Today in History–May 10–the Library of Congress features the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis by Union troops on this day in 1865. The capture thwarted Davis’ plan to escape by sea from the east coast of Florida and then to sail to Texas where he hoped to establish a new Confederacy. He was sent, along with his family, to Fort Monroe in Virginia. There he was placed in solitary confinement and indicted for treason but was never tried. Davis was released two years later, in May … [Read more...]
Integrating Technology: Primary Source Crowdsourcing Campaigns
May 6, 2019 by Leave a Comment
By the People is a Library of Congress project that invites anyone to transcribe, review, and tag digitized images of manuscripts and typed materials from the Library’s collections. This is a great literacy activity for students. Come check it out by clicking the links below! By the People Campaigns Branch Rickey: Changing the Game Civil War Soldiers: "Disabled Not Disheartened Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield Letters to Lincoln Mary Church Terrell: Advocate for African … [Read more...]
Learning from the Source: Addressing the Gettysburg Address
November 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment
This lesson may be completed in whole or in part, depending on the needs of your students and the time that you have. FOCUS QUESTION In what ways is equality a proposition, or belief, worth fighting for? LESSON OVERVIEW Students will consider whether equality is important to our democracy as they develop a deep understanding of the literary and historical value of the Gettysburg Address through a game-based close reading of the text. LESSON OBJECTIVES Analyze primary sources … [Read more...]
NHD 2019: U.S. History Civil War to Late 19th Century
August 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The First Battle of Bull Run: Anticipated Union Triumph Leads to Tragedy Today in History: First Battle of Bull Run brief background & primary sources Related resources Today in History: Second Battle of Bull Run Civil War primary sources, secondary sources, teaching resources The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Transcontinental Railroad Today in History: Transcontinental Railroad Completed primary sources, secondary sources, related resources Reconstruction: … [Read more...]
Today in History: Juneteenth
June 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–June 19–TPS-Barat features Juneteenth. On this date in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, informing the slaves of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued two and a half years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln. Although Juneteenth was informally celebrated each year since 1865, it wasn't until June 3, 1979, that Texas became the first state to proclaim it an official state holiday. Today more than 40 officially recognize … [Read more...]
Integrating Technology: Making Myriopticons
May 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment
OK, so this post isn't about digital technology but it does present an idea for combining history with a maker lab of sorts that incorporates math, engineering and art. Let's take a look at a blog post from In Custodia Legis, which features, “A Historical Panorama of the Rebellion” myriopticon, a toy manufactured by Milton Bradley around 1865. "The myriopticon was an educational device targeted at prepubescent boys that consists of a box containing a painted scroll and two scroll tubes. A key … [Read more...]
Today in History: Clara Barton & the Red Cross
May 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–May 21–TPS-Barat features Clarissa "Clara" Barton, who founded the Red Cross on this date in 1881. A former teacher, Barton was working in the U.S. patent office at the start of the Civil War. Despite having little nursing training, Barton administered aid to soldiers at several battlefields. After the war she established the Missing Soldier Office in Washington, D.C., led the effort to establish a national cemetery at Andersonville Prison, and, in 1881, founded the American Red … [Read more...]
Collection Spotlight: Works by Civil War Era African American Women
March 28, 2018 by Leave a Comment
These digitized works were written by and about African American women who lived during the U.S. Civil War and include autobiographies, biographies, children’s books, novels, poetry, speeches and more. The authors and the works are listed below; click the section headers to access links to the online works. Some authors also have related resource links. Autobiographies & Biographies Sarah H. Bradford 1818-1912 Harriet, the Moses of Her People 1886 Scenes in the Life of … [Read more...]
Timely Connections: Immigrant Soldiers
November 7, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The United States is a nation of immigrants, many of whom have served the country in times of need. Below you will find links to news articles about immigrant soldiers, historical background resources, and related primary sources and teaching resources. How does studying sources from the past inform your understanding of the contemporary debate surrounding immigrants in the U.S. armed forces? Articles 2018 U.S. Army Discharges Immigrant Soldiers Seeking Citizenship NPR July 6, … [Read more...]
Timely Connections: Slavery & Compromise
November 2, 2017 by Leave a Comment
In a Fox News interview with White House chief of staff John Kelly on Oct. 30, 2017, the former marine general said that “the lack of an ability to compromise led to the Civil War”. Kelly's statement set off a firestorm of impassioned responses across traditional and social media about the cause of the Civil War and the history of slavery and compromise prior to this seminal event. Read some of the contemporary articles, review background information about compromises over slavery prior to the … [Read more...]
General Order No. 3 informed slaves in Texas of the Emancipation Proclamation. Check out our 
Statue of Liberty arrived in New York. Check out our 
Countries met to plan rebuilding of Europe. Check out our