How does a country put itself back together after a civil war? Read about the problems with the destruction of the Southern economy and land, the recognition of former slaves as freedmen, and the ways to bring the Southern states back...

[Free Registration/Login Required] Students use primary source documents to investigate central historical questions. In this structured academic controversy, students examine constitutional amendments, a Black Code, a personal account...

Here is a general description of the gradual change from using indentured servants to recognizing Africans as slaves and the laws reflecting this change.

This site provides the original text of Virginia colonial laws concerning different aspects of slavery for Africans, Native Americans, and indentured servants.

Outlines the political events prior to the Civil War as the United States expanded its territories to include new states and conflicts arose over the issue of slavery.

This site details events surrounding the era known as "Bleeding Kansas" due to the conflict surrounding slavery in what is now Kansas.

Three illustrations and five documents about slave codes, master-slave power dynamics, and free blacks within French and Spanish settlements of the Caribbean.

Kentucky Educational Television presents this PBS Award Winning special about the Underground Railroad in Kentucky. Video clips, songs, and excellent research make this site comprehensible and very useful to ELL students and any student...

A brief look at the Underground Railroad and how it operated. Find some of the code words used to help runaway slaves find their way, and read about some of the "conductors" who led slaves along the routes to the North.

The Stono Rebellion and its impact is described in this informative essay. Hyperlinks to more discussion of this event. Teacher's Guide offers teacher resources.

After the death of Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson was responsible for implementing Reconstruction in the South after the Civil War. Read about his views on African-Americans, and the leniency he offered Confederate leaders and soldiers....

Read a comprehensive account of the Underground Railroad, how it was organized, and the routes that were used. Be sure to read all three parts.

Contains plans for three lessons that use the internet and the book Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson to learn about the Underground Railroad. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains...

[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart takes students on a virtual trip on the Underground Railroad and introduces them to some important people who acted as conductors. It discusses how quilts were created with secret codes...

Three illustrations and five documents about slave codes, master-slave power dynamics, and free blacks within French and Spanish settlements of the Caribbean.

A curriculum unit that examines the history of slavery in Connecticut, the laws permitting it, segregation, and the struggles faced by freed blacks to achieve equality.

Here is a great list of ideas for teachers to utilize in the classroom for lessons about the Underground Railroad. This site provides historical information, facts, reproductibles and more.

The purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was to protect ex-slaves (Freedmen) from legislation in the Southern States such as the Black Codes and the Vagrancy Laws and help African Americans obtain equal status under the law.

A map of the United States and territories in 1821 after the Missouri Compromise, showing the Free States and territories, the Slave States and territories, and the transitional territories at the time. The map is color-coded to show the...

A map of the United States in 1860 showing the states and territory boundaries at the time, and is color-coded to show the slave States and distribution of slaves, the free states, and the territories, all open to slavery under the...

A map of the United States in 1800, color-coded to show the States, Territories, British possessions, and Spanish possessions. The map shows State and Territory boundaries at the time, the disputed territory in northern Massachusetts...

A map of the eastern United States showing the progress of emancipation from 1777 to 1804. The map is coded to show states and territories with dates of emancipation, including States granting emancipation by State Constitution, State...

A map of the United States in 1821 showing the states and territories which either accepted or abolished slavery after the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The map is color-coded to show absolutely free states, states undergoing gradual...

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...