How do nineteenth-century texts by African American and Native American writers contribute to the country's ideals of freedom and individuality? Learners explore the topic by watching and discussing a video, reading biographies, writing...

Examine three perspectives of the slave trade - captain, sailor, and captive - through this collaborative analysis activity. Small groups study one perspective with a primary source to analyze. They discern what is a historical fact and...

Scholars learn all about the Puritans in the third installment of a 16-part lesson series. After watching a video, they read and discuss biographies of Puritans and Quakers from American history, write journal entries and poetry, and...

What motivated Europeans to explore the New World, and what effects did their exploration have on Native American populations? The second installment of a 16-part American Passages series prompts pupils to watch a video and read several...

Students use a database to find and read examples of slave narratives. In groups, they read the various narratives and discuss their feelings about them. They also research the time period in which the narratives were written to end...

Students analyze captivity narratives written between the 1600's and 1800's. In this narrative lesson, students think critically about the interaction between Native peoples and the settlers to understand the cultural beliefs held by...

Students read several slave narratives that comment on the ways in which slaves were transported from market to market. They write three original pieces expressing the viewpoint of a man, woman and child in captivity.

Sixth graders examine the use of slavery in the United States. Using a map, they draw the route of the Tecora and Amistad voyages. Individually, they write an essay describing their opinions on whether the Africans on the ships should be...

Students identify and discuss characteristics of runaway slaves in 18th Century, read A Narrative of the Adventures and Escapes of Moses, select five advertisements for Virginia Runaways Digital Project to complete On the Run worksheet,...

Eighth graders define and use new vocabulary and identify the reasons why Native Americans captured Europeans during the colonial period. They write their own journal entries about the topic and explain the importance of journals as a...

Provide your class with a look of the scope and context of the African Slave Trade. Graphic images of lynchings, injuries from whippings, and slave auctions will leave viewers agape with horror and ready to discuss the question on the...

Middle schoolers brainstorm a list of the various scenerios going on their family life at home. In groups, they read about different perspectives on survival and identify ones they could use in their own lives. They share their own...

This site from the University of North Carolina provides the full-text narrative of the suffering of Lewis Clarke, who endured a captivity of more than twenty-five years. The text is very in-depth, long, and includes photos of the...

Online presentation of personal narratives includes remembrances from former POWs held captive in Germany, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

This article details the experience of one girl abducted by the Seneca Indians.

Although this site provides information on one town, Madison, IN; it is an absolute treasure trove of information on the development of the Midwest. Authors provide captivating historic photos and comprehensive narrative on the area...