U.S. Historical Chronology

Federalism through the Antebellum period: 1800 - 1860

Updated: June 6, 2001

California As I Saw It - Grades 6-12 - The Library of Congress has collected original writings by settlers and explorers in California during the period 1850-1900. Indexed by author, subject, and title, this site offers lots of starting points for talented students interested in using primary source materials for research in history or social studies.

The Constitutional Convention - Grades 5 and up - Basic on-line article.

Lawmaking for a New Nation - Grades 9-12 - Early Congressional Journals - From the Library of Congress. This site offers access to journals of the first U.S. Congresses. These journals were the precursor to today's Congressional Record. Primary source material for study of the Federalist period.

Lewis & Clark - Grades 6-12 - This is the web site for Ken Burns' PBS series on the travels of Lewis and Clark. It provides a significant resource for studying the explorers' travels, along with study suggestions.

The Lewis & Clark Expedition - Grades 4-6 - The National Geographic Society authored this site dealing with the Lewis & Clark Expedition. It offers an elementary "you're on board" version of the famous expedition. Students will learn the basics of who, what, where, and when, and the format is entertaining.

Liberty and Limits - Grades 5-12 - This site is from the PBS series of the same name, and it introduces the political and constitutional questions which were debated in the Federalist Papers. The site offers texts, examples of the issues under discussions, and a selection of alternatives illustrating the varying points of view. Good introduction to the dialogue over how the federal government was to operate. Teachers should be able to work with the material at several levels.

The Making of America - Grades 6-12 - Cornell University created this site based on a collection of magazines and other printed materials covering the period from roughly 1840 - 1890. The listings show images of the actual pages from the journals, so students can see images and text as they originally appeared. This makes the site a great way for students to understand just what people of the period were seeing and reading.

War of 1812 - Grades 9-12 - An online quiz about the war from Canada's Schoolnet site.

War of 1812 - Fort Erie Home Page - Grades 9-12 - Information and links about the War of 1812.

The Star Spangled Banner - Grades 6-12 - This site from the Smithsonian documents the historic importance of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the song that has become our national anthem. The site, apparently still under construction, includes a resource page for teachers.

War of 1812 - Key Events - Grades 9-12 - From an AP American History syllabus.

The Mexican American War - Grades 9-12 - Here's a site from the PBS station in Dallas that examines the reasons behind the Mexican American War (1846-1848). This is one of the nation's least-studied conflicts, so this resource could be particularly helpful to American History teachers.

The California Gold Rush - Grades 4-8 - This site is part of Discovery Online "Wayback" series of whimsical looks at various historical periods. Still, the approach doesn't get in the way of the content - an overview of the whys and hows of the California gold rush.

The Making of America - Grades 9-12 - Journal and periodical articles from antebellum period through reconstruction. Most articles are images of the actual publication. From the University of Michigan.

Abraham Lincoln Online - Grades 6 and up - An extensive online collection of Lincoln information. Relatively new site with additional information constantly added. Grade level of these resources varies widely.

Lincoln, Douglass, and Black Emergence (Literature and Politics, 1840-1865) by Michael S. Guzzio, Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute - Language Arts/Social Studies - Grades 7-8 - This multicultural unit combining elements of political history, American literature, and film emphasizes reading and writing skills. Through analysis of writings by Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, students discover the "relationship of Black and Whites from the late slavery period to the Civil War." A critical look at the movie "Glory" brings the unit to a close.

A Time Remembered - Grades 6-12 - Treasured moments from the 1850s are relived in the archived collection of Godey’s Lady’s Book, the periodical that many scholars say changed the role of the American woman. Each book is full of poetry, sketches and articles by well-known authors of the time. From the University of Rochester.

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