Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: The Northern Homefront

For Students 5th - 8th
The military-industrial complex thrived in the North during the Civil War, but read about how inflation affected the ordinary worker. See how the role of women expanded to fill in for men who were away fighting. Women also had an impact...
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: The American Abolitionist Movement

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection that uses primary sources to explore the American Abolitionist Movement.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: The Transatlantic Slave Trade

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection uses primary sources to explore the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Website
Other

Radford University: The Civil War for Fifth Graders

For Students 5th - 6th
Covers many aspects of the Civil War, without too much text for Grade 5 students. Includes links to additional information and a few learning activities. (Note: Some links may no longer be working.)
PPT
Tom Richey

Tom richey.net: The Crisis of the Union (1850 1860) [Ppt]

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents key ideas for examining the events and issues that led to the American Civil War.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

National Park Service: The Significance of the Dred Scott Trial

For Students 9th - 10th
In this article from "The Old Courthouse" by Donald Dosch the facts of the Dred Scott decision are laid out. Read why the outcome of the case fanned the embers of the coming Civil War.
Website
PBS

Pbs News Hour Extra: 150th Anniversary of the Civil War Fraught With Emotion

For Students 9th - 10th
Article examines the emotions brought to light due to the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War and the deep cultural divisions that continue across the U.S. to this day. A classroom activity and student worksheet can provide good...
Website
Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Historical Society: The Portent: John Brown's Raid in American Memory

For Students 9th - 10th
Online companion of an exhibition mounted in 2009 to commemorate the anniversary of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry examines Brown's role as a catalyst of the American Civil War.
Handout
US Department of State

U.s. Department of State: Decades of Change: 1960 1980

For Students 9th - 10th
Summary of the rise of cultural and ethnic pluralism that took place in America between 1960 -1980 causing major social change. Included were such movements as civil rights, women, Latino, Native-American, counterculture,...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: History of Us: Fatal Contradiction: Missouri Compromise [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that examines the goal of the Missouri Compromise. A good lesson for comparing and contrasting life in the North and South in the run-up to the...
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: The Civil War and Reconstruction

For Teachers 9th - 10th
University-level syllabus, reading suggestions, lecture notes, and quizzes for a course of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: The Civil War and Reconstruction Era, 1845 1877

For Students 9th - 10th
In this course Professor David Blight explores the causes, course, and consequences of the American Civil War, from the 1840s to 1877 through twenty-seven video lectures. The primary goal of the course is to understand the multiple...
Unit Plan
Department of Defense

Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 8: An Age of Confidence and Anxiety

For Students 9th - 10th
This extensive learning module examines the United States' response to the global uncertainty and instability that followed World War II and the ways that marginalized groups challenged discrimination, and the counter-responses to their...
Handout
Nebraska Studies

Nebraska Studies: Kansas Nebraska Act Signed

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a narrative detailing the signing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854 and the controversy that grew from it.
Primary
Yale University

Avalon Project: Declaration of the Secession of South Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
Full text of the declaration adopted by South Carolina as justification for its secession from the Union.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Excerpts From "The Fugitive Slave Act"

For Students 9th - 10th
This site titled, "From Revolution to Reconstruction," provides excerpts from the text of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, part of the Compromise of 1850.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: War in Sudan

For Students 7th - 8th
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each story or article is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see...
Article
Virginia Historical Society

Virginia Historical Society: An American Turning Point: Civil War in Virginia

For Students 9th - 10th
An exhibition that commemorated the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. While slavery caused the war, the war was not begun to free the slaves, but to determine whether the Confederate States of America would be allowed to break...
Lesson Plan
White House Historical Association

White House Historical Association: The Great Cause of Union

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Information with lesson plan for grades 9-12 about Abraham Lincoln's presidency focuses on the decisions and political actions he had to make throughout the Civil War.
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Secession of the Southern States

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection uses primary sources to explore the secession of southern states from the United States prior to the Civil War.
Website
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Pennsylvania Democrats

For Students 9th - 10th
A good look at the views of the Democratic Party in Pennsylvania just prior to and during the Civil War. Read about Democratic president from Pennsylvania, James Buchanan, and his views about the importance of slavery in the national...
Primary
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source: The Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs

For Students 9th - 10th
This collection uses primary sources to explore Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs.
PPT
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Causes of the Civil War

For Students 6th - 8th
Through a comprehensive powerpoint presentation, students will learn details of the five main causes of the Civil War in the United States.
Handout
Civil War Home

Home of the American Civil War: The Kansas Nebraska Act

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information on the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the consequences of its passing. From "The Civil War and Reconstruction" by Randall and McDonald.

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