U.S. Historical Chronology

Reconstruction and Industrialism: 1865 - 1900

The 1900 House - Grades 4-12 - The house is English, not American, but this site from the BBC/PBS series of the same name is a great way for students to experience what life was actually like for an urban family in 1900. You can learn everything from how to start the kitchen stove to what teenagers used for shampoo (ugh!). Try combining this one with a similar site about life on the American Frontier.

Advertising in America - Grades 6-12 - The Library of Congress has created a site which presents information and images from early American adverstising efforts - 1860-1920. The site uses the Library's standard HTML layout, and as usual, the stars of the exhibit are the archival images that have been digitized and included. If advertising is a measure of society's interests, this site offers a unique glimpse into the past.

Freedmen and Southern Society Project - Grades 8-12 uses excerpts from a series of books depicting the emancipation era. The text is in the words of the participants. Included are writings by liberated slaves and defeated slaveholders, soldiers and civilians, common folk and the elite both "Northerners" and "Southerners." Because the text includes hypertext entries, students can find additional information, thus making the text more meaningful to them. The site provides a very rich experience.

Stephen Collins Foster - Grades 6-12 - This site from the University of Pittsburgh traces the life and songwriting career of Pittsburgh native Stephen Foster. Foster's music is seen by many as helping to define American culture during this period. This site offers interesting research material, as well as more detailed content for the advanced student.

Hayes vs. Tilden - Grades 6-12 - Compare the 2000 election controversy to the 1876 presidential election, in which the Electoral College ended up deciding the presidency. This site is especially noteworthy for its use of historical political cartoons and its day-by-day recounting of the events following the general election. From Harpweek.com, which creates resources from archival editions of Harper's Weekly.

The Haymarket Drama - Grades 9-12 - While this comprehensive site about the Chigago labor unrest of 1886 offers seemingly endless narrative, its most useful feature is probably the collection of archival images, cartoons, and photos from the period. These give students a far better feel for the passion of the era. This site would be useful in a comparative study of labor history, or for a lesson on media reporting of news events. There's also plenty of research information.

The Klondike Gold Rush - Grades 5 - 8 - Great for kids, with information on the gold rush, Alaska, and the Yukon.

Klondike Gold Rush Curriculum Materials - Teachers - While designed primarily for students in Washington state, this lengthy narrative on the Klondike gold rush could form the basis for a gold rush unit anywhere. While short on visuals, the site includes a number of suggestions for classroom presentations and activities, as well as an extensive bibliography. If you want to "create your own," the raw materials are all here.

The Chicago Fire and Memories - Grades 6 and up is divided into two main parts: The first part is titled "The Great Chicago Fire" has five chapters focusing on the fire and the city's recovery. The second part is called "The Web of Memory" and examines ways in which the fire has been remembered: eyewitness accounts, contemporary journalism, and popular illustrations. Each section includes electronic images of a great range of artifacts, a library of relevant texts, and an essay. An excellent site for students interested in studying this historical event in depth.

Tenements of New York's lower east side - Grades 6 and up - History, pictures, and vignettes about the tenements and those who lived there. From WNET.

American Themes
Historical Chronology
Original Documents
US History Lessons
TeachersFirst Content Matrix