Skip to Main Content
Map of the United States displaying various geographic regions and their characteristics, including labels and colors.
Handout titled "QFT Notes and Reflections" with warm-up questions for historians.
Map comparing Pre-Columbian North America with North America in 1750, showing geographic and territorial changes.
Illustration of a trireme ship with sails, titled "Handout A: Ships and Navigational Tools."

LLPH Units 1-8

231 items

Map of the United States displaying various geographic regions and their characteristics, including labels and colors.
Chapter 1 Introductory Essay: The Columbian Exchange 1491-1607
Essay - 7552 Words

Essay

7552 Words

How did the collision of cultures create a "New World"?
Handout titled "QFT Notes and Reflections" with warm-up questions for historians.
Columbian Exchange QFT Notes and Reflections Handout
Activity

Activity

Student handout to facilitate formulation of questions based on maps from North America before contact with Europeans.
Map comparing Pre-Columbian North America with North America in 1750, showing geographic and territorial changes.
QFocus—Maps of PreColumbian North America and North America in 1750
Activity

Activity

Maps from 1491 and 1754.
Key Terms of the Age of Discovery and Sail
Activity

Activity

Definitions for key terms to help students study this time period.
Illustration of a trireme ship with sails, titled "Handout A: Ships and Navigational Tools."
Age of Discovery Ships and Navigational Tools
Activity

Activity

Images of Ships and Navigational Tools.
Document titled "Handout A: Hakluyt Primary Source Packet" with sections for name and introduction questions.
Richard Hakluyt Primary Sources
Activity

Activity

Primary Sources and questions to give students insight into Richard Hakluyt.
Portrait of a man with curly hair and a black hat, set against a light background.
Should We Remember Christopher Columbus as a Conqueror or Explorer? Point-Counterpoint
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Should Columbus' actions be viewed from a modern lens, or based on the values of his time? Mark Christensen shares two views on this question.
A king and queen seated on thrones, flanked by advisors, in an ornate hall, with attendees below.
Columbus’s Letter to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, 1494
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Christopher Columbus Paideia Seminar Goals and Notes
Activity

Activity

A handout to aid students in primary source analysis that helps them draw conclusions about the effect and legacy of Christopher Columbus.
Portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a hat and fur collar, against a blue background.
Cortés’ Account of Tenochtitlan, 1522 Primary Source
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of Bartolomé de las Casas, a 16th-century Spanish Dominican friar, with a focused expression and traditional attire.
Bartolome de Las Casas on the Destruction of the Indies, 1552
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Mesoamerican scene depicting people performing a ritual with instruments and decorations.
The Florentine Codex, c. 1585 Primary Source
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Illustration of a historical scene depicting a confrontation between two groups near a body of water with boats.
The Oral Tradition of the Foundation of the Iroquois Confederacy Primary Source
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Indigenous man with body paint and jewelry, holding a bow, depicted in historical artwork.
Watercolors of Algonquian Peoples in North Carolina, 1585 Primary Source
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
A map shows the following sections of North America: Arctic, Subarctic, Northwest Coast, California, Plateau, Great Basin, Southwest, Plains, Northeast, Southeast.
Native People
Essay - 2020 Words

Essay

2020 Words

How did natives interact with each other before European contact?
Historical illustration of several sailing ships on the water, with labeled names and decorative clouds.
First Contacts
Essay - 2016 Words

Essay

2016 Words

How did the "clash of cultures" impact natives and Europeans?
A map of the world shows the flow of goods, animals, and diseases between North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Columbian Exchange
Essay - 1890 Words

Essay

1890 Words

What were the causes of the Columbian Exchange?
Portrait of a Spanish conquistador and an Incan ruler, each wearing traditional attire and accessories.
Hernando de Soto
Essay - 2167 Words

Essay

2167 Words

Why did Hernando de Soto explore Florida for Spain?
A map shows the city of Tenochtitlán. The rendering depicts waterways, sophisticated buildings, ships, and flags. Numerous causeways connect the central city to the surrounding land.
Life in the Spanish Colonies
Essay - 2235 Words

Essay

2235 Words

How did the Spanish and New World natives interact?
A historical drawing of a coastal fortification with ships and people on the shore.
Origins of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Essay - 2178 Words

Essay

2178 Words

Why did Africa and Europe engage in the slave trade?
Historical map of northern America with a red line marking a outlined route.
Henry Hudson and Exploration
Essay - 2236 Words

Essay

2236 Words

Why did Henry Hudson want to find the Northwest Passage?
This is a 1670 painting showing bare-chested, barefoot black men in knee-length pants, doing various tasks associated with tobacco drying. Some stand in sheds hanging the leaves up to dry.
Chapter 2: The Colonial Era 1607-1763
Unit - 4 Lessons

Unit

4 Lessons

Invite students to explore the religious, political, and social movements and events that fostered a sense of autonomy from Great Britain among the American colonists between 1607 and 1763.
Illustration of a scene with two seated figures, surrounded by six people and animals, depicting a cultural or historical event.
Montezuma and Cortés
Essay - 2376 Words

Essay

2376 Words

In this section, you will explain the causes of exploration and conquest of the New World by various European nations and explain how and why European and Native American perspectives of others developed and changed in the period.
A historical document with intricate designs and calligraphy in brown and blue ink on aged paper.
Colonial Comparison: The Rights of Englishmen in the Colonial Era
Lesson - 3 Activities

Lesson

3 Activities

90 Min

This Lesson will provide additional context for the Colonial Identity: English or American? Point-Counterpoint.
90 Min
Benjamin Franklin holding a kite and key, surrounded by cherubs, depicting his experiment with electricity.
Benjamin Franklin Mini DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

55 Min

This Lesson should follow the Colonial Identity: English or American? Point-Counterpoint.
55 Min
Illustration of a woman at a dining table observing figures presenting food and goods labeled "Mother Country" and "Colony."
Mercantilism
Lesson - 3 Activities

Lesson

3 Activities

45 Min

This Lesson should come at the end of Unit 1 as a preview of the problems in the British colonies leading up to the American Revolution.
45 Min
A historical scene depicting a group of early settlers walking through a snowy landscape with trees in the background.
Colonial Identity: English or American?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

How much did the colonists form their own American identity and how much of the identity of their mother country did they keep? Malcolm Gaskill and Phillip Hamilton debate this question.
Text from a sermon titled "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," preached in Enfield, July 8, 1741.
What Was the Great Awakening?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Was the Great Awakening a coherent movement, or a construct that historians retroactively created? Thomas Kidd and Frank Lambert debate this question.
Portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a black outfit and a white ruffled collar against a dark background.
A City Upon a Hill: Winthrop’s “Modell of Christian Charity,” 1630
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical scene depicting a group of men in traditional clothing marching with a drummer at the forefront.
Bacon vs. Berkeley on Bacon’s Rebellion, 1676
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical painting depicting a meeting between European settlers and Native Americans in a natural setting.
Penn’s Letter Recruiting Colonists, 1683
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical handwritten document with faded text and ink, showing signs of aging and wear.
Germantown Friends’ Antislavery Petition, 1688
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historical illustration depicting George Washington and M. St. Pierre in a tent with figures in the background.
Washington’s Journal: Expeditions to Disputed Ohio Territory, 1753–1754
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historic map of Virginia depicting geography, settlements, and illustrations from the early 17th century.
Maps Showing the Evolution of Settlement, 1624–1755
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
This is a map showing the English, Dutch, French, and Spanish colonies on the Atlantic coast and the dates of their settlement, as well as the names of Indian tribes inhabiting those areas. English colonies are New Hampshire 1623, Massachusetts Bay 1629 to 1630, Plymouth 1620, Rhode Island 1636 to 1643, Connecticut 1636 to 1639, New Haven 1636 to 1664, Pennsylvania 1681, Maryland 1634, Virginia 1606 to 1607, Carolina 1663, and Georgia 1732. Dutch colonies are New Netherlands 1624 and New Sweden 1638. French colony is New France 1534. Spanish colony is Florida 1513. Indian tribes inhabiting these colonized areas are Penobscot, Abenaki, Kennebec, Narragansett, Pequot, Mohawk, Oneida, Huron, Ottawa, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, Iroquois, Tuscarora, Delaware, Western Delaware, Shawnee, Upper Cherokee, Middle Cherokee, Lower Cherokee, Catawba, Yamasee, Upper Natchez, Lower Natchez, Creek.
Chapter 2 Introductory Essay: The Colonial Era 1607-1763
Essay - 6626 Words

Essay

6626 Words

Investigate British, French, and Spanish colonial policies in North America.
Historical maritime map showing coastlines, ships, and navigational symbols.
The English Come to America
Essay - 2721 Words

Essay

2721 Words

How did the English colonies in America develop over time?
A historical painting depicting a courtroom scene with diverse figures in period attire.
The Anglo-Powhatan War of 1622
Essay - 2470 Words

Essay

2470 Words

What caused war between the English and Powhatan people?
An image shows the execution of Charles the first. Crowds of people surround the stage where he is being executed.
The Founding of Maryland
Essay - 2682 Words

Essay

2682 Words

Why did Maryland become a haven of religious freedom?
A group of early settlers in winter attire walking through a snowy landscape with trees and a distant settlement.
Anne Hutchinson and Religious Dissent
Essay - 2415 Words

Essay

2415 Words

How did Anne Hutchinson contribute to religious liberty?
The first map depicting Philadelphia as a grid of streets and squares is shown.
William Penn and the Founding of Pennsylvania
Essay - 1882 Words

Essay

1882 Words

How did William Penn treat others with justice and equality?
A historical engraving depicting four figures, including a Native American, exchanging goods in a forest setting.
The Fur Trade
Essay - 1788 Words

Essay

1788 Words

How did the fur trade shape North American societies?
Historical illustration of a group of soldiers confronting a leader in a colonial setting.
Bacon’s Rebellion
Essay - 2841 Words

Essay

2841 Words

How did Bacon's Rebellion affect Virginian society in the 1600s?
A historical drama scene depicting a courtroom with people in period clothing expressing strong emotions.
The Salem Witch Trials
Essay - 2270 Words

Essay

2270 Words

What fueled the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials?
An image shows a slave tied to a post with settlers surrounding him.
The Stono Rebellion
Essay - 1962 Words

Essay

1962 Words

What caused the largest slave revolt in British North America?
Caricature depicting Dr. Squintum's Exaltation and criticism of the Reformation, with various characters and scenes.
The Great Awakening
Essay - 2596 Words

Essay

2596 Words

What were the impacts of the Great Awakening on the colonies?
Portrait of Benjamin Franklin, featuring him with glasses and wearing 18th-century attire against a dark background.
Benjamin Franklin and the American Enlightenment
Essay - 1883 Words

Essay

1883 Words

How did Benjamin Franklin contribute to his community?
A political cartoon of a cut-up snake is shown. Each part is labeled with a letter representing the colonies.
Albany Plan of Union
Essay - 1964 Words

Essay

1964 Words

How did the Albany Plan of Union create colonial unity?
An illustration of a night council meeting at Fort Necessity with soldiers and figures in 18th-century attire.
A Clash of Empires: The French and Indian War
Essay - 2272 Words

Essay

2272 Words

What were the causes and effects of the French and Indian War?
A historical painting depicting a group of men gathered around an injured soldier in a battlefield setting.
Wolfe at Quebec and the Peace of 1763
Essay - 2200 Words

Essay

2200 Words

How did the British win the French and Indian War?
Historic map of Port of Louis depicting settlements, land features, and numbered structures along a river.
Pilgrims to the New World
Essay - 2093 Words

Essay

2093 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how and why various European colonies developed and expanded from 1607 to 1754 and explain how and why environmental and other factors shaped the development and expansion of various British colonies that developed and expanded from 1607 to 1754.
Map showing tribal lands during King Philip's War, including names of tribes and geographic regions in the northeastern US.
King Philip’s War
Essay - 2030 Words

Essay

2030 Words

In this section, you will explain causes of the Columbian Exchange and its effect on Europe and the Americas during the period after 1492.
Washington crossing the Delaware River with soldiers during the American Revolution, depicting a historical moment.
Chapter 3: The American Revolution 1763-1789
Unit - 9 Lessons

Unit

9 Lessons

Invite students to identify the causes of the Declaration of Independence, evaluate the causes and effects of key events in the Revolutionary War, and compare various perspectives on constitutional principles and the structure of the new Union under the Constitution.
Two colonial-era tax stamps: one with a crown and "America One Penny," the other featuring a skull and crossbones.
Acts of Parliament
Lesson - 3 Activities

Lesson

3 Activities

85 Min

Use this lesson as the foundation for the Stamp Act Resistance Narrative, The Boston Massacre Narrative, and The Boston Tea Party Narrative.
85 Min
Portraits of a woman in a blue dress and a man in a black coat, both depicted in pastel style.
Abigail Adams: “Remember the Ladies” Mini DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

85 Min

Use this lesson with the Mercy Otis Warren Narrative and the Judith Sargent Murray Primary Source "On the Equality of the Sexes" to allow students to discuss gender roles and expectations in the founding period.
85 Min
An engraving titled The Federalist Pillars. Six pillars are shown representing states, with the sixth pillar falling over. Below the pillars reads United they stand - divided fall.
The Path to Independence
Lesson - 9 Activities

Lesson

9 Activities

90 Min

Use this lesson after students have read the Stamp Act Resistance Narrative, The Boston Massacre Narrative, and The Boston Tea Party Narrative. This lesson should be followed by the Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence Narrative and the Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776 Primary Source analysis.
90 Min
Painting depicting George Washington addressing a group of founding fathers in a historical setting.
Constitutional Convention
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

90 Min

Use this lesson with The Constitutional Convention Narrative and after students have done The Articles of Confederation, 1781 Primary Source activity.
90 Min
Photo of the Constitution
Argumentation: The Process of Compromise
Lesson - 3 Activities

Lesson

3 Activities

90 Min

Use this lesson after reading The Constitutional Convention Narrative and/or the Constitutional Convention Lesson.
90 Min
A historic gathering of military leaders listening to a speech, depicted in a rustic interior setting.
Federalist/Anti-Federalist Debate on Congress’s Powers of Taxation DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

65 Min

Use this lesson with The Ratification Debate on the Constitution Narrative and the Were the Anti-Federalists Unduly Suspicious or Insightful Political Thinkers? Point-Counterpoint to have students analyze the debate between Federalists and Anti-Federalists.
65 Min
Historical painting of a large assembly in a grand room, featuring numerous men seated and standing around a central table.
State Constitution Comparison
Lesson - 5 Activities

Lesson

5 Activities

70 Min

Use this lesson following direct instruction in the constitutional principles that the British colonies derived from their experience and their legal and constitutional history. This instruction should include, but not necessarily be limited to, natural rights, rule of law, popular sovereignty, republicanism, separation of powers, and checks and balances.
70 Min
A historical painting of George Washington addressing a group of men in a formal interior setting.
Argumentation: Self-Interest or Republicanism?
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

80 Min

Use this Lesson following The Ratification Debate on the Constitution Narrative.
80 Min
The Constitution primary source
Is the Constitution a Proslavery Document?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Did the Framers of the Constitution draft protections for slavery in the document? Or did they provide mechanisms specifically to put the institution on the path of extinction? Gordon Lloyd and Stuart Leibiger debate this question.
Three historic portraits of American figures: George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams.
Were the Anti-Federalists Unduly Suspicious or Insightful Political Thinkers?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

The Anti-Federalists created significant challenges on the path of ratifying the Constitution. Were their concerns with the document unreasonable, or did they correctly foresee future problems that would arise in the new government? Gordon Lloyd and Adam Tate debate this question.
Illustration of a man in colonial attire with text about "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" by John Dickinson.
John Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, 1767–1768
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense primary source
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Revolutionary War soldiers engage in battle, with smoke rising and a house in the background.
Joseph Plumb Martin, The Adventures of a Revolutionary Soldier, 1777
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
An impressionist painting depicting a historic scene with figures in a boat, carrying flags of the American Revolution.
Art Analysis: Washington Crossing the Delaware
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Document titled "Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States," printed in Williamsburg.
The Articles of Confederation, 1781
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical handwritten document with faded text and ink, showing signs of aging and wear.
Quaker Anti-Slavery Petition, 1783
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Document from 1793, detailing a resolution and signatures including John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
Belinda Sutton, Petition to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1783
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Northwest Ordinance map
The Northwest Ordinance, 1787
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a young woman in a white dress with dark sleeves, seated against a dark background.
Judith Sargent Murray, “On the Equality of the Sexes,” 1790
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a male figure in a brown robe, gesturing with one hand against a muted background.
Junípero Serra’s Baja California Diary
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Scene depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence with historical figures in a formal setting.
Chapter 3 Introductory Essay: 1763-1789
Essay - 11236 Words

Essay

11236 Words

How did the American colonies gain independence from Britain?
Map of North America depicting Nouvelle France (Canada) and surrounding Great Lakes, with detailed geographical features.
Pontiac’s Rebellion
Essay - 2930 Words

Essay

2930 Words

How did Native Americans fight back against colonist expansion?
Historical document featuring multiple penny tax stamps with a royal crest and the text "AMERICA ONE PENNY."
Stamp Act Resistance
Essay - 2648 Words

Essay

2648 Words

Why did American colonists resist British taxes?
Historical depiction of the Boston Massacre, showcasing British soldiers firing at a gathering crowd.
The Boston Massacre
Essay - 2367 Words

Essay

2367 Words

How did the Boston Massacre impact the American colonies?
Historical illustration of a ship and a small boat, with figures engaged in trade at a waterfront.
The Boston Tea Party
Essay - 2731 Words

Essay

2731 Words

What does "no taxation without representation" mean?
Scene depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence with historical figures in a formal setting.
Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence
Essay - 3472 Words

Essay

3472 Words

Why did the colonists declare independence from Britain?
George Washington leading troops across the icy Delaware River during the American Revolution.
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Essay - 2271 Words

Essay

2271 Words

Why is Washington's crossing of the Delaware River so famous?
A dramatic painting depicting a chaotic battle scene with soldiers, horses, and smoke in a wooded area.
The Battle of Saratoga and the French Alliance
Essay - 2051 Words

Essay

2051 Words

How did the American colonies win an alliance with France?
Portrait of a man with white hair and a fur-lined collar, facing slightly to the left against a dark background.
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Essay - 2869 Words

Essay

2869 Words

How do religious freedom and religious tolerance differ?
A woodcut depicts Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck, who wears the uniform of an officer of the Continental Army. He holds a sword.
Shays’ Rebellion
Essay - 3013 Words

Essay

3013 Words

How did Shays' Rebellion impact U.S. politics and government?
Painting of delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, gathered in a large hall.
The Constitutional Convention (LLPH)
Essay - 3622 Words

Essay

3622 Words

What compromises were made at the Constitutional Convention?
Historical painting depicting a group of founding fathers in a meeting, with George Washington speaking at the forefront.
The Ratification Debate on the Constitution
Essay - 3192 Words

Essay

3192 Words

Why were some Americans opposed to the Constitution?
Portrait of a woman in a blue dress with lace details and a white bonnet, set against a soft background.
Mercy Otis Warren
Essay - 2261 Words

Essay

2261 Words

How did Mercy Otis Warren contribute to the Revolution?
A historic gathering of military leaders listening to a speech, depicted in a rustic interior setting.
George Washington at Newburgh
Essay - 3004 Words

Essay

3004 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how various factors contributed to the American victory in the Revolution.
On the left, a painting shows five Patriots tarring and feathering the Commissioner of Customs, John Malcolm. One Patriot forcibly pours tea from a teapot into Malcolm’s mouth. In the background, the Boston Tea Party and the Liberty Tree are visible. On the Liberty Tree hangs an upside-down paper labeled “Stamp Act.” On the right, an engraving shows a merchant signing a non-importation agreement outdoors on a makeshift table of barrels, surrounded by a crowd of stern-looking people holding thick sticks. Behind him, another man, forcibly held by a group of threatening-looking men, is apparently next in line to sign the agreement. In the background, a bag of tar and a bag of feathers hang from a wooden structure.
Loyalist vs. Patriot
Essay - 2696 Words

Essay

2696 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how British colonial policies regarding North America led to the Revolutionary War and explain how various factors contributed to the American victory in the Revolution.
Historical painting of ships in a harbor, featuring various flags and a cloudy sky.
Signing the Declaration of Independence
Essay - 2926 Words

Essay

2926 Words

A colored engraving of the Maryland State House in Annapolis, featuring a prominent cupola and surrounding buildings.
The Annapolis Convention
Essay - 2864 Words

Essay

2864 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how different forms of government developed and changed as a result of the Revolutionary Period.
A historical painting depicting colonial figures and Indigenous Americans in a natural landscape.
Chapter 4: The Early Republic 1789-1800
Unit - 9 Lessons

Unit

9 Lessons

Invites students to explore how a nation can stay unified despite divisions.
Historical scene depicting military leaders engaged in discussion with troops and a tent in the background.
The Global Impact of the American Revolution DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

90 Min

This Lesson can be used at the beginning of Chapter 4 to reinforce and review the key events of the American Revolution covered in Chapter 3. This activity will also introduce students to the effects the Revolution had on the world stage in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
90 Min
Historic gathering of founding fathers during the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Actions of the First Congress
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

95 Min

Students should have a solid foundation of the regional differences in the former colonies, now states, as well as an understanding of the ratification of the Constitution. This Lesson is best used after students have read The Constitutional Convention and The Ratification Debate on the Constitution Narratives in Chapter 3. The James Madison and the Bill of Rights Narrative in Chapter 4 can be used as background for the Lesson or can be assigned as homework after the Lesson to reinforce main ideas.
95 Min
Historic building with a portico supported by columns and ornamental details, set against a clear sky.
The National Bank Debate
Lesson - 3 Activities

Lesson

3 Activities

65 Min

This activity should be completed after students have completed the Actions of the First Congress Lesson, The Compromise of 1790 Decision Point, and George Washington, First Inaugural Address, 1789 Primary Source Activity. This Lesson should be followed by the Alexander Hamilton and the National Bank Narrative or the "Strict" or "Loose": Was the National Bank Constitutional? Point-Counterpoint, either of which can be completed as a homework assignment to follow this Lesson.
65 Min
A historical illustration depicting a group of enslaved individuals in a field, with labor tools and children present.
Methods of Slave Resistance DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

80 Min

Use this Lesson to have students examine how enslaved men and women resisted slavery during the late 1700s and early 1800s.
80 Min
Mural depicting allegorical figures, including George Washington, on clouds with various symbols of power and peace.
George Washington in American Art
Lesson - 2 Activities

Lesson

2 Activities

65 Min

This Lesson is best used at the end of the unit, after students have studied Washington's leadership during the Revolutionary War in Chapter 3 and the major events of his presidency in Chapter 4.
65 Min
Statue of a horse-mounted figure in a park with a city skyline in the background.
George Washington’s Views on Slavery
Lesson

Lesson

Before completing this Lesson, students should be familiar with the societal, cultural, and economic conditions of eighteenth-century American life that sustained the institution of slavery. Anti-slavery sentiment can be explored in the Benjamin Franklin and the First Abolitionist Petitions Narrative.
A historical painting depicting farmers, laborers, and women working in a rural landscape with horses and hay bales.
The Founders’ Failure to End Slavery
Lesson

Lesson

Students should be familiar with the debates surrounding slavery in the Constitutional Convention in Chapter 3. Students should read the James Madison and the Bill of Rights Narrative and Benjamin Franklin and the First Abolitionist Petitions Narrative for context before reading this Lesson.
A political cartoon featuring Hamilton and Jefferson debating banks, with a man holding a $100 bill.
Using Political Cartoons to Understand History
Lesson

Lesson

Students can further explore the context surrounding the Jay Treaty in the George Washington and the Proclamation of Neutrality Decision Point, The Jay Treaty Narrative, and in the excerpt from the treaty itself in The Jay Treaty, 1795 Primary Source. The Alexander Hamilton and the National Bank Narrative and The National Bank Debate Lesson provide more context on the founding of the bank.
A historical painting depicting a military scene with mounted officers and soldiers in formation on a landscape.
Be Washington: Whiskey Rebellion
Lesson

Lesson

Use this Lesson as a supplement to The Whiskey Rebellion: Unjust Taxation or Enforcing the Rule of Law? Point-Counterpoint.
A historic painting depicting a troop review with soldiers on horseback and a line of infantry in the background.
The Whiskey Rebellion: Unjust Taxation or Enforcing the Rule of Law?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

The Whiskey Rebellion was one of the first significant challenges to the new government under the Constitution. How valid were the complaints of the rebels who opposed the new taxation on whiskey? Frank W. Garmon, Jr. and Rebecca Brannon debate this question.
Historic building labeled "First National Bank" with people and horse-drawn carriages in front.
“Strict” or “Loose”: Was the National Bank Constitutional?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Jefferson and Hamilton's debates over the constitutionality of a national bank was one of the major debates in the early republic. Which Founder had the better interpretation of the Constitution on the issue? Adam Tate and Jack Rakove debate this question.
President George Washington
Washington’s First Inaugural Address, 1789
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Document titled "Congress of the United States," presenting text in a formal layout with official language.
The Judiciary Act of 1789
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historic document featuring George Washington's handwriting and signature.
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the Treaty of New York, 1790
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson inside the Jefferson Memorial, with engraved text on the walls.
Thomas Jefferson on the Compromise of 1790
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historic building with a portico supported by columns and ornamental details, set against a clear sky.
Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, Writings on the National Bank, 1785–1792
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a seated man in academic robes, with a thoughtful expression, against a neutral background.
The Jay Treaty, 1795
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a 18th-century military officer dressed in a black hat and red coat with gold epaulettes.
Pinckney’s Treaty, 1796
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Painting of George Washingtons Farewell Address
George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Political caricature depicting figures in period clothing engaging in a humorous scene about property and nationality.
Cartoon Analysis: Property Protected—à la Françoise, 1798
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Portraits of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, 1798–1799
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A satirical engraving depicting a chaotic scene of a duel in a formal setting, with spectators observing.
Cartoon Analysis: Congressional Pugilists, 1798
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
A historic painting depicting military officers on horseback before a formation of soldiers in a mountainous landscape.
Chapter 4 Early American Republic Introductory Essay: 1789-1800
Essay - 7743 Words

Essay

7743 Words

How did the new Constitution shape U.S. politics?
A photograph of a bank building.
Alexander Hamilton and the National Bank
Essay - 2382 Words

Essay

2382 Words

Why did Hamilton want the U.S. to have a national bank?
A portrait of James Madison.
James Madison and the Bill of Rights
Essay - 2533 Words

Essay

2533 Words

Why is Madison called the "Father of the Constitution"?
A man in 18th-century attire reads a document, seated at a table with a bust and books nearby.
Benjamin Franklin and the First Abolitionist Petitions
Essay - 2197 Words

Essay

2197 Words

How did Benjamin Franklin fight for the abolition of slavery?
Illustration of workers processing cotton in a historical setting, with figures engaged in various tasks.
Eli Whitney and the Cotton Gin
Essay - 1968 Words

Essay

1968 Words

How did the cotton gin impact slavery in the U.S.?
The Battle of Fallen Timbers
Essay - 2857 Words

Essay

2857 Words

Why did the U.S. and Native Americans fight in the 1790s?
Portrait of a seated man in academic robes, with a thoughtful expression, against a neutral background.
The Jay Treaty
Essay - 2225 Words

Essay

2225 Words

How did Britain violate U.S. rights in the late 18th century?
Portrait of a man with curly hair, wearing a coat and a decorative insignia.
The XYZ Affair and the Quasi-War with France
Essay - 2052 Words

Essay

2052 Words

Explore what the Quasi-War was and its impact on the U.S.
A cartoon depicting a fight between two people, while surrounding people watch.
The Alien and Sedition Acts
Essay - 2501 Words

Essay

2501 Words

Did the Alien and Sedition Acts violate the First Amendment?
Handwritten historical document with signatures and text detailing Thomas Paine's petition.
Robert Carter and Manumission
Essay - 1994 Words

Essay

1994 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the continuities and changes in regional attitudes about slavery as it expanded from 1754 to 1800.
Historic illustration of a street with horse-drawn carriages and three-story buildings, featuring trees and pedestrians.
The Compromise of 1790
Essay - 2414 Words

Essay

2414 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how and why political ideas, institutions, and party systems developed and changed in the new republic.
A portrait of Edmond Charles Genet.
George Washington and the Proclamation of Neutrality
Essay - 2486 Words

Essay

2486 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how and why competition intensified conflicts among peoples and nations from 1754 to 1800.
A historical meeting featuring men in formal attire discussing documents in an elegant room.
Chapter 5: The Era of Good Feelings 1800-1828
Unit - 2 Lessons

Unit

2 Lessons

Invite students to explore if the early republic was truly an Era of Good Feelings.
A seated man with gray hair and a beard holds a book, dressed in 19th-century formal clothing.
John Marshall’s Landmark Cases DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

70 Min

This Lesson should follow the Marbury v. Madison Decision Point.
70 Min
Historical image of a group of individuals harvesting cotton in a field, with cotton bales and trees in the background.
Changing Views of Slavery Mini-DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

Use this Lesson to help students understand the role of slavery in the rise of sectionalism, also examined inThe Missouri Compromise Decision Point.
Illustration depicting the Election of 1800 with portraits of Burr and Jefferson.
Was the Election of 1800 a Revolution?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

The election of 1800 was the first peaceful transition of power from one party to another in the United States. Did Thomas Jefferson's new administration fundamentally change the nature of the United States? Jeremy D. Bailey and Todd Estes debate this question.
Map of the United States illustrating the Missouri Compromise, highlighting free, slave, and new states.
Did the Missouri Compromise Merely Delay War?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Was the division of the country between free and slave states inevitably going to lead to a civil war? John Van Atta and Dan Monroe debate this issue.
Bronze statue depicting two historical figures standing side by side, with rifles and historical attire.
The Journals of Lewis and Clark, 1805
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Political cartoon depicting figures near a "No Trespass" sign, illustrating themes of territorial boundaries and authority.
The Monroe Doctrine, 1823
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events related to the Monroe Doctrine.
Portraits of two historical figures, one with gray hair and the other with a dark coat holding a book.
Cartoon Analysis: The Presidential Election of 1824
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Black and white portrait of a middle-aged man wearing a suit and bow tie, with a solemn expression.
Henry Clay, Speech on American Industry, 1824
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical illustration of Columbia teaching John Bull a lesson, featuring symbolic figures and patriotic imagery.
Chapter 5 Introductory Essay: 1800-1828
Essay - 7492 Words

Essay

7492 Words

Was this an 'Era of Good Feelings'?
Indigenous people paddling canoes on a river surrounded by mountains and trees, depicted in a historical painting.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Essay - 2197 Words

Essay

2197 Words

What events sparked the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
A historical illustration of the bombardment of Fort McHenry with ships and cannons visible in the foreground and background.
Fort McHenry and the War of 1812
Essay - 2194 Words

Essay

2194 Words

How did Americans stop the British at Fort McHenry?
Historical scene depicting a chaotic gathering of people in 18th-century clothing.
Old Hickory: Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans
Essay - 2265 Words

Essay

2265 Words

How did the U.S. victory at New Orleans impact the War of 1812?
Portrait of a man in a military uniform with a sword, featuring elaborate gold detailing and a neutral background.
Tecumseh and the Prophet
Essay - 2391 Words

Essay

2391 Words

How did Tecumseh and the Prophet resist U.S. expansion?
A historical illustration of a foot race with spectators and participants in 19th-century attire.
The Corrupt Bargain
Essay - 2436 Words

Essay

2436 Words

Explores the "Corrupt Bargain" and its impact on U.S. politics.
Illustration of riders on horseback moving through a dusty landscape, with mountains in the background.
Mountain Men
Essay - 1786 Words

Essay

1786 Words

What was the role of mountain men in U.S. westward expansion?
Map of the region around Lake Ontario, showing topography and routes.
The Building of the Erie Canal
Essay - 2234 Words

Essay

2234 Words

What was the impact of the Erie Canal on U.S. trade?
Black and white portrait of Washington Irving, an American author, in a formal suit.
Washington Irving
Essay - 2442 Words

Essay

2442 Words

Explores the societal impact of Washington Irving's literature.
A seated man with gray hair and a beard holds a book, dressed in 19th-century formal clothing.
Marbury v. Madison
Essay - 2511 Words

Essay

2511 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the causes and effects of policy debates in the early republic.
A political cartoon of three men on a cliff and a man under the cliff, representing New England states, wondering whether to jump (commit treason), while the British monarch, shown separated from the men by water, encourages them to jump off the cliff.
The Hartford Convention
Essay - 2255 Words

Essay

2255 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the causes and effects of policy debates in the early republic.
Black and white portrait of a man in formal attire with curly hair and a slight smile.
The Missouri Compromise
Essay - 2488 Words

Essay

2488 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how different regional interests affected debates about the role of the federal government in the early republic.
A historical painting depicting figures in military uniforms and Indigenous people in a natural landscape.
Chapter 6: The Jacksonian Era 1828-1844
Unit - 3 Lessons

Unit

3 Lessons

Invite students to explore if the democratization of politics during the Jacksonian era was a shift from Founding era political theory.
Portrait of a Native American man with traditional feathered headdress and painted face.
Responses to the Cherokee Removal Mini DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

95 Min

This Lesson can be used alongside The Trail of Tears Narrative to highlight the plight of American Indians during the Jackson presidency.
95 Min
Abstract artwork depicting a stylized map of the United States with drips of paint and faded state labels.
American Indians in American Art
Lesson

Lesson

Students should be familiar with the increasing tensions between American Indians and U.S. settlers discussed in the Chapter 5 Introductory Essay: 1800-1828 and the following Narratives: The Lewis and Clark Expedition ,Old Hickory: Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans , and Tecumseh and the Prophet.
Image of women's rights protest
The Women’s Movement and the Seneca Falls Convention
Lesson

Lesson

55 Min

This Lesson should follow the Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Struggle for Women's Suffrage Narrative.
White marble statue of a man in formal attire, displayed on a stone pedestal within an arched architectural setting.
Is the Concurrent Majority Theory Faithful to the Ideals of the Constitution?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Did John C. Calhoun's political theories on the dangers of majority rule adhere to the Framers goal of protecting the rights of all? Barton A. Myers and James H. Read debate this question.
Portrait of a man with gray hair, dressed in formal attire, set against a dark background.
John C. Calhoun, South Carolina Exposition and Protest, 1828
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Illustration from "Walker's Appeal," depicting a figure holding a banner, with text on the opposite page.
David Walker, “An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World,” 1829
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of Daniel Webster.
Webster-Hayne Debates, 1830
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historical scene depicting people on horseback and wagons in a landscape, representing movement and travel.
Indian Removal Act, 1830, and Cherokee Chief John Ross’s Memorial and Protest to Congress, 1836
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical illustration depicting a large crowd gathered outside a grand building during a festive event.
Andrew Jackson, Bank Veto Message, 1832
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a young man in a dark coat, with curly hair, set against a neutral background.
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, 1835
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A vintage envelope addressed to R.S. Blanchard, Belleville, Jeff Co, New York, with cancellation marks.
Jedediah Burchard, Revivalist Sermon, 1835
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a woman with a serious expression, wearing a bonnet and a collared dress. Black and white image.
Sarah M. Grimké, Letters on the Equality of the Sexes and the Condition of Women, 1837
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Black and white portrait of a man with dark hair and sideburns, wearing a bow tie and suit.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The American Scholar,” 1837
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a man with gray hair, dressed in formal attire, set against a dark background.
John C. Calhoun, “Slavery as a Positive Good,” 1837
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Black and white portrait of a woman with long hair styled in a bun, wearing a high-collared garment.
Dorothea Dix, Memorial to the Legislation of Massachusetts, 1843
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical scene depicting a gathering of people in front of a building, engaged in various activities.
Art Analysis: The County Election by George Caleb Bingham, 1852
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
A historical illustration depicting a large crowd gathered outside a grand building during a festive event.
Chapter 6 Introductory Essay: 1828-1844
Essay - 7214 Words

Essay

7214 Words

What changes occurred in the U.S. during the Jacksonian era?
Portrait of Robert Hayne.
The Nullification Crisis
Essay - 2939 Words

Essay

2939 Words

Explores the nullification crisis and its resolution.
Map of the central United States highlighting a route from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Nauvoo, Illinois, with state names.
The Mormon Trail
Essay - 2555 Words

Essay

2555 Words

What impact did Mormonism have on westward expansion?
Historical scene depicting people on horseback and wagons in a landscape, representing movement and travel.
The Trail of Tears
Essay - 2772 Words

Essay

2772 Words

What was the U.S. policy toward American Indians?
A historical black-and-white portrait of a man in formal attire, seated against a plain background.
William Lloyd Garrison’s War against Slavery
Essay - 2160 Words

Essay

2160 Words

How did William Lloyd Garrison fight to end slavery?
Image of slaves attacking men, women, and children (top), while the bottom panel shows armed men on horseback chasing the slaves away.
Nat Turner’s Rebellion
Essay - 2860 Words

Essay

2860 Words

How did Nat Turner's Rebellion impact U.S. society?
Black and white portrait of a man in a suit, seated with hands clasped, looking directly at the viewer.
Sam Houston and Texas Independence
Essay - 2698 Words

Essay

2698 Words

Explores how Texas became part of the United States.
Two black-and-white portraits of women from the 19th century, one in a bonnet and the other in a formal dress with a shawl.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Struggle for Women’s Suffrage
Essay - 2406 Words

Essay

2406 Words

How did Elizabeth Cady Stanton help win female suffrage?
A historic bird's-eye view map of an urban area, showcasing buildings, streets, and waterways.
The Lowell Girls
Essay - 2639 Words

Essay

2639 Words

Explores women's experiences in early industrial jobs.
Painting of the ship "La Amistad" in a waterway with small boats and figures along the shore.
John Quincy Adams and the Amistad
Essay - 2007 Words

Essay

2007 Words

How did John Quincy Adams fight for justice in the Amistad case?
Portrait of Frederick Douglass alongside the cover of his autobiography, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass."
Frederick Douglass’s Path to Freedom
Essay - 2143 Words

Essay

2143 Words

Explores Frederick Douglass' escape from slavery.
Black and white portrait of a man in formal attire, looking directly at the camera.
John Quincy Adams and the Gag Rule
Essay - 2187 Words

Essay

2187 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how different regional interests affected debates about the role of the federal government in the early republic.
Cartoon of three men fighting a monstrous snake-like creature with multiple human heads. The man on the left holds a cane that says “veto” on it. The man on the right has dropped his axe.
Andrew Jackson’s Veto of the National Bank
Essay - 2903 Words

Essay

2903 Words

Chapter 7: The Antebellum Period 1844-1860
Unit - 4 Lessons

Unit

4 Lessons

Invite students to explore if the Civil War was inevitable.
Depiction of the "Sambo" and "Aztec" steamers with immigrants on board for Liverpool.
Irish and German Immigration DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

50 Min

Introduce students to the push and pull factors that led to high levels of immigration from Germany and Ireland from 1830 to 1860. Facilitation Notes: This activity is designed for groups of five students. The activity works best if each student only sees their printed primary source. The students should have some background knowledge on the European industrial revolution and its impact on urban growth and immigration in the United States.This lesson targets the foundational skills of analyzing documents, grouping documents, and constructing a thesis as required of the DBQ essay on the AP exam.
50 Min
Illustration depicting two scenes: individuals in distress on the left, and a family farewell on the right.
Dred Scott v. Sandford DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

90 Min

What attempts were made to resolve the issue of slavery in the U.S. territories?
90 Min
Black and white illustration of soldiers in formation, with a fallen figure in front of a building amid trees.
John Brown: Hero or Villain? DBQ
Lesson - 3 Activities

Lesson

3 Activities

Use this Lesson alongside theJohn Brown and Harpers Ferry Narrative to allow students to fully evaluate John Brown's approach to abolitionism. Facilitation Notes: Use available classroom technology to display a United States map so that they are within view throughout the lesson. Also, write theKey Questionon the board so that it is in view throughout the lesson.
Political Cartoons of Abraham Lincoln
The Election of Lincoln and the Secession of Southern States DBQ
Lesson

Lesson

90 Min

Use this Lesson with The Election of 1860 Narrative and the South Carolina Secession Debate, 1860 Primary Source to allow students to analyze the motivations of South Carolina to secede from the United States.
A historical scene depicting explorers and settlers in a mountainous landscape, framed with ornate decorations.
To What Extent Were Manifest Destiny and Westward Expansion Justified?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Did the positives outweigh the negatives as the concept of Manifest Destiny drove western expansion during the nineteenth century? A. James Fuller and Andrew Fisher debate this question.
A historical portrait of a man with grey hair and a mustache, wearing a tan coat and blue bow tie, against a blue background.
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, 1845
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical illustration of a lively gathering, showing people dancing and celebrating in a rustic interior setting.
Negro Spirituals
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Map illustrating the proposed annexation of Texas, detailing free and slave districts, along with geographic features.
John O’Sullivan, “Annexation,” 1845
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Illustration showing a historical meeting about the abolition of the slave trade with an audience and speakers.
William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass on Abolition, 1845–1852
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historic battle scene featuring soldiers in uniform, cannons, and chaos amidst smoke and hills.
Debating the Mexican-American War, May 1846
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of Daniel Webster.
Daniel Webster, “7th of March,” 1850
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Black and white historical photo of people working in a field, using hoes, dressed in 19th-century clothing.
Fugitive Slave Act, 1850
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a woman wearing a white headscarf and shawl, seated beside a vase of flowers.
Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a Woman?” 1851
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A winter landscape with a horse-drawn wagon, travelers, and trees blanketed in snow.
Dame Shirley (Mrs. Clappe), Letters from a Western Pioneer, 1851–1852
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Golden Gate Bridge spanning the water with a city skyline in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Frank Lecouvreur, From East Prussia to the Golden Gate, 1851–1871
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Black and white portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a suit and bow tie.
Henry David Thoreau, “Slavery in Massachusetts,” 1854
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Bearded man in a hat, wearing a dark coat, seated against a dark background.
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, 1855
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A serene landscape featuring a steamboat and small boats on a tranquil lake surrounded by mountains and cloudy skies.
Art Analysis: Hudson River School Landscape Paintings, 1836–1868
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Photos of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas
Lincoln-Douglas Debates, 1858
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historic drawing of a large crowd in a grand hall, with people gathered for an event, featuring ornate architecture.
South Carolina Secession Debate, 1860
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A woman draped in white symbolizes progress, set against a landscape of livestock and settlers in the westward expansion era.
Art Analysis: American Progress by John Gast, 1872
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
A historical battle scene with cavalry, infantry, and artillery in action on a battlefield.
Chapter 8: The Civil War and Reconstruction 1860-1877
Unit - 3 Lessons

Unit

3 Lessons

Invites students to explore if the Civil War helped create a more perfect Union.
A historical photograph of a group of African American workers in a cotton field, posing together.
The Emergence of Black Codes DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

90 Min

Use this Lesson once students have a strong understanding of the rights of African Americans both before and after the passing of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. It would also be helpful for students to have read the O. O. Howard and the Freedmen’s Bureau and The Ku Klux Klan and Violence at the Polls Narratives.
90 Min
Political Cartoon of Abraham Lincoln
The Rhetoric of Abraham Lincoln DBQ
Lesson - 1 Activities

Lesson

1 Activities

85 Min

Use this Lesson in conjunction with the Abraham Lincoln and Emancipation Decision Point to have students analyze Abraham Lincoln's rhetoric throughout his presidency.
85 Min
Portrait of Andrew Johnson, the 17th President of the United States, in formal attire.
Comparing Impeachments across U.S. History
Lesson - 2 Activities

Lesson

2 Activities

75 Min

Use this Lesson alongside The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson Decision Point to introduce students to the concept of impeachment and how it has been used throughout U.S. history.
75 Min
Black and white photo of a group of people in a cotton field, posing with baskets of cotton.
Was the Civil War Fought Over Slavery?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

The injustice of slavery drove a division in the United States during the initial decades of the nineteenth century. But to what extent was slavery the fundamental cause of sectional differences that culminated in the Civil War? Brooks D. Simpson and John C. Waugh debate this challenging topic.
Abraham Lincoln's Cabinet
Did Abraham Lincoln Exceed His Presidential Powers during the Civil War?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Did Lincoln exceed his powers while leading the country through the turmoils of the Civil War? Mackubin Owens and Allen Guelzo debate this issue.
Historical illustration of the celebration of the Fifteenth Amendment with a parade and various attendees.
To What Extent Did American Principles Become a Reality for African Americans during Reconstruction?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Reconstruction witnessed some successes in bringing equality, liberty, and justice for African Americans. Brooks D. Simpson and John C. Waugh explore the lasting impact of Reconstruction policies on American principles.
A historic illustrated map titled "Scott's Great Snake," depicting a winding route through the United States with various landmarks.
J.B. Elliott, Scott’s Great Snake (Anaconda Plan), 1861
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Three historic cannons on a grassy field with a wooden house and church steeple in the background.
Daniel Emmett’s “Dixie” and Julia Ward Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” 1859 and 1861
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Document certifying land application for Daniel F. Hannan, dated January 20, 1868, from the Land Office at Homestead.
The Homestead Act of 1862
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historic scene depicting soldiers near makeshift graves, with a horse and figures in the background.
Mathew Brady, The Dead of Antietam Photography, 1862
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Depiction of a chaotic Civil War battle scene with soldiers, horses, and civilians amidst destruction.
Images of Total War: Sherman’s March to the Sea, 1865
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Cartoon depicting Lincoln and a caricatured figure repairing a map of the United States to symbolize Union restoration.
Cartoon Analysis: The “Rail Splitter” at Work Repairing the Union, 1865
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Men gathered in an office of the Freedmen's Bureau in Memphis, Tennessee, discussing assistance and support.
Comparing Views of the Freedmen’s Bureau, 1866
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historic courtroom scene with a jury, judge, and attorneys during a trial, depicting an 18th-century legislative assembly.
Andrew Johnson’s Veto of the Civil Rights Act, 1866
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
An illustration depicting a man standing with his arms outstretched, wearing torn clothing, against a textured background.
Cartoon Analysis: Thomas Nast on Reconstruction, 1869–1874
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
Historical photograph of a camp with tents and figures in a rural landscape.
Chapter 8 Introductory Essay: 1860-1877
Essay - 10636 Words

Essay

10636 Words

The Civil War and Reconstruction transform the U.S.
A black and white illustration of a ship sailing on rough waters with flags flying.
Fort Sumter and the Coming of the War
Essay - 2710 Words

Essay

2710 Words

Why was Fort Sumter the beginning of the Civil War?
Civil War battle scene with soldiers, cannons, and smoke, depicting chaos and conflict in a landscape.
The Battle of Antietam
Essay - 2523 Words

Essay

2523 Words

What was the impact of the battle of Antietam on the Civil War?
Civil War battle scene showing soldiers, fortifications, explosions, and a river in the background.
Gettysburg and Vicksburg: July 4, 1863
Essay - 2650 Words

Essay

2650 Words

Explore the impact of the Vicksburg and Gettysburg battles.
The cartoon shows policemen beating civilians with clubs. The civilian men also hold weapons. Several civilian men lie on the ground.
The Draft and the Draft Riots of 1863
Essay - 2400 Words

Essay

2400 Words

Why were some opposed to a draft during the Civil War?
Historical illustration of the 54th Massachusetts Colored Regiment's charge during the Civil War.
Robert Gould Shaw and the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment
Essay - 1937 Words

Essay

1937 Words

Explores the life and bravery of Robert Gould Shaw.
The photograph shows Rose Greenhow with her arm around her daughter.
Women during the Civil War
Essay - 2566 Words

Essay

2566 Words

How did women contribute to the war efforts on both sides?
Black and white portrait of a woman in 19th-century attire, standing with her hand on a table.
Mary Chesnut’s War
Essay - 2184 Words

Essay

2184 Words

Explores the story of Mary Chesnut and her Civil War diary.
Historical illustration of soldiers confronting a prisoner in a room, depicting a Civil War era scene.
Clement Vallandigham and Constitutionalism
Essay - 2567 Words

Essay

2567 Words

Were Clement Vallandigham's free speech rights violated?
Historical black-and-white image of workers constructing a railway track in an industrial setting.
William Tecumseh Sherman and Total War
Essay - 2403 Words

Essay

2403 Words

Was Sherman's policy of "total war" justified?
Men gathered in an office of the Freedmen's Bureau in Memphis, Tennessee, discussing assistance and support.
O. O. Howard and the Freedmen’s Bureau
Essay - 1957 Words

Essay

1957 Words

How did O.O. Howard fight for the rights of recently freed slaves?
Political cartoon depicting violence, oppression, and racial themes, featuring a shield and symbolic figures.
The Ku Klux Klan and Violence at the Polls
Essay - 2499 Words

Essay

2499 Words

How did the KKK suppress black rights in the 1860s and 1870s?
A historic painting of Abraham Lincoln with seven men in a room, seated around a table with documents.
Abraham Lincoln and Emancipation
Essay - 2746 Words

Essay

2746 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War impacted American ideals over the course of the war
An image of Union general Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate commander Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House as they agree to terms of Lee’s surrender
Grant and Lee at Appomattox
Essay - 2057 Words

Essay

2057 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the various factors that contributed to the Union victory in the Civil War.
Political cartoon depicting Andrew Johnson's Reconstruction policies with various scenes of citizens and protests.
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Essay - 2481 Words

Essay

2481 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain the effects of government policy during Reconstruction on society from 1865 to 1877.
Christopher Columbus Paideia Seminar Reflection
Activity

Activity

A follow-up activity to use after the seminar activity.
Christopher Columbus Paideia Seminar Individual Goal Bank
Activity

Activity

A student goal setting worksheet.
Handout with prompts for discussion starters, featuring sections on making points and responding to others.
Christopher Columbus Paideia Seminar Discussion Starters
Activity

Activity

A handout to start students on the discussion prompts for the Paideia Seminar.