University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Stamp Act
Brief overview of the Stamp Act and the strong reaction in the colonies ultimately leading to its repeal.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Taxation Without Representation
Overview of the contentious struggle about taxation without representation between colonists and the British leading King George III and Parliament to overthrow the Stamp Act, but impose the Declaratory Act, asserting Parliament...
Teachnology
Teachnology: Colonial America Teaching Theme
Enhance classroom teaching about Colonial America with these impressive resources including lesson plans, activities, interactive sites and more.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Challenges to Spain's Supremacy
This section of a chapter on "Early Globalization" identifies regions where the English, French, and Dutch explored and established settlements, describes the differences among the early colonies, and explains the role of the American...
Federal Reserve Bank
Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia: Money in Colonial Times
Comprehensive overview of the development of money in the American colonies. Topics covered include colonial coins and paper money, national coinage, copper, silver, and gold coins, and Liberty and the eagle.
OpenStax
Open Stax: Confronting the National Debt: Aftermath of the French and Indian War
This section of a chapter on "Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests" discusses the status of Great Britain's North American colonies in the years directly following the French and Indian War, describes the size and scope of the British...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: The Colonial Period
The early settlers to the New World began to map strategy for their own system of government. This site details that strategy and what kinds of events spawned the idea of representative government.
A&E Television
History.com: Continental Congress
From 1774 to 1789, the Continental Congress served as the government of the 13 American colonies and later the United States. The First Continental Congress, which was comprised of delegates from the colonies, met in 1774 in reaction to...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Failed Colonies, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Three European accounts of the disappointments, challenges, and outright failures to establish early successful colonial outposts in North America.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Architecture of New England,southern Colonies
Describes the chronology of architectural design in New England and the South and what the architecture revealed about class building techniques. Includes ideas for lesson activities.
A&E Television
History.com: 6 Common Jobs in Colonial America
In the colonial era, the most prestigious jobs were reserved for well-off white men, who secured appointments as colonial governors and military leaders. But there were many other types of jobs in Britain's 13 American colonies. Here are...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Hardships, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Three English, a French, and a Spanish primary account of the staggering losses, misery, and deprivation that characterized early European settlement as well as the resilience needed to overcome those challenges.
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.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Copley, the Copley Family
John Singleton Copley was the undisputed king of portraiture in the American colonies. Read about his life and view a picture of his family portrait in this essay.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change
This site has a lesson about the ranching industry, creation of California towns and the changes over time. Contains information, inquiry question, historical context, maps, readings, and images.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: New World: Part Ii, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Two European maps of Florida and Roanoke, and a British and a French account-with associated engravings of these settlements-that promote a European interpretation of and claim over these areas.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: First Arrivals, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Numerous visual images of artifacts from English settlements at Jamestown and at Plymouth, and from Spanish settlement in Hispaniola, and three original accounts of each of those early settlements that describe the possibilities and the...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Instructions, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
Three maps of European settlement in Virginia, the Pacific Northwest, and the Spanish New World, and the accompanying official instructions from lenders and monarchs about the obligations, opportunities, and hopes that those...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Go Ahead, American Beginnings: 1492 1690
A Spanish, an English, and a French account of the enormous challenges in maintaining a colonial presence in North America and of the potential national loss-of pride, wealth, and possibility for expansion-if nations abandoned these...
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Massachusetts
During the religious upheavals of the 16th century, a body of men and women called Puritans sought to reform the Established Church of England from within. Essentially, they demanded that the rituals and structures associated with Roman...
Library of Congress
Loc: Frank Lloyd Wright Designs for an American Landscape
A site covering Frank Lloyd Wright from 1922-1932. Specific information on how his architecture was designed with the environment in mind. The Exhibition was at the Library of Congress from 1966 until 1997.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Utopian Promise: John Winthrop
John Winthrop rose to power in social, spiritual and political circles and served as Massachusetts state governor for twelve years. His views are documented in "Journal." Click on "John Winthrop Activities" for related materials.
University of Groningen
American History: Outlines: Anne Bradstreet
Biographical information and details about the themes and style of Bradstreet's poetry. Includes quotations from her poem "To My Dear and Loving Husband."
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.