Violence associated with strong feelings about slavery entered the halls of the Senate. Read what happened to Senator Charles Sumner after a two-day tirade he gave in the Senate after the sack of Lawrence, Kansas.

[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read a letter from a Mrs. W.C. Lathrop to Thomas Edison thanking him for inventing her electric appliances and making her life easier. They are then presented with some contextual facts, and...

Find out about the first woman to earn her Doctorate Degree in Dental Surgery, Lucy Hobbs Taylor.

This site from The History Place talks about the Kansas Nebraska Act and the effects caused by its creation. The information is brief but very helpful for the subject.

Article reviews several conditions of American society that sowed the seeds of civil war, particularly slavery and sectional conflict.

This extensive learning module examines how the United States became more connected with the world as it pursued an expansionist foreign policy, became the destination for many new immigrants, and encouraged migration to the Pacific...

Features comprehensive information about Kansas history, famous people, cities, geography, state parks, tourism, and historic sites. A fact sheet of information and a quiz are also available.

A site discussing the history and timeline of the state of Kansas including early explorers, Native Americans, settlers, Bleeding Kansas, the Wild West, and the Civil War.

This site, presented by The Kansas Collection, provides insight into the westward expansion of orphan children from New York City. The page houses links to stories, newspaper articles, history, and graphics associated with the Orphan...

From a lengthy essay on the history of the railroad in the United States. This section describes the dramatic political changes that took place with the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854. This led to the formation of the...

A brief account of how the Kansas-Nebraska Act split apart party coalitions and helped create the new Republican Party. See who joined this party and read about its goals.

Annotated chronology of various compromise legislation, including the Northwest Ordinance, the Constitution, the Missouri Compromise, 1850 Compromise, and Kansas-Nebraska Act.

Short but interesting combination of music and race and its influence on American culture from the Kansas State University. Provides most important songs, artists, and lyrics. Unusual page.

Learn a little about a few major cities in the United States while munching on the food that the city is known for. For example, Boston's history goes better while eating Boston Baked Beans and Brown Bread. Recipes are included.

History of the Santa Fe Trail, focusing on the historical journey of William Becknell, the "father" of the Santa Fe Trail.

Contains a short biography on U.S. congressman, senator, and presidential candidate Stephen A. Douglas.

A quick comprehension check over the failure of compromise.

A brief description of the land rush onto the Cherokee Strip, land sold by the Cherokees to the U.S. government in 1891.

Find out the history of barbed wire and why it was such an advancement for farms on the prairie.

Describes the Pottawatomie Massacre which was John Brown's plan to drive the pro-slavers out of the area. From a 1912 encyclopedia.

A sample lesson plan covering the sectionalism and problems facing the nation in its debate on slavery in the 1850s.

This site provides an extensive timeline of the life and work of Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the timeline there are photos that can be enlarged and many, many links to speeches, papers, letters of Lincoln's. The site is very easy to...

A concise review of the ways the issue of slavery split the country from the Missouri Compromise to eventual secession of the southern states.

A list with short descriptions of the issues and events that impacted the expansion of the frontier, with slavery being the most significant issue.