Examines the nature of 19th century U.S. nationalism. Contends that a by-product of it was the emergence of a political atmosphere which was not conducive to critical questioning of government policies which violated Indian rights, propelled the country into an unjust war with Mexico, and allowed the mistreatment of millions of blacks. (BSR)

Presents a lesson plan for teaching about the role of African-American religious leaders in the U.S. civil rights movement. Provides scripts with which students play the roles of various members of a community. Explains that students decide which speakers would be most likely to lead the local civil rights movement. (SG)

Briefly outlines the ways race and technology shaped: (1) the early enslavement of African Americans; (2) the work of bondsmen and women during the antebellum era; and (3) the increasing urbanization of the African American population during the industrial age. (CMK)

Explains that the marginal position of Chinese in Mississippi, neither white nor black, played a vital role in the development of their identity. Discusses the social, economic, and cultural influences that produced a Chinese American community in the south markedly different from the one in California. (MJP)

Discusses the history of the black baseball experience. Describes formation of the black leagues, the players, and the discrimination they faced in baseball in the United States. Explains how the early black players introduced new aspects to the major leagues that transformed and improved the quality of play. (DK)

Presents a lesson plan in which students explore the impact of industrialization on agriculture, the experience of William Ellison, a free black cotton gin mechanic, and the skills that Ellison needed. Students discuss handwritten documents, diagrams, and census information related to the cotton gin. Includes a bibliography and four handouts. (CMK)

Contends that poetry is a particularly useful and engaging vehicle for revealing the complexities of a historical moment. Outlines three exercises on poetry and history designed as adjunct activities that may be used with the specified historical periods. Focuses on the experiences of African Americans. Includes three handouts with reading…

Provides an historiographic overview of the North American Spanish borderlands, focusing on changes and various topics, such as defending or attacking missionaries. Addresses what teachers can do who are in search of a point of entry into the borderlands literature. (CMK)

Discusses five topics on African Americans that are essential to studying United States History in the years between 1760 and 1830: (1) African Americans in the Revolutionary War ; (2) the rise of free black communities; (3) early abolitionism; (4) the spread of slavery; and (5) black resistance to slavery. (CMK)

Describes a lesson that focuses on the strike organized by the African-American washerwomen in Atlanta (Georgia) in order to protect their autonomy and increase their pay. Explains that the laundry workers' protest contrasted the image of complacent Southern workers depicted by the city's business and political elite. (CMK)

Offers historical information on the underground railroad, a secret organization that attempted to move slaves from bondage to freedom. Focuses on William Still, one of the most effective organizers of the underground railroad, and the story of his family. Addresses the reunion between Still and his brother Peter. (CMK)

Presents a lesson on Betsey Sompayrac, a free woman of color living in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Focuses on her will and its contents and historical issues surrounding the will. Students transcribe the will and write a paper, drawing conclusions from the document. Includes a transcription of the will and the document assignment. (CMK)

Describes the book, "Amazing Grace: An Anthology of Poems about Slavery 1660-1810." Presents poems, written by 250 writers, that focus on slavery during the 150 year period. Provides examples of materials included in this book and how it can enable students to increase their understanding of slavery. (CMK)

Focuses on the experience of African Americans during World War II on the homefront and in the armed forces. States that African Americans not only fought fascism overseas but also apartheid in the United States, also known as the "Double V." (CMK)

Describes the migration of African Americans in the United States and the reasons why African Americans migrated from the south. Focuses on issues, such as the effect of World War I, the opportunities offered in the north, and the emergence of a black industrial working class. (CMK)