Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Supreme Court Case: Munn v. Illinois 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
Content includes the complete text of the 1877 Supreme Court case of Munn v. Illinois dealing with corporate rates and agriculture.
Unit Plan
US House of Representatives

History, Art, and Archives: Us House of Representatives: Barack Obama

For Students 9th - 10th
Highlights of the career of African American Senator Barack Obama, Democrat from Illinois, 2005-2008. He went on to be elected President of the United States on November 4, 2008.
Handout
Cayuse Canyon

The Us50: Illinois

For Students 9th - 10th
Offers comprehensive information regarding Illinois history, famous people, cities, geography, state parks, tourism, and historic sites. A fact sheet of information and a quiz are also available.
Handout
Other

Illinois Labor History Society: The Haymarket and Its Memorial

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains a description of the Haymarket Tragedy, and also includes many related topics.
Article
Legends of America

Legends of America: The National Road: First Highway in America

For Students 9th - 10th
By the early 19th century, the wilderness of the Ohio country had given way to settlement. The road George Washington had cut through the forest many years before, called the Braddock Road, was replaced by the National Road. Cutting...
Lesson Plan
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Alan G. Chalk Guides to Japanese Films

For Students 9th - 10th
Reviews of 26 Japanese movies that each include a list of suggested reading materials, plot summary, suggested grades, and a brief lesson plan. They are organized into two groups: one for students of literature and the humanities, and...
Graphic
Northern Illinois University

N. Illinois Univ.: Piramide Mayor

For Students 9th - 10th
A nice graphic on the major temple structure found at Caral, Peru, the location of the oldest civilization in the Americas.
Handout
Chicago History Museum

Encyclopedia of Chicago: Adler Planetarium

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine the history of famous Chicago landmark, the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum.
Website
Other

Southern Illinois History: Homepage

For Students 9th - 10th
A good reference page, even if it limits itself to Southern Illinois. Good information on slavery in the Land of Lincoln, and the struggle between kidnappers and underground railroad. Site has a search function and plenty of photos.
Website
University of Chicago

University of Chicago: Oriental Institute

For Students 9th - 10th
Home page of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. A very simple, but easy site to navigate and find what you are looking for. Links to research archives, electronic resources, and projects are available on this site.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: City and Suburb: Chicago and Park Forest, Illinois 1950s

For Students 9th - 10th
Exhibition highlights the differences between city and suburbia living. Visit Park Forest, Illinois, a new suburb of Chicago, where every day is moving day. A station wagon and moving boxes sit in front of a new house and the new kids on...
Website
Northern Illinois University

Illinois Periodicals Online: Everett Dirksen and the 1964 Civil Rights Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the use of the filibuster in the U.S. Senate as a way to control legislation.In the discussion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the longest filibuster in history was launched as a way to keep the legislation from coming to a...
Handout
Other

Alton Web: Robert Pershing Wadlow

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the fascinating story of Robert Pershing Wadlow (1918-1940), the man recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest person in history. A photo gallery and brief biography give an excellent overview of this Illinois...
Handout
Other

Illinois Labor History Society: Early Days of Coal Mining in Northern Illinois

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the coal boom of the late 1860s and learn about the difficult lives of the miners and their families.
Article
A&E Television

History.com: The Deadliest Tornado in u.s. History Blindsided the Midwest in 1925

For Students 9th - 10th
Now known as the Tri-State Tornado, it turned March 18 into a day of gruesome destruction and bizarre survival stories. This tornado hit Missouri, Illinois and Indiana and resulted in nearly 700 deaths.
Handout
Other

Illinois Labor History Society: Gene Debs and the American Railway Union

For Students 9th - 10th
Description of the rise and fall of the American Railway Union in the context of the Pullman Strike.
Handout
Other

Illinois Labor History Society: The Parable of Pullman

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource gives an account of the Pullman Strike of 1894. It discusses what the strike was about, how it was resolved, and the effect its outcome had.
Handout
Other

Alton, Illinois: Elijah Parish Lovejoy

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography on minister, journalist, and anti-slavery spokesperson Elijah Lovejoy, who was killed by a mob when he was 34. This well written bio focuses on the events on the night of his death.
Website
Other

Illinois History Pages

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has county information as well as general Illinois information, all of which is somewhat general. There are a few links to other sites as well.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Illinois State History for Kids

For Students 9th - 10th
Kids learn about the history and timeline of the state of Illinois including early explorers, Native Americans, settlers, Black Hawk War, Civil War, and the Chicago Fire.
Website
Other

Illinois Raptor Center: Rabies: Risks and Responsibilities

For Students 9th - 10th
What animals are at risk of getting the rabies virus? How do you prevent the spread of rabies? What is the difference between canine distemper and rabies? These questions are answered in this informative site.
Primary
The History Place

The History Place: Abraham Lincoln: "House Divided" Speech

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The History Place provides Abraham Lincoln's famous speach given at the close of the republican state convention - "A House Divided". It is the full text of the speech.
Primary
Sam Houston State University

The Revolutionary War in the West: The Conquest of the Illinois Country (I779)

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source document journal entry written by Colonel George Rogers Clark, describes the conquest of the Illinois country in 1779 during the Revolutionary War.
Website
Digital History

Digital History: The Lincoln Douglas Debates

For Students 9th - 10th
Historic debates, both in substance and form, were held between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in the Illinois Senate race in 1858. Read about the debates, where tht two men stood on the issue of slavery, and its place in the...