Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Nineteenth Century Women: Struggle and Triumph Lesson Plan

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Journals, letters, and narratives reveal a part of America's history not revealed in textbooks, the story of women, namely the women of the 1800s. With this lesson, young scholars gain understanding of women and history through various...
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Charlotte Forten Grimke

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief biography of Charlotte Forten Grimke, an African American teacher and writer of Civil War period.
Handout
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: The Trial of John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent presentation on the trial and the life of John Brown. You can read a report of the trial itself, view images related to John Brown and much more.
Primary
PBS

Pbs: Cet: Africans in America: David Walker's Appeal

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of the impact of David Walker's "Appeal" calling for slaves to revolt. Click on the link to read the original text. Click on Teachers Guide for teaching resources
Article
PBS

Africans in America: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS Online provides a brief biography of John Brown and the way his life affected the abolitionist movement and contributed to the start of the U.S. Civil War.
Handout
Other

Lucretia Coffin Mott Papers Project: About Lucretia Coffin Mott

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains biographical information about Lucretia Mott and also contains a chronology of her life.
Handout
Other

Ny History Net: The "Black Dream" of Gerrit Smith, New York Abolitionist

For Students 9th - 10th
This site talks about the life of abolitionist Gerrit Smith, who was convicted in the John Brown Raid on Harpers Ferry but maintained innocence in any involvement in planning the raid.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: American Women: Susan B. Anthony

For Students 9th - 10th
See a sculptured bust and read a brief biography of Susan B. Anthony, foremost supporter of women's suffrage.
Handout
National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame: Mary Ann Shadd Cary

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Women's Hall of Fame provides a brief biography of Mary Ann Shadd Cary, an educator, abolitionist, editor, attorney, and feminist of the Civil War era.
Handout
National Women's Hall of Fame

National Women's Hall of Fame: Sojourner Truth

For Students 9th - 10th
The National Women's Hall of Fame provides a brief biography of the famous abolitionist and former slave, Sojourner Truth.
Activity
Other

Massachusetts Foundation for Humanities: Lucy Stone

For Students 9th - 10th
This well-written biography describes Lucy Stones life as a reformer, leader and orator in both the abolitionist and suffrage movements.
Graphic
Curated OER

Iu School of Liberal Arts: The Frederick Douglass Papers

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site with information on Douglass' life, genealogy, and copies of many of his papers.
Unit Plan
Read Works

Read Works: John Brown's Antislavery Raid

For Teachers 4th - 6th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This ReadWorks passage provides a brief history of John Brown, an American abolitionist. A paired passage, a lower level passage with related content, and a question sheet are available to help students...
Primary
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Frederick Douglass

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from National Public Radio explores the speech and the background of this abolitionist leader. An excerpt from Frederick Douglass' speech, 'The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro', is featured.
Handout
Other

History's Women: Sojourner Truth, Abolitionist Suffragist

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a biography of African American Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), born Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in upstate New York.
Article
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: 300 Women Who Changed History: Sojourner Truth

For Students 9th - 10th
Encyclopedia Britannica provides a biography of Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), a woman whose "Visions," led her on a crusade to preach of God's goodness, of the abolitionist movement, and of the women's rights movement.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Berea College

For Students 9th - 10th
In this brief encyclopedia article, you will read about Berea College, the first fully integrated college in the South.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Cuffe, Paul Sr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This interesting encyclopedia entry tells about Paul Cuffe, a black abolitionist and philanthropist who attempted to form a colony in Africa for freed slaves.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Whipper, William

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief encyclopedia article about William Whipper, businessman and abolitionist.
Handout
Other

In Search of Heroes: The Susan B. Anthony Story

For Students 9th - 10th
Read highlights on the life of Susan Brownwell Anthony covering information on her role in the abolition, temperance, and suffrage movements.
Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Lucy Stone

For Students 9th - 10th
A leading suffragist and abolitionist, Lucy Stone dedicated her life to battling inequality on all fronts.
Primary
Digital Public Library of America

Dpla: John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection uses primary sources to document John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry and the broad range of responses it provoked across the country. Includes a teaching guide.
Handout
Civil War Home

Home of the American Civil War: John Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
This website details the life of John Brown, the abolitionist, including his attack at Pottawatomie and the raid at Harpers Ferry. Information is from Historical Times Encyclopedia of the Civil War.
Handout
Danuta Bois

Distinguished Women of Past and Present: Antoinette Louisa Brown Blackwell

For Students 9th - 10th
Antoinette Blackwell was the first American woman to be ordained as a minister. She was a champion of woman's rights and lived to vote at age 95 after the adoption of the 19th amendment into the U.S. Constitution.