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Colonial Period
 Websites presented in alphabetical order The American Colonist's Library: A Treasury of Primary Documents 
 A "collection of historical works which contributed to the formation of American politics, culture, and ideals." Arranged chronologically, the site links to a myriad of sources for these full-text documents. From a high school social studies teacher. http://www.edline.net/pages/Catholic_Central_High_School/Classes/03842501/library Topics: Literature & Books, United States History Last updated Oct 11, 2005 The Boston Tea Party: Costume Optional?
This lesson plan (for grades 6-8) focuses on "What really happened at the Boston Tea Party? How can we 'know' what happened at an historical event of the distant past?" It features activities, and links to primary source readings and related websites. Includes a link to a lesson plan about other revolutionary tea parties. From EDSITEment, a joint project of the National Endowment for the Humanities and other organizations. http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=397 Topics: U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Dec 4, 2006 The Capture of Fort William & Mary
This online exhibit is "almost exclusively based upon the work of Charles Lathrop Parsons (b. 1867) and was created by scanning in the N.H. Historical Society reprint of Parsons' published work, 'The Capture of Fort William and Mary, December 14 and 15, 1774' (1903)." A few related documents are included. Part of the University of New Hampshire Digital Library Project. http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/exhibits/capture-of-fort-william-and-mary/ Topics: United States History Last updated Feb 28, 2009 Coins of Colonial and Early America
"Features discussions, descriptions and images of the coins and tokens used in Colonial and Confederation America." A project of the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Numismatic Endowment. From the University of Notre Dame, Special Collections. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCoin/ColCoinContents/TitlePage.html Topics: Collectors & Collecting, Money, United States History, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Jun 10, 2002 Colonial Currency
"Descriptions and images of paper currencies of early America through the 1790's" (including Continental Congress issues, lottery tickets, and fiscal documents). Browsable by colony/state. Also features essays on the first printed currency (1690), Bills of Credit, Land Office Banks, devaluation, the Copper Panic, the value of money in Colonial America, the 1702 London Mint Assay, legal tender, and indenting. From the University of Notre Dame, Department of Special Collections. http://www.coins.nd.edu/ColCurrency/ Topics: Collectors & Collecting, Money, United States History, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Jun 11, 2002 Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is "the restored 18th-century capital city of Britain’s largest, wealthiest, and most populous outpost of empire in the New World." The site provides information on notable people, places, buildings, trades, Christmas in Williamsburg, clothing, slavery, and other topics. Contains documents (including the first draft of the Declaration of Independence "before Congress began amending and editing"), glossaries, and a chronology (1750 to 1783). Searchable. http://www.history.org/ Topics: Black Resources, Christmas, History, Labor, Nonfiction by Genre, Presidents by Name, U.S. History By Place, United States History, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Aug 12, 2004 Colonial Williamsburg: Trades
Descriptions of seventeen occupations, from apothecary to cooper to milliner to wigmaker, some with drawings of tools used in the jobs. http://www.history.org/Almanack/life/trades/tradehdr.cfm Topics: Jobs & Work, United States History Last updated Mar 13, 2002 Exploring the Early Americas
This site "features selections from the more than 3,000 rare maps, documents, paintings, prints, and artifacts. ... It provides insight into indigenous cultures, the drama of the encounters between Native Americans and European explorers and settlers, and the pivotal changes caused by the meeting of the American and European worlds." Topics include pre-contact America, explorations and encounters, and aftermath. Also includes interactive features. From the Library of Congress (LOC). http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/earlyamericas/ Topics: United States History Last updated Oct 28, 2008 The Freedom Trail Online
"The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile walking trail through downtown Boston, the North End, and Charlestown” with sixteen points of historical significance in the making of America. A description for each site, photos, address, hours, fees, and telephone numbers along with a map is included. There is also a timeline and a calendar of events. http://www.thefreedomtrail.org/ Topics: Outdoor Recreation, Photograph Collections, Photograph Collections: Nature & Wildlife, U.S. History By Place, U.S. Travel, United States History Last updated Aug 7, 2001 The Goody Parsons Witchcraft Case: A Journey to 17th Century Northampton
"Mary Parsons is perhaps the most infamous resident of Northampton's early settlement period. She was involved in witchcraft-related trials in 1656 and 1674, and possibly again in 1679. Her story is a fascinating one that sheds light on the workings of the Puritan mind and the complicated social and cultural situation of the period." Includes material about the trial, witchcraft, and related topics. From the Center for Computer-Based Instructional Technology (CCBIT), University of Massachusetts. http://ccbit.cs.umass.edu/parsons/hnmockup/ Topics: Faiths, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Oct 27, 2008 Harvest Ceremony: Beyond the Thanksgiving Myth
This document "assists teachers in preparing lessons about the first Thanksgiving. The study guide includes information on which Native peoples met the first European immigrants in 1621, the harvest celebration, the Wampanoag today, the importance of corn, and instructions on how to make Johnny cakes." From the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). Opens into a PDF document. http://americanindian.si.edu/education/files/harvest.pdf Topics: Holidays and Observances Individually, Holidays by Region, Native Americans, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Nov 9, 2005 Historic Germantown
Material about the history of Germantown, Pennsylvania, founded on October 6, 1683, as the first German settlement in the original thirteen American colonies. Features photos and details about historic buildings (such as the Mennonite meeting house from 1770) and people (such as Louisa May Alcott who was born here and George Washington who fought here and lived here in 1793). From the Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia. http://www.ushistory.org/germantown/ Topics: U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Oct 2, 2006 Jamestown 2007: America's 400th Anniversary
Official site for the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, "settled in 1607, [it] was the first permanent English settlement in the Americas." The site features tourist information, an events calendar, a link to educational material, activities and games for children, and descriptions of prior commemorations in 1807, 1857, 1907, and 1957. http://www.jamestown2007.org Topics: U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Feb 15, 2007 Jamestown, Québec, Santa Fe: Three North American Beginnings
"This exhibition explores the international origins of the societies of Canada and the United States and commemorates the 400th anniversary of three lasting settlements in Jamestown (1607), Québec (1608), and Santa Fe (1609)." Exhibition sections explore topics such as new economies, labor systems, and spiritual life. Includes material for educators (see "Thinking About" sections in drop-down menu) and related links. From the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/small_exhibition.cfm?key=1267&exkey=244 Topics: History By Place, United States History Last updated Jun 15, 2009 Jamestown Rediscovery
This site is an archeological project investigating the remains of the Jamestown of 1607, including James Fort. A history of the town and subsequent settlements is included as well as some images of the recent archeological finds that include armor, beads, and remnants of food of the colonialists. There is “a timeline of events and references leading up to and through the founding of Jamestown” as well as a list of the early settlers and their occupations. From the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. http://www.apva.org/ Topics: Food & Cooking, History, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Jun 26, 2001 Liberty! The American Revolution
Companion to a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) documentary series "about the birth of the American Republic and the struggle of a loosely connected group of states to become a nation." Features a timeline (from 1760, when George III ascended the throne, through 1791), details about defining events (such as the Boston Tea Party, 1773, and the Declaration of Independence, 1776), material about daily life and the military in the Colonies, and more. http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/ Topics: United States History, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Sep 18, 2006 The Lost Colony: The Roanoke Colonies
Historical essay about "an epic unsolved mystery that still challenges historians and archaeologists. In 1587, over 100 men, women and children journeyed from England to Roanoke Island on North Carolina's coast and established the first English settlement in America. Within three years, they had vanished with scarcely a trace." Includes images. From the website for a play produced by the Roanoke Island Historical Association. http://www.thelostcolony.org/ Topics: United States History Last updated Mar 1, 2008 MayflowerHistory.com
Information about the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, and early Plymouth Colony. Read passenger lists, wills of some of those on board, crew lists, the Mayflower Compact, and other early letters and documents. Also includes genealogy resources and links to related museums and societies. Maintained by Mayflower descendent and researcher Caleb Johnson. http://mayflowerhistory.com/ Topics: Correspondence, Families, History, Hobbies, People, Transportation, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Nov 17, 2005 Memorial Hall Museum Online: American Centuries
"Explore American history [from a New England perspective] with hands-on activities, exhibits, lessons, historic documents and artifacts." Features "a digital collection of approximately 2000 objects and transcribed documents," lesson plans, and online exhibits about turns of centuries (1700, 1800, and 1900), Shay's Rebellion, and the 1704 raid on the Deerfield, Massachusetts, settlement. Also includes videos about early American tools, information about historical costume, and more. From the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield, Massachusetts. http://www.memorialhall.mass.edu/ Topics: United States History Last updated Apr 30, 2009 Museum of Afro American History Boston
This institution is "dedicated to preserving, conserving and accurately interpreting the contributions of African Americans during the colonial period in New England." The site features information about museum exhibits, the African Meeting House and Abiel Smith School, and the Black Heritage Trail (a "walking tour encompassing the largest collection of historic sites in the country relating to the life of a free African American community prior to the Civil War"). Includes links to related sites. http://www.afroammuseum.org Topics: Black Resources, Museums, Museums by Place: United States, Outdoor Recreation, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Jan 19, 2005 On Pottery in Colonial America
A "thumbnail sketch of the most common types of pottery found in America during the 17th and 18th centuries along with a very brief technical description of each." Types of pottery discussed are earthenware (including delft pottery), stoneware, and porcelain. From a potter who makes 17th and 18th century pottery reproductions for museums, historic reenactments, and movies. http://www.juliasmith.com/historicpottery/articles.htm Topics: Arts and Humanities, Crafts, United States History Last updated Aug 23, 2005 Patrick Henry
Brief biography of American patriot Patrick Henry. Includes the text and an audio dramatization of his 1775 speech ("Give me liberty or give me death"), and an audio of an interview that addresses "the intensity and passionate character of Patrick Henry." Also find links to related information on topics such as politics in colonial Virginia. From the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. http://www.history.org/Almanack/people/bios/biohen.cfm Topics: Notable People: Government, United States History Last updated Jan 4, 2006 The Paul Revere House
Documenting the history of Paul Revere and his home in Boston's North End, this Web site includes biographical information about Revere, his family's genealogy, Longfellow's poem "Paul Revere's Ride," a map of the Midnight Ride, activities for children, an online store, and local and visitor information. http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ Topics: Architecture, History, Home & Housing, U.S. History By Place, United States History, Wars & Conflicts Last updated Jul 18, 2002 Pilgrim Hall Museum: The Pilgrim Story
This site combines images of items from the museum with well-documented historical information to illuminate the Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag Nation (American Indian tribe) story to 1692. Includes the background of the settlers, the voyage of the Mayflower, and the "First Thanksgiving." Also provides brief biographies of colonists, articles about the colony, and transcripts of documents such as wills, inventories, and the Mayflower Compact. http://www.pilgrimhall.org/museum.htm Topics: Holidays and Observances Individually, Native Americans, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Nov 17, 2005 Plymouth Colony Archive Project
"A collection of searchable texts, including court records, colony laws, seminar analysis of various topics, biographical profiles of selected colonists, probate inventories, [and] wills." Other topics covered include house construction, women, domestic violence, and servants and masters. Also has images of the material culture, maps, a walking tour, links, and many illustrations and photographs from The Romantic Story of the Mayflower Pilgrims by Albert Christopher Addison, 1911. From the University of Virginia. http://www.histarch.uiuc.edu/plymouth/ Topics: U.S. History By Place, United States History, Women Last updated Dec 6, 2008 Raid on Deerfield: The Many Stories of 1704
This exhibit provides information about the 1704 raid on the British settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts, "from the perspectives of the five groups who were actually present": Huron, Mohawk, Abenaki, French, English. Features details about the raid, a timeline of related events from 1701 to 1720, maps, images of artifacts produced by these different groups, biographical profiles, essays, sound clips, a glossary, and more. From the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA)/Memorial Hall Museum. http://www.1704.deerfield.history.museum Topics: Native Americans, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Jul 6, 2005 Roanoke Revisited: Heritage Education Program
Teaching materials on the mystery surrounding the first English colony in America established (in 1587) in what is now the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Includes background on British exploration prior to the establishment of the colony, Native Americans, and the mysterious disappearance of the people of this "Lost Colony." From Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, National Park Service (NPS). http://www.nps.gov/fora/forteachers/roanoke-revisited.htm Topics: United States History Last updated Sep 24, 2009 A Set of Plans and Forts in America, 1765
"Published in 1765 by Mary Ann Rocque, widow of John Rocque and Topographer to His Royal Highness the Duke of Glouchester, this book contains 30 plans of forts in North America. Published after the English victory over the French, Rocque's plans were drawn from previously published maps." Some of the towns and fortifications depicted are Albany, New York, Montreal, Quebec, Ticonderoga, Fort George, and Halifax. From the collection of The Massachusetts Historical Society. http://www.masshist.org/maps/PlansandForts/intro.htm Topics: History By Place, Maps, Maps by Place, U.S. Maps, United States History Last updated Mar 2, 2006 Signers of the Declaration
This series of essays covers topics related to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, including historic sites and buildings associated with the signing, and biographical sketches of the signers of the Declaration, such as John Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Thomas Jefferson. Provides text and history of the Declaration and suggested reading. Based on a book that was issued by the National Park Service in observance of the U.S. bicentennial. http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/declaration/ Topics: Nonfiction by Genre, United States History Last updated Sep 14, 2007 ushistory.org
Contains a "Congress of Websites" on Colonial America and the Revolutionary War, including information on Betsy Ross, Benjamin Franklin, the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, and more. Also features virtual walking tours of Philadelphia, Pa., and related links. From the Independence Hall Association. http://www.ushistory.org/ Topics: United States History Last updated Jun 23, 2004 Virtual Jamestown
"The Virtual Jamestown Archive is a digital research, teaching and learning project that explores the legacies of the Jamestown settlement and 'the Virginia experiment.'" Includes maps, labor contracts, public records, first hand accounts and letters, and a reference center featuring a timeline and biographies (including Pocahontas, Captain John Smith, and Chief Powhatan). A collaboration between Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, and the Virginia Center for Digital History. http://www.virtualjamestown.org/ Topics: Correspondence, Labor, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Feb 1, 2006 William Penn: Visionary Proprietor
The introduction presents a brief biography of Penn and his founding of the Pennsylvania colony. Other topics covered are Penn's treaty with the Delaware Indians, his relationships with Native Americans in general, and his role in the planning of the city of Philadelphia. Penn in the U.S. Capitol discusses the sculpture "Penn's Treaty with the Indians," by Nicholas Gavelot, which is above the northern entrance of Capitol Rotunda. There is also a short bibliography. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/PENN/pnhome.html Topics: Government, International Law, Treaties, & Agreements, U.S. History By Place, United States History Last updated Jun 22, 2002 The Winthrop Society: Texts
Collection of "texts of original documents by and about the first settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Commonwealth." Features the Constitution of the Massachusetts Bay Plantation (April 1629), the Cambridge Agreement (August 1629), memoirs and correspondence, essays, lists and rosters, and more. The documents "have been minimally edited for spelling and punctuation for ease of comprehension by the modern reader." From a nonprofit organization "dedicated to historical and genealogical research and the dissemination of educational material." http://www.winthropsociety.com/texts Topics: United States History Last updated Nov 1, 2008 |
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