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American history

American History Megasites
17th Century (1600s)
18th Century (1700s)
19th Century (1800s)
20th Century (1900s)
Civil Rights
Colonial America
Countries & Flags
Expansion & The West
Explorers
Ghost Towns
The Great Depression
Historic Documents
Immigration & citizenship
Imperialism
Industrial Revolution
Japanese-American Internment
Lewis & Clark Expedition

American history megasites

American Memory: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html

Search, browse and learn from the Historical Collections for the National Digital Library at the Library of Congress. Includes thousands of historical documents, maps, photographs, movies, and prints.
The American Revolution: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/revolution/

Check out the Boston Massacre, the English colonial era, and the birth of a new nation at The History Place Web site.
1492: An Ongoing Voyage: http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/Intro.html

What happened when Columbus arrived in America--and after?
Ad*Access: http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/adaccess/

This site archives over 7000 images from US and Canadian newspapers and magazines from 1911 through 1955. The site focuses on radio, television, transportation, beauty and hygiene, and World War II.
America's Story: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/

Read about Buffalo Bill, Frederick Douglass, Thomas Edison, Duke Ellington, Harry Houdini, and more. To go back in time click on the time period you want to learn more about. Learn short facts about each state. Watch videos and listen to audio here.
Famous Trials: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/ftrials.htm

Rosenberg trial, Salem Witch trials, Mississippi burning trial, and more.
History: The National Park Service : Ask a Question: http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/askhist.htm

Ask a historian anything about American history or the National Park Service and receive an answer back.
Library of Congress: American Treasures: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/

Thomas Jefferson's handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence, Maya Lin's original drawing for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the first motion picture deposited for copyright and more!
From Revolution to Reconstruction...and what happened afterwards: http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/

Descriptions of early American life, colonial times and on through the 20th century. Produced in the Netherlands.
Uncle Sam: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/SAM/home.htm

The American symbol, its origin, and history in US culture.
United States Postal Service: http://www.usps.com/history/his1.htm

Read about the history of the US Postal Service

Pilgrims & Puritans
Primary Documents
Salem Witch Trials
Thanksgiving

Colonial America megasites

The 13 Originals: Founding the American Colonies: http://www.timepage.org/spl/13colony.html

Short summaries of the founding and expansion of the colonies. An animation of the boundaries of the contiguous United States from 1650 to the present included.
Amusements in Colonial New England: http://noahwebsterhouse.org/amusements.html

This site provides background information about toys and games played in colonial times.
Colonial Currency: http://www.nd.edu/~rarebook/coins/ColCurrency/

By geography, this site provides images and information about colonial currency.
A Colonial Family and Community: http://www.hfmgv.org/education/smartfun/colonial/intro/

"Be a history detective. Go back in time and investigate the daily lives of the Daggetts, a colonial family from northeastern Connecticut. Collect clues to uncover answers to 7 questions about colonial life in the 1700s."
Colonial Hispanic America: http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/colony7.htm

Hispanic role in colonial America.
Colonial Kids: http://library.thinkquest.org/J002611F/

Explore this Thinkquest site that presents life in colonial American kids. What did they wear? Where did they live? What was school like? How did they travel? How did they learn a trade? Find answers at this site.
Chronicling Black Lives in Colonial New England: http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/1997/10/29/feat/feat.1.html

The Christian Science Monitor presents this article.
Colonial Williamsburg History: http://www.history.org/History/index.cfm

Find information about people, places, events and life in colonial America. The section on food includes recipes.
Pilgrim Clothing: Dress in Early New England: http://members.aol.com/calebj/clothing.html

Clothing of pilgrims, with illustrations and detailed explanations.
The Pilgrim's 1621 Thanksgiving: http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html

This page presents a transcript of the first Thanksgiving's activities, including what foods they actually ate. Present day comments accompany the text.
Rare Map Collection - Colonial America: http://www.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/colamer.html

Look at maps of the colonies.

British Colonies

America's Homepage: http://pilgrims.net/plymouth/

Learn interesting facts and tales about the Plymouth colony.
Colonial Williamsburg: http://www.history.org/

Visit Colonial Williamsburg and see life in a Virginia colony of 250 years ago.
Jamestown Rediscovery: http://www.apva.org/jr.html

Established in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia. Fort history, current exhibit, what has been found, and more.
How Do You Lose a Colony?: http://library.thinkquest.org/J002559/

What happened to the lost colony of Roanoke? Learn about the theories and facts here.
Virtual Tour of Plimoth Plantation: http://pilgrims.net/plimothplantation/vtour/index.htm

A reconstruction of the 1627 village occupied by the Pilgrims and more.

Dutch Colonies

Dutch Colonies: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/kingston/colonization.htm

Learn about Dutch colonization along the Hudson River.
The Role of the Dutch in the Iroquois War: http://www.lowensteyn.com/iroquois/

Learn about the history between the Dutch, French and Iroquois nation here.

French Colonies

The Fortress of Louisbourg: http://fortress.uccb.ns.ca/schoolnet/

Follow each brief page to learn about the 18th century town's community, fortress, and seaport.
Grand Portage National Monument: http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/us_nm/mn_grand.htm

Learn about the Grand Portage Trail and its significance to the French fur traders, now located in northeast Minnesota.
Fort Ouiatenon: http://www.tcha.mus.in.us/ouiatenon.htm

Discover the history of the fort, the people who built it and why at this site.
French Colonies in America: http://www.southalabama.edu/archaeology/french-colonies-in-america.htm

Between Verrazano's visit to the Atlantic coastline in 1524 and the end of the Seven Years War in 1763, the French colonized or visited nearly every corner of North America. You can visit many of their sites, either in person as a tourist or via the Web.
Heavens! My Ship!: http://maf.mcq.org/jeux/aaciel/

Follow the footsteps of one French explorer in this game to discover his identity.
Mission San Luis: http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/sanluis/facts/vol3.cfm

Explore the Quick Facts and Church Reconstruction sections to learn about French colonialism in San Luis, Florida.
Old Mobile: http://www.southalabama.edu/archaeology/old_mobile.htm

Explore this archeological site and learn about the fort's history through what has been discovered.

Pilgrims & Puritans

Pilgrim Hall Museum: http://www.pilgrimhall.org/plgrmhll.htm

Learn the pilgrim story, including whether there really was a Plimoth rock or not.
Pilgrims, Not Puritans: http://www.puritansermons.com/banner/logan1.htm

What is the difference between a pilgrim and a Puritan?
The Pilgrims' Religious Beliefs: http://members.aol.com/mayflo1620/religion.html

Find out what the pilgrims' religious beliefs here.

Primary Documents

A Plea for Religious Liberty: http://www.constitution.org/bcp/religlib.htm

The essay from Roger Williams, religious leader and one of the founders of Rhode Island, in the mid 1600s makes a case for religious liberty.
Colonial Charters, Grants, and Related Documents: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/states/statech.htm

Charters and documents for all the colonies.
Constitution of Plymouth Colony: http://personal.pitnet.net/primarysources/plymouth.html

Read this document in full at this site.
Crime and Punishment in Plymouth Colony: http://members.aol.com/mayfloweb/crime.html

This site lists Plymouth punishments for specific crimes in colonial times.
The First Thanksgiving Proclamation: http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/thanksgiv.shtml

1676 proclamation of Thanksgiving.
Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Colonial North America: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook07.html

Colonial charters and other political documents, accounts of voyages, and more.
John Robinson's Farewell Letter to the Pilgrims: http://members.aol.com/calebj/robinson_letter.html

John Robinson, pastor of the Pilgrims church in Leyden, wrote this farewell letter, which was read by John Carver to the Pilgrims gathered aboard the Mayflower just prior to their first attempted departure on August 5, 1620.
Laws Concerning Religion: http://puritanism.online.fr/puritanism/sources/valaws1619.html

From the Virginia general assembly in 1619.
The Liberties of New Englishmen: http://www.winthropsociety.org/liberties.php

This document laid the foundations for Massachucetts liberties in colonial time. It discusses the rights and responsibilites of men, women, children.
The Mayflower Compact: http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/mayflow.shtml

Full text of this 1620 document.
Internet Modern History Sourcebook: William Bradford: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1650bradford.html

From History of Plimoth Plantation by Bradford, who was one of the leaders of the English Puritan Separatists.
Wills of Mayflower Passengers: http://members.aol.com/mayflo1620/wills.html

This site provides the transcribed text of all known wills of Mayflower passengers.

Salem Witch Trials

Map of Salem Village: Witchcraft Accusations: http://jefferson.village.virginia.edu/~bcr/salem/salem.html

This site presents a map of the village and timeline presenting who and where witch accusations occurred in March 1692. Click on the red and blue dots next to the names to find out more about individuals accused. This site may be slow to download.
Salem Web: What about Witches: http://www.salemweb.com/guide/witches.shtml

An overview of the period in which this took place, including a chronology of events and a memorial to the people who died.
Salem Witch Museum: http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/

Includes an overview of the period and a FAQ page.
The Salem Witchcraft Papers: http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/texts/transcripts.html

Verbatim (word for word) transcripts of the legal documents of the Salem witchcraft outbreak of 1692.
Salem: Witch Trials: The World Behind the Hysteria: http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/

Learn this history of the trials, watch a multimedia movie, and read biographies of people representative of Salem at that time.
Salem: Witchcraft Hysteria: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/salem/

From the National Geographic, this site explores the Salem witch trials.
Witchcraft in Salem Village: http://etext.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/

The site's "purpose is to introduce.... collections relating to the infamous Salem Village Witchcraft Trials of 1692. This websiteis designed to provide accurate general information about these witchcraft events, as well as information on other aspects of Danvers' history.

Spanish Colonies

Internet Modern History Sourcebook: Colonial Latin America: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook08.html

Includes Aztec accounts of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico, biographies of Spaniards in the New World, and more.
Spanish Exploration and Conquest of Native America: http://www.floridahistory.com

Spanish explorers and their routes. Includes resources for teachers.
Historical Spanish Colonial and Mexican Recipes: http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/recipes.htm

Use these recipes to make authentic colonial meals.

18th Century (1700s)

American Revolution

And a New Nation is Born: http://www.alexandriacentral.org/cove/revolution.html

Learn about the events that led to the Revolutionary War.
Black Loyalists: Our History, Our People: http://collections.ic.gc.ca/blackloyalists/wireframe.htm

Discover how Canada became the first settlement of free blacks outside Africa and why slaves fought against the British.
The Betsy Ross Homepage: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/

Learn about Betsy Ross, creator of the original U.S. flag, her life, her home and more.
The Boston Tea Party: http://www.bostonteapartyship.com/history.asp

This site provides facts to help students understand the events that led to the Boston Tea Party.
Colonial Hall: A Look at America's Founders: http://www.colonialhall.com/index.php

Biographies of all of the founding fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. Each is approximately one page of text.
Cultural Maps: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MAP/map_hp.html

Territorial expansion of the US 1775-1920 and more.
Explore The Amazing World of Early America: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/

Early American historical documents, firsts, biographies, and milestone events, including The Whiskey Rebellion, the Declaration of Arms, the Paris Peace Treaty of 1783, the Northwest Ordinance, and Jays Treaty.
The Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention: http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/constitution_founding_fathers.html

Biographies of each of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention.
Monticello: Home of Thomas Jefferson: http://www.monticello.org/

Tour Jefferson's house, plantation, and farm, and find out about the lives of slaves, free workers, Jefferson, and his family.
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/

This Library of Congress site presents how religious freedoms and concerns helped form America.

19th Century (1800s)

19th Century megasites
American Sweatshops & Child labor
Amistad
California Missions
Civil War
Conservation Movement
The Expansion & the West
Gold Rush

19th Century megasites

A Day in the Life: History Game: http://pbskids.org/stantonanthony/

"Are you ready to walk a mile in someone else's shoes? Imagine what it would be like to live in another time, in another place, as some other person. How would your life be the same or different compared to today? See how you would survive a day in the life of one of these nineteenth-century boys and girls."
Old Sturbridge Village: http://www.osv.org/

Explore an 1830s village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
Pioneer Life in America: http://library.thinkquest.org/6400/

This Thinkquest site for younger kids presents information about pioneer life, hardships, towns, biographies of real pioneers, activities, quizzes, and more.

American Sweatshops & Child labor

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: A History of American Sweatshops 1820-Present: http://americanhistory.si.edu/sweatshops/intro/floorplan.htm

Click on the floorplan to begin the tour. The history, the practices and more.
Child labor and Child labor Reform in American history: http://history.osu.edu/Projects/ChildLabor/default.html

This Web project for an Ohio State University History assignment presents two stories: one of boys in American coal mines and one of girls in textile [cloth] factories.
The History Place: Child labor in America 1908-1912: http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/

Original photo captions to child labor photographs from the period.
The Story of My Cotton Dress: http://history.osu.edu/Projects/ChildLabor/CottonDress/

This site has photos and a child's story about her own experiences and observations while working. Scanned from The Child labor Bulletin, August 1914.

Amistad

Amistad: http://www.cultures.com/features/amistad/

This site gives a brief account of the Amistad event. Choose between an animated version or text version.
The Amistad Case: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/amistad/

From the National Archives and Records Administration, this site lists the documents involved and gives the background on the case.
The Amistad Case: 'Outright Plagiarism' or 'Who Owns History?': http://www.law.cornell.edu/background/amistad/

Cornell Law School presents a historical overview including documents and court cases of the Amistad occurence. Also, this site features information about the current court case against Dreamworks and the movie Amistad.
The Amistad Supreme Court Decision: http://amistad.mysticseaport.org/library/court/supreme/1841.01.decision.1.html

Provides full text of the decision.
Amistad Research Center: http://www.amistadresearchcenter.org/

Tulane University presents this online learning center about Amistad.

Conservation Movement

The Evolution of the Conservation Movement 1850-1920: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amrvhtml/conshome.html

A timeline of events throughout the conservation movement of the 19th and early 20th century.

Expansion & the West

Railroads

Annexation of Texas: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/texan01.htm

Congressional resolution to acquire Texas.
Colorado: Lore, Legend and Fact: http://ellensplace.net/hcg_fac.html

Historic activities and people of Colorado with clear images and photographs to complement the facts and tales.
Cooking: Pioneer Ways of Preparing and Cooking Meat: http://heritage.uen.org/resources/Wc4579ae1b93a0.htm

How did the pioneers prepare their meat for the long journey without it spoiling? Find out here. Click on Related Concepts: Cooking at the bottom of this page for other pioneer cooking information.
Cultural Maps: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MAP/map_hp.html

Territorial expansion of the US 1775-1920 and more.
Donner Party: http://www.donnerpartydiary.com

The creator of the site, Dan Rosen, says "In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Donner Party, I created a daily log of the Donner Party's journey. The daily logs include diary entries for each day, and quotes from original sources and histories."
The Expansion of the American West: http://www.americanwest.com/pages/westwrd2.htm

A timeline of major events and dates in western expansion.
Frontier Transportation: http://www.americanwest.com/pages/frontran.htm

A site with many links to horses, stagecoaches, and railroads. Check out "The StageCoach Robbery Mystery!"
A History of the Northwest Coast: http://www.hallman.org/indian/.www.html

A brief history of the first explorers, pioneers and traders of the Northwest coast.
Hudson's Bay Company History: http://www.hbc.com/hbcheritage/history/

The early years, adventurers, 20th century, life in the past, amazing archives and tales from the bay. Retail history for the company also.
Louisiana Purchase: http://www.gatewayno.com/history/LaPurchase.html

Brief description of the purchase and a map.
Making It Their Own: Women in the West: http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/westweb/pages/women.html

Biographies of western women, women's texts both primary and secondary, and a photographic section which complements the biographies and other information about women in the west.
New Perspectives on The West: http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/

The truth about the West is far more complicated, and much more compelling than generally known. Visit this websiteand explore The West. The site includes an interactive timeline tracing events from pre-Columbian times to the early twentieth century, an interactive map covering the territory and the times, Interactive biographical dictionary of historical figures, and games and puzzles to test your knowledge of the West.
Pioneer General reference: http://heritage.uen.org/resources/life_list.htm

What types of illnesses and diseases did pioneers have? How were buffalo chips resources to travelers? What games and toys did children have on the journey West?
Pony Express Home Station: http://www.xphomestation.com

Site maps, riders, history of the trail, museums, stations, statues, facts and a quiz about the Pony Express. A comprehensive site!
WestWeb: http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/westweb/

A topically organized websiteabout the study of the American West.

Railroads

Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum: http://cprr.org/Museum/faster.html

This site provides photographs of historic moments in railroad history.

Gold Rush

California Gold Rush
Klondike Gold Rush (Alaska)

California Gold Rush

California's Untold Stories: Gold Rush!: http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/

Take a virtual tour of Oakland Museum's Gold Rush exhibit.
The Discovery of Gold in California: http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist2/gold.html

From the Museum of the City of San Francisco, this site provides information about the gold rush, including a chronology of the gold rush (scroll down the page).
Gold Rush: http://www.calgoldrush.com/

The Sacramento Bee newspaper provides information about the California gold rush for the sesquicentennial anniversary. Includes the people's way of life, the people involved, travelling and the gold rush's legacy.
The Gold Rush: http://www.pbs.org/goldrush/

From PBS, this site provides a complete history, fun facts and classroom activities.

Klondike Gold Rush (Alaska)

Gold Rush Centennial Photographs: http://library.state.ak.us/goldrush/

The Alaska State Library invites you to look through diaries, newspapers, maps, photographs, government documents and things people used in their everyday lives to piece together history from the Klondike gold rush.
Gold Rush Centennial Photographs: http://www.library.state.ak.us/hist/goldrush/table.html

The Alaska State Library provides a collection of photographs covering life during the Klondike gold rush.
Gold Fever: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/gold/

PBS presents information about those who traveled to Alaska to discover gold. Find out what they took with them and what life was like then.
Klondike Gold Rush National Park: http://www.nps.gov/klgo/history.htm

Learn about the gold rush as people back then did, through the newspaper.
Dawson City: hhttp://www.yukonalaska.com/communities/dawsonhist.html

Learn about the history of Dawson City, one of the first cities incorporated during the gold rush.
Dawson City: http://www.dawsoncity.ca/

Learn about the history of Dawson City, one of the first cities incorporated during the gold rush. Read stories from the past, visit creeks panned for gold and more.
Klondike Special Report: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/klondike/

Special report by the Seattle Times about the gold rush. Includes photos, maps and more.
Stories from the Gold Rush: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/gold/gold2.html

Learn about the gold rush through the eyes of the postal service.

Immigrants & Immigration

Immigration megasites
Citizenship
Angel Island
Ellis Island

Immigrants
Immigration Today
Statue of Liberty
US Immigration Legislation

Immigration megasites

The American Immigration Home Page: http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/Immigration/

A good place to start, this site provides detailed information about immigration into the United States from 1607 to the present.
Immigration Fact Sheet: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/aboutus/history/teacher/Resources.htm

Chronology of immigration from the late 1800s and immigration information for today. Glossary of terms.
Immigration in American Memory: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/immig/immig.html

From the Library of Congress, this site explores America as it grows and has grown, the surge of immigrants in the early 20th century, and immigration today.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum Virtual Tour: http://www.tenement.org/Virtual_Tour/index_virtual.html

Learn about four families who lived in a tenement building in New York City's Lower East Side, between 1874 and 1923.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum: http://www.thirteen.org/tenement/

Another tour of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New York City, with information about the building's excavation, and a history of tenements.

Angel Island

Angel Island: http://www.angelisland.org/historic2.htm

Angel Island was the "Ellis Island" of the west and was the first stop in America for many immigrants, including the Chinese and Japanese. Includes a live webcam of the site!
Angel Island: http://www.donaldlaird.com/landmarks/counties/500-599/529.html

See photographs of the immigration station.

Ellis Island

Ellis Island: http://www.historychannel.com/ellisisland/index2.html

From the History Channel, this site gives a timeline of the island, create a family tree online, experience a day in the life on an Ellis Island immigrant, and more. Click on "Who Are You" to answer the many questions immigrants were asked at Ellis Island and see if you would have been admitted into the United States.
Ellis Island: http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/ellis_island.asp

The history and immigration of thousands to the United States in the early 20th century provided by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation.
Ellis Island: http://www.nps.gov/stli/serv02.htm

A historical overview, about the journey to Ellis Island, and Ellis Island today. From the National Park Service.

Immigrants

The Asian American Experience in the United States: http://www.askasia.org/images/teachers/documents/11.doc

A timeline with information about Asian immigration to the United States and notable events in the Asian-American experience.
Hispanic Threads in America: http://www.ma.iup.edu/Pueblo/latino_cultures/contrib.html

An introduction to the Hispanic American history and the many contributions Hispanic Americans have made to our country.
Irish-Catholic Immigration to America: http://memory.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/irish2.html

Irish Immigration to America

Citizenship

Citizenship: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/

This site for grades 3-5 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains what citizenship is, how someone becomes a citizen, and what their rights and responsibilities are as a citizen.
Citizenship: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6-8/

This site for grades 6-8 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains what citizenship is, how someone becomes a citizen, and what their rights and responsibilities are as a citizen.
Citizenship: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/

This site for grades 9-12 from Ben's Guide to US Government explains what citizenship is, how someone becomes a citizen, and what their rights and responsibilities are as a citizen.

Immigration Today

Am I Eligible?: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/require.htm

Find out what you would need to learn for the test to become a US citizen and look at sample test questions. Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view documents and questions.
General Naturalization Requirements: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/general.htm

Find out what the Immigration & Naturalization Services' general naturalization requirements are for becoming a US citizen.

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty: http://www.nps.gov/stli/prod02.htm

From the National Park Service, this site explains the statue's history and the size of the statue.
The Statue of Liberty: http://www.nyctourist.com/liberty1.htm

What does Liberty State Park and the Statue of Liberty look like today? Find out here.

US Immigration Legislation

Immigration and Naturalization Legislation from the Statistical Yearbook: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/shared/aboutus/statistics/legishist/LegisHist/index.htm

From the Immigration & Naturalization Services, this site is "a compilation of federal immigration and naturalization statutes in the United States provides an overview of the legislative history of immigration to the United States."
Text of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: http://www-marine.stanford.edu/HMSweb/cea.htm

This is the US Congressional act that excluded Chinese from immigrating to the US. This act was repealed in the 1940s.

Imperialism

Age of Imperialism: http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/toc.html

This site discusses the United States' colonization during the 19th and 20th centuries. A history of US expansion in the Pacific, Mexico, and Latin America.
Anti-Imperialism in the United States, 1898-1935: http://www.boondocksnet.com/ai/

Organizations involved in opposition to U.S. territorial and economic imperialism.

Industrial Revolution

Rise of Industrial America 1876-1900: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/timeline/riseind/riseof.html

The library of Congress highlights important events and traits of this economic revolution.
Internet Modern History Sourcebook: The Second Industrial Revolution: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook35.html

The history of the Industrial Revolution in America and its effect on economy and society.

Oregon History

Oregon Megasites
Portland History
Regional information (Oregon counties & Multnomah County cities)
Northwest Native American Tribes
Oregonians

Oregon Megasites

The Oregon Encyclopedia: http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/

"The Oregon Encyclopedia, an authoritative compendium of information on Oregon people, places, events, and institutions. Over the next several months, culminating in 2009 as part of Oregon's State Sesquicentennial, the Encyclopedia will grow to contain thousands of entries on Oregon history and culture written by knowledgeable authors, reviewed by experts, and meticulously checked to ensure accuracy."
Oregon 150: http://www.oregon150.org/

Celebrate the Oregon's sesquicentennial.
Oregon Historical Society: http://www.ohs.org/

General information, exhibitions, collections, and education.
The Barlow Family and Their Pioneer Toll Road: http://www.rootsweb.com/~genepool/barlowrd.htm

The Barlow house, the road and its history, and a summary of necessary provisions needed to reach Oregon territory.
Columbia River Gorge: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Washington/ColumbiaRiver/framework.html

History of the Gorge, volcanic history, maps and images, and more.
Echoes of Oregon History, 1837-1859: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/echoes/defaultechoes.html

Oregon territorial history summary and chronology of events as well as Oregon territory historical documents.
Historic Photos Database: http://photos.salemhistory.org/

From the Salem (Oregon) Public Library, this site "includes over 10,000 viewable photographs and related descriptions from the holdings of the Salem Public Library, the Oregon State Archives, and the Marion County Historical Society. The images date from the mid-1800s to the 1990s and depict a wide range of subjects such as Oregon towns, homes, businesses, occupations, scenic vistas, disasters, festivities, and recreational pursuits."
Historical Gazette: http://www.aracnet.com/~histgaz/

Published in Portland, Oregon, this paper presents historic stories and news from Oregon's past.
History of Oregon Names: http://www.webtrail.com:80/applegate/names.html

Animal names, creeks and disasters, colorful incidents and Josephine County names.
Northwest Missionaries: http://www.oregonpioneers.com/missions.htm

Brief information about the various missionaries of the Northwest.
Oregon Facts: Interesting Names and Places in Oregon: http://www.webtrail.com/applegate/oregon.html

Includes Oregon timeline, Oregon name controversy, Oregon name oddities, where Oregon names originated, and the history of Oregon names.
Oregon State Archives: 50th Anniversary Exhibit: http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/50th/50thintro.html

The Oregon State Archives provides a background on key personalities, events, and structures from Oregon history.
The Oregon Territory: http://www.oregonpioneers.com/ortrail.htm

Pioneers of the Oregon Territory up to and including 1855. This site includes missionaries, Native Americans, explorers, fur traders, French Canadians, and more.
Oregon Volcanoes and Volcanic Areas: http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Oregon/framework.html

Volcanic history, hazards and seismicity of Oregon mountains.
Pacific Fur Company: http://www.ttsd.k12.or.us/schools/cft/html/ftvan/nw_fur_comp.html

History of the Pacific Fur Company.
VanNatta Logging History Museum of Northwest Oregon: http://www.vannattabros.com/histlog.html

Information about the history of the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest.
The Political Graveyard: Oregon Offices: http://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/OR/kmindex.html

Summary of politicians' public offices, where they were born and died and what cemetery they were buried in. Maps of the neighborhoods surrounding the cemeteries are available.
Provisional Government: http://www.oregonpioneers.com/govt.htm

Summary of the provisional government in Oregon territories.
A Short History of a Long Journey, by John B. Wyeth: http://www.xmission.com/~drudy/mtman/html/jwyeth.html

An account of an Oregon expedition in 1833.
The Whitman Massacre by Mary Marsh Cason: http://gesswhoto.com/whitman.html

Oral history of the Whitman Massacre.
Whitman Mission National Historic Site: http://www.nps.gov/whmi/

Summary of the mission.

Ghost Towns

Ghost Towns: http://www.ghosttowns.com

A clickable map of ghost towns in U.S. and Canada. Includes information and photos.
Ghost Towns of Arizona: http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/az.html

Arizona ghost towns by county, with a brief history of each.
Bodie: http://www.AmericanWest.com/pages/bodie.htm

Ghost town in California. Includes the history with photographs.
Dodge City, Kansas: http://www.americanwest.com/pages/dodge.htm

"Dodge City is a pure definition of the West.... a gateway to history that began with the opening of the Santa Fe Trail by William Becknell in 1821 and became a great commercial route between Franklin, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico until 1880." Links to current and 19th century maps of the city."
Jerome, Arizona: http://www.AmericanWest.com/pages/jerome.htm

History and photographs.
Tombstone, Arizona: http://www.AmericanWest.com/pages/tombston.htm

Read the story and view the pictures about this famous pioneer town.

The Oregon Trail

All About the Oregon Trail: http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Allabout.html

Learn about where the pioneers "jumped off" (started their trips), how they camped, which animals they used to pull their wagons, and more!
Biographical Sketches of Black Pioneers and Settlers of the Pacific Northwest: http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/blakbios.html

African Americans who were part of the Oregon Trail.
End of the Oregon Trail History Library: http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/histhome.html

This site answers frequently asked questions about the Oregon Trail, tells about covered wagons, and even has pictures of Oregon City during famous floods.
End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center: http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/eotic.html

The living history of the trail at the center in Oregon City.
Fantastic Facts about the Oregon Trail: http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Facts.html

Would you pay $100 for a glass of water? What did the pioneers use buffalo dung for? You've heard about covered wagons-but what other kinds of wagons did the pioneers use? This site has many fascinating facts!
Historic Sites on the Oregon Trail: http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Sites.html

Read about 22 famous sites along the trail.
The Oregon Trail: http://www.isu.edu/~trinmich/Oregontrail.html

The story of the trail and those who traveled it.
Oregon Trails in Oregon: http://tomlaidlaw.com/clickable/clickable.html

Clickable map of the Oregon Trail (other Oregon trails to come), including images of the trail. Click on the towns along the trail to find more information. This site spawns a new browser window.
Triumph & Tragedy: Women's Voices From the Oregon Trail: http://www.opb.org/programs/womensvoices/

From Oregon Public Broadcasting, this site provides information about women on the Oregon Trail.

Plantations

About Drayton Hall: http://www.draytonhall.org/about/

Tour historic Drayton Hall, a plantation built in 1742 in Charleston, South Carolina.
Historic Latta Plantation: http://www.lattaplantation.org/

Check out the For Kids section to learn about toys and games, take a virtual tour of the plantation, or learn the history of it and the family that lived there.
George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens: http://www.mountvernon.org/

Tour the mansion and grounds of George Washington's home.

Trails West

Pioneers: http://heritage.uen.org/pioneers/historical.html

Biographies of various pioneers who traveled to the American west.
Pioneer General reference: http://cvip.fresno.com/~jsh33/west.html

Western expansion along the American trails. Travel on the trails, diseases, the importance of buffalo, toys and games, cooking on the trails, and more.
The Applegate Trail: http://webtrail.com/applegate/

The Applegate Trail, the southern route of the Oregon Trail, established in 1846.
The Chilkoot Trail: http://bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/north/trails/chilkoot.htm

The Chilkoot Trail, the route to the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon, Canada.
Chisholm Trail Information: http://www.onthechisholmtrail.com/cti_info.htmll

Follow this site for links, photographs and general information about the life and times of this historic cattle trail.
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail: http://www.nps.gov/lecl/

National Park Service provides this site with information about the general route, the trail today, and much more. See also Lewis & Clark Expedition
The Mormon Pioneer Trail: http://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/mormtrl.htm

Details the Mormon Pioneer Trail, courtesy of the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation
Pony Express Information: http://www.americanwest.com/trails/pages/ponyexp1.htm

Information and images of the pony express.
The Overland Trail: http://www.over-land.com/

The Overland Trail, established in 1862, went from Julesburg, Colorado to Fort Bridger, Wyoming where it joined the Oregon Trail. Look at the route, stations, stops, and landmarks, and biographies of people along the trail.
Pony Express Home Station: http://www.xphomestation.com

Site maps, riders, history of the trail, museums, stations, statues, facts and a quiz about the Pony Express. A comprehensive site!
The Interactive Santa Fe Trail Homepage: http://www.kansasheritage.org/research/sft/

A history of the trail and trail-cam of present-day locations along the trail!

Women's Suffrage Movement

The 19th Amendment: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents/amendment_19/

From the National Archives and Records Administration, this site provides images and information about the women's suffrage movement and the 19th Amendment allowing women to vote.
History of Women's Suffrage: http://www.rochester.edu/SBA/suffragehistory.html

From the Anthony Center for Women's Leadership, this site presents a history of women's suffrage and biographies of significant women in the movement.
Political Culture and Imagery of American Woman Suffrage: http://www.nmwh.org/exhibits/exhibit_frames.html

This exhibit examines the development of a distinct female political culture and imagery that evolved to promote voting rights for women.
One Hundred Years toward Suffrage: An Overview: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/naw/nawstime.html

A short timeline of the women's suffrage movement from 1776 to 1923.
Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: http://www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/l

Companion websiteto Ken Burns' and Paul Barnes' film, "Not For Ourselves Alone": "Experience the work of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony - Track key events in the suffrage movement, delve into historic documents and essays, and take a look at where women are today."
A History of the American Suffrage Movement: http://www.suffragist.com/

Discover biographies, timelines, photographs and important documents, and excerpts from the book of the same name.
International Women's Suffrage: http://www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/wherearewe/suffrage_rights.html

Discover what countries around the world have employed equal rights to men and women.
Votes for Women: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/naw/nawshome.html

The library of Congress presents history of and information on women's suffrage.
Woman Suffrage and the 19th Amendment: http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/woman-suffrage/

National Archives and Records Administration provide this detailed websiteabout women's right to vote.

20th Century (1900s)

20th Century Megasites
20th Century Historic Audio Clips
The 1900s & Immigration
The 1910s & World War I
The 1920s & Flappers
The 1930s &The Great Depression

The 1940s & World War II
The 1950s, Korean War and the Cold War
The 1960s, & Vietnam
The 1970s & Watergate
The 1980s, Reagan & Fall of Communism
The 1990s & Persian Gulf

20th Century Megasites

The 20th Century: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/

America in the 20th Century -- Children at work, Theodore Roosevelt, the San Francisco earthquake, early automobiles, Harry Truman and more.
As Time Passes: The History of 20th Century America.: http://library.thinkquest.org/C007481/

This Thinkquest timeline briefly summarizes the major events in each decade throughout the 20th century.
American Cultural History: The Twentieth century: http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decades.html

This site is to help the reader gain a broad understanding and appreciation for the culture and history of 1900-1989 (by decade) in American history. Topics for each decade include historic events, technology, books, music, fashion and fads, personalities, education, theater, film, radio, television and more.
American Radicalism: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/collections/index.cfm?CollectionID=1

Michigan State University Library's collection of pamphlets, posters, letters, and other items from radical movements from the left and the right. Includes materials from Students for a Democartic Society, the Industrial Workers of the World, Sacco & Vanzetti, the Black Panthers, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Hollywood Ten.
Cultural Maps: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~MAP/map_hp.html

Territorial expansion of the US 1775-1920 and more.
People's Century: 1900-1999: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/peoplescentury/

PBS Online presents the history of important events throughout the century.
Time 100: http://www.time.com/time/time100/

This site presents 100 influential people and events of the 20th century.
Time 100: 1900 vs. Now: http://www.time.com/time/time100/timewarp/timewarp_us.html

This site compares today's US population, age, wages, marriages & divorces, doctors, energy, farms, and more with those of 1900.

20th Century Historic Audio Clips

Historic Audio Archives: http://matrix.msu.edu/resources/audio.html

From Michigan State University's MATRIX Center, this site offers many links to historic audio clips.
History and Politics Out Loud: http://www.hpol.org/

Read or listen to John F. Kennedy's inauguration speech, Franklin D. Roosevelt's war declaration on Japan and more.

The 1900s & Immigration

Immigration
Harlem Renaissance

Harlem Renaissance

The 1910s & World War I

The 1920s, Prohibition & Flappers

Flappers
Prohibition
Scopes Monkey Trial

Flappers

Flapper Station: http://home.earthlink.net/~rbotti/

Music, fashion, autos and more from the roaring '20s.
The Jazz Age: Flapper Culture and Society: http://www.geocities.com/flapper_culture/

Music, fashion, autos and more from the roaring '20s.
Flapper Fashion: http://www.rambova.com/fashion/fash4.html

Flapper fashion descriptions with accompanying illustrations.

Prohibition

The 1920s: http://www.pickens.k12.sc.us/lhsteachers/gwinnlp/1920s_trends.htm

Discover what the trends and people of the 20s were like including sports, fashion, art, politics and more.
Anti-Saloon League 1893-1933: http://www.wpl.lib.oh.us/AntiSaloon/

This league's crusade lead to constitutional ammendment for prohibition.
Temperance & Prohibition: http://prohibition.osu.edu/

This page provides links to material on American prohibition. From the Ohio State University Department of History, maintained by Professor K. Austin Kerr.

Scopes Monkey Trial

Scopes Monkey Trial July 10, 1925 - July 25, 1925: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG97/inherit/1925home.html

Relive the trial through this site's summary of events.
Scopes Monkey Trial: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/scopes/scopes.htm

Tennessee vs. John Scopes: The Monkey Trial.

The 1930s

The Dust Bowl
The Great Depression
The Lindberg Baby Trial
The New Deal
Social Security

The Dust Bowl

Surviving the Dust Bowl: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dustbowl/

This site from PBS Online presents maps, a timeline and people and events of the Dust Bowl.
Voices From the Dust Bowl: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/afctshtml/tshome.html

The library of Congress American Memory site presents photos and histories of people of the Dust Bowl.

The Great Depression

America: From Great Depression to World War II: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsowhome.html

A photo history of this time.
America's Great Depression: http://www.amatecon.com/greatdepression.html

Explore the causes of the Depression.
I Remember...: http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18670_18793-53511--,00.html

Reminiscences of the Great Depression.
Internet Modern History Sourcebook: The Depression: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook41.html

Learn how World War I, Europe, and the US influenced the causes of the Depression.
Riding the Rails: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rails/

This PBS American Experience site presents the story of the tens of thousands of teens who lived on the road in America during the Depression.

The New Deal

New Deal Network: http://newdeal.feri.org/

This site from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute provides a photo gallery, online resources about the New Deal, FDR, and the Great Depression, the New Deal document library and more.
Work Pays America: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/new_deal_for_the_arts/work_pays_america.html

Learn about the WPA project in America during the Depression.

Social Security

A History of Social Security: http://www.ssa.gov/history/history.html

Learn about why Social Security was created and how it came about at this site.
Social Security Numbers: http://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/ssncards.html

How did the government first assign social security numbers to American workers? Who was issued the first card? Who designed the card? What do social security numbers stand for? Find out here.

The 1940s

A Gateway to African American history from 1940 to 1975: The Movement: http://cuip.uchicago.edu/schools/nkocs/AAH/index.htm

Links to sites on all aspects of African American history, from the North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School in Chicago.
For European Recovery: The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Marshall Plan: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/marshall/

Marshall's reconstruction plan for Europe following World War II.

The 1950s

McCarthyism

Blacklist: http://www.moderntimes.com/palace/blacklist.htm

Anti-communism at its height led to the creation of the Blacklist which listed public personalities whose political loyalties were questionable.
Senator Joseph McCarthy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_McCarthy

Learn about McCarthy's life and McCarthyism effort from this peer-reviewed Wikipedia article.
McCarthyism: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAred.htm

Learn about how anti-communism grew in the early part of the 20th century up through McCarthyism of the 1950s. Discover information about communist spies, historic court cases, investigators, informers, blacklisted people, and more.

The 1960s

The Psychedelic '60s: http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/sixties/

An exhibit from the University of Virginia. Photos and information about this time.

Equal Rights Movement

The Equal Rights Amendment: http://www.equalrightsamendment.org/

Read the full text of the proposed amendment, and learn about its history, from the National Oranization for Women.
The Feminist Chronicles: http://www.feminist.org/research/chronicles/part2.html

A chronology of events from 1953-1993.

The 1970s

Jonestown Massacre
Kent State Shooting
Jackson State Shooting
Symbionese Liberation Army
Vietnam War
Watergate

A Gateway to African American history from 1975 to the Present: http://cuip.uchicago.edu/schools/nkocs/AAH/recent.htm

Links to sites on all aspects of African American history, from the North Kenwood/Oakland Charter School in Chicago.

Jonestown Massacre

Jonestown Massacre + 20: http://www.cnn.com/US/9811/18/jonestown.anniv.01/

Twenty years after this massacre, CNN looked at the event and the man behind it, Jim Jones.

Kent State Shooting

Inquire, Learn, Reflect: May 4, 1970, Years of Remembrance: http://speccoll.library.kent.edu/4may70/exhibit/

Webpage for a 1995 exhibit at the Kent State University Library. Includes a chronology of the events of May 1-4, 1970 as well as memorials and other literature produced by the University community since the event.
The May 4 shootings at Kent State University: The Search for Historical Accuracy: http://dept.kent.edu/sociology/lewis/lewihen.htm

Document about what really led to the Kent State shootings, complete with references, notes, and bibliography.

Jackson State Shooting

The May 1970 Tragedy at Jackson State University: http://www.may41970.com/Jackson%20State/jackson_state_may_1970.htm

A detailed history of the event.

Symbionese Liberation Army

Symbionese Liberation Army: http://www.rickross.com/reference/symbionese/symbionese17.html

SLA Timeline.
Symbionese Liberation Army: http://www.courttv.com/trials/soliah/slahistory_ctv.html

Court TV details the SLA from its inception.
Symbionese Liberation Army: http://www.rickross.com/groups/symbionese.html

Learn about the SLA through a variety of newspaper articles.

US-Iranian Hostage Crisis

Iran Hostage Crisis: http://www.bartleby.com/65/ir/Iranhost.html

A brief summary of this historical event of the late 70s.
Iranian Hostage Crisis: http://www.jimmycarterlibrary.org/documents/hostages.phtml

Links with excerpts from from a hostage diary, and a brief summary of the event.
Iran Hostage Crisis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Hostage_Crisis

This Wikipedia entry includes an overview of events and many links to biographies, and history, including a link to a picture gallery which was shot from within and around the embassy during the crisis.

Watergate

Watergate 25: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/front.htm

This site provides an introduction to the most famous political scandal in American history.

The 1980s

Fall of Communism
Iran-Contra Affair
Ronald Reagan

Fall of Communism

Fall of Communism in East/Central Europe: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/dr/17672.htm

United States Department of State presents a brief overview of the fall of Communism in East/Central Europe.
The Fall of the Wall: http://www.chronikderwende.de/english/overview.jsp

This short timeline explains events leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Iran-Contra Affair

Iran Contra Timeline: http://www.inthe80s.com/scandal.shtml

Brief overview of Iran Contra events and personalities from 1980-1992
Final Report of the Independent Counsel for Iran/Contra Matters: http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/source.htm

Independent Counsel's final report on the affair.

The 1990s

Columbine High School Shooting
Oklahoma City Bombing
Persian Gulf War

Columbine High School Shooting

Columbine High School Massacre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_Massacre

This Wikipedia site presents an article including a timeline and information about the Columbine High School shootings.

Oklahoma City Bombing

Oklahoma Bombing Chronology: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/oklahoma/stories/chron.htm

A timeline of the bombing of the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.

September 11, 2001

September 11, 2001: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/attacked/sept11/

"Post coverage of the worst attack on American soil"
September 11: Bearing Witness to History: http://americanhistory.si.edu/september11/

Smithsonian National Museum of American History's online exhibit of all things relating to 9/11.

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3214/06.html

PBS/Nova website devoted to all things Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina: http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/nationalspecial/index.html

New York Times coverage of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.