. Lee decided to invade Maryland in September 1862; review the major events of the Maryland Campaign of 1862; describe the major events of the three phases of the Battle of Antietam; and assess the...
Curated OER
After the Civil War: Segregation
Students study the Civil War. In this American history instructional activity, students define segregation, make a segregation collage with pictures of people being separated from others because of their race, religion, or ethnic...
Library of Congress
Loc: With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition
Through a vast collection of articles, photographs, etc. the Library of Congress is offering an exhaustive exhibition in honor of the bicentennial celebration of President Abraham Lincoln.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Emancipation Proclamation: Freedom's First Steps
By reading and studying a variety of written resources--the Emancipation Proclamation and newspaper archives--high school learners explore the steps Lincoln took towards emancipating the slaves and freed slaves' reaction to the...
Library of Congress
Loc: Learning Page: The Freedmen
This resource provides information about the Freedmen, who were free after the Emancipation of Slaves.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Antietam: The Emancipation Proclamation (Full Text)
Read a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln in September, 1862, and put into law on January 1, 1863.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Abraham Lincoln: The Face of a War
A detailed lesson plan of Abraham Lincoln to celebrate the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth. In a PDF file, the complete lesson is provided along with visual aides needed for the lesson. Draws on photographs and masks of Lincoln's face...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Battle of Antietam
This Wikipedia article on the bloodiest battle in American history gives background information on the battle, the battle itself, and the aftermath.
Henry J. Sage
Sage American History: Emancipation Proclamation
Primary resource provides full text of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, issued January, 1863 as well as his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, issued September, 1862.