| Reviewed: |
Jan 31, 2012 by History Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
This is a free, online textbook that includes links to primary documents, topical essays, and external links. The text is divided into several sections: the 1840s, the 1850s, the 1850 Compromise, Texas and the Mexican War, Plantation Life, Kansas Nebraska Act, Civil War Part I, and Civil War Part II (Gettysburg to Appomattox). |
| Learning Goals: |
The goal of the website is to provide information on the pre and post civil war era. It also aims at exploring the factors leading to the war while seeking to review the stages of the war. |
| Target Student Population: |
Undergraduate and high school teachers and students. Also, a general reader might appreciate the chronological account and manageable selection of primary documents. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
Basic computer skills are necessary to follow the links. Very little background knowledge is needed as the author provides a general overview of the period. High school reading skills are necessary to understand the material, especially the primary documents. |
| Type of Material: |
This website is an online repository of information on the antebellum, Expansion and Civil War periods in American history. |
| Recommended Uses: |
This is meant to be used as a textbook. The topical essays would work best as homework while the primary documents could be assigned as homework or used for in-class activities. For students, this text would need to be supplemented by a lecture or at least a question/answer session where they could find out more about particular events or topics that interest them. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Shockwave (Adobe) and Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher are required (Firefox and Chrome work as well). |
