Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: You Be the Historian
Exercise involves learners in figuring out what life was like two hundred years ago for the colonial American Springer family by examining objects and documents they left behind.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: William Byrd (1674 1744)
A short essay about William Byrd from the colonial period of American history who detailed life in the Southern colonies.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Rebellion, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Five documents that examine a range of reactions to colonial rebellion and associated resistance to royal authority in English colonies in Barbados, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Colonial Period Society
This site provides an explanation of the influence of the frontier on the landed gentry and the role of education in the society.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Edward Taylor
This resource presents a brief overview of the life, works, and poetic style of Edward Taylor.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Beginnings of Revolutionary Thinking: What Is the American?
Even colonial America was a melting pot of people from far away. Read about the diversity of the population and why it had an effect on the possibility of rebellion and revolution.
Robin Chew
Samuel Adams: American Patriot & Politician
Read a brief overview of the life of Samuel Adams, one of the founding fathers of the United States. Links to other resources about Adams are included.
Other
Organization of American States: Simon Bolivar
An informative exploration of the life of Simon Bolivar, the man known in South America as the "Liberator," because he led revolutions against Spanish colonial overlords in Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia.
National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art: "Watson and the Shark"
This is a comprehensive site that tells the story behind one of John Singleton Copley's most famous paintings, "Watson and the Shark." The site discusses the artist's life and provides compositional information about the painting....
Organization for Community Networks
Academy Curricular Exchange: A Practical Experiment in Colonization
A detailed lesson plan depicting life in the early American colonies.
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: Predicting Weather
Site from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation combines Science and Social Studies. As students examine the various methods of predicting the weather, in Colonial Williamsburg.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Price of Freedom: Tricorn Hat
See a picture of the tricorn hat, worn by militiamen in the Revolutionary War. You can also read about the history of this particular hat.
Library of Congress
Loc: Thomas Jefferson Timeline
This detailed timeline describes Thomas Jefferson's life, spanning the colonial period, the American Revolution, and the early Republic. You will also find maps and written documents within this collection.
Other
All the News? American Revolution & Maryland's Press
Explore this collection of digitized historical newspapers and broadsides from the 1760s about pre-Revolutionary topics. Requires Adobe Reader.
Louisiana Department of Education
Louisiana Doe: Louisiana Believes: English Language Arts: Grade 4: If You Lived at the Time of the Revolution
Fourth graders learn about the American Revolution and evaluate the decisions and choices colonists had to make leading up to and during their fight for freedom from England. Students explore the idea of taking sides and how, despite...
Other
New Netherland Project: Fort Christina
Read the story of the settlement of Fort Christina by Swedes led by the Dutch Peter Minuit. Find out what contribution the Swedes made to American colonial life.
Curated OER
Wells Thorn House: 1600 1740: Early Colonial Style: Interior Room
An interior view of an early American colonial parlor.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Utopian Promise: Anne Bradstreet
English immigrant in the New World, Anne Bradstreet became an acclaimed poet of Puritan New England. Click on "Anne Bradstreet Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Dutch Influences Remain
This resource describes how New Netherland, later to be called New York, was originally possessed by the Dutch. Many traditions stem from the practices that they started.
PBS
Liberty: Chronicle of the Revolution: Diversity
A brief look at the population increase in colonial America. Find out where all these immigrants came from and what they did in the colonies. From PBS.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: A Revolutionary Dinner Party
Students play the role of colonists from the Revolutionary War period. Each group has decided to host a dinner party for some "famous faces" of the American Revolution. There are FOUR parts to this project: research, seating chart, music...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Saugus Iron Works: Life & Work at an Early American Site
Use this site to learn about life and work at an early American industrial site. Understand the need for iron ore for the early Puritans through excellent history info, an inquiry question, maps, images, readings, activities and more....
Library of Congress
Loc: Statesman Robert R. Livingston
Documents many of the important events in the life of Statesman Robert R. Livingston. Outlines his accomplishments, and provides two photographs and and an illustration of important pieces.
Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story: John Jay
This article chronicles the life of John Jay, one of America's founding fathers and the first chief justice of the Supreme Court. Includes a portrait and illustrations.