In 2021, Child Trends was selected to conduct a literature review and develop a policy and practice report to map the history of systemic racism in the U.S. and how it has influenced early childhood education (ECE) policy and practice, with a particular focus on educator pay and benefits, preparation, and workforce stability. This report…

Maintains that, except from treatments of slavery as a legal condition, there was little coverage of African Americans in the first half-century of the "American Historical Review." Asserts, however, that coverage of black issues was even less in other scholarly journals. Reviews recent historiography related to African Americans. (CFR)

Presents an essay dealing with two nineteenth-century incidents of religious intolerance. Recounts the story of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, who was murdered by opponents of the new religion. Explains how the writings of Presbyterian minister and newspaper publisher, Elijah Lovejoy, set off a response that led to his death. (SG)

A historian reviews the process of writing his first historical novel, "Underground Man." Explores parts of the book based on the life of Calvin Fairbank, an abolitionist in Ohio and Kentucky. Delineates historical sources for each chapter, separating fact from fiction. Explains many of the decisions that determined plot and character…

This unit for teaching U.S. history was designed to help students understand, appreciate, and analyze the magnitude of the Founders' creation. It permits them to understand issues confronting the Founders in 1787, to become involved in the process of resolving these issues, to comprehend the actual solutions developed by the Founders, and to…

Describes a curriculum development project based on the African Meeting House in Boston (Massachusetts). Explains that the program focuses on the history of free African-American communities before the Civil War. Discusses the difficulties associated with the historical research of minority groups. Offers suggestions for obtaining information and…

Described are the planning and production of a television docudrama based on the classic slave narrative, "Twelve Years a Slave," in which Solomon Northup tells the story of his experiences. The program shown on PBS television was produced with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities. (RM)

Contains three case studies designed to encourage students to evaluate the concept of the American dream. The student materials focus on the issue of slavery, early twentieth-century immigrants to the United States, and a successful Mexican American in 1982. (RM)

This article describes a simulation activity in which students with deafness were "sold" and treated as slaves for half a day. Evaluation indicated that the "slaves" developed deeply negative feelings about slavery as they experienced the physical labor and personal humiliation involved in slavery, and "masters" felt uncomfortable treating…

This document, part of the lesson plan series, "Teaching with Historic Places," examines the role of rice farming in U.S. history. The lesson, which focuses upon the era of the Southern plantations, includes sections setting out student objectives and teaching activities, as well as notes on visiting the sites. There are subsections of…

Admonishes would-be flag-wavers to commemorate the U.S. bicentennial year more quietly by honoring the struggle and sacrifice that has triumphed over a flawed Constitution guaranteeing liberty, justice, and equality to all, but originally allowing slavery. Champions the emergence of new constitutional principles and views the Constitution as a…

Described is a project which made the study of Black history more real to fifth graders by having them make wire jewelry, smaller versions of the ornate filigreed ironwork produced by slave blacksmiths. (RM)

Many historians call the Civil War the central event in U.S. history. The formation of the U.S. Constitution corrected the autonomy of individual states that the Articles of Confederation did not harness. The young country struggled for 75 years to find a graceful balance between the power of the federal government and that of the states. The…

An elementary social studies unit on slavery for Afro-American History Month. (Editor/SJL)

This biographical essay focuses on Elizabeth Cady Stanton's strict religious upbringing and her conversion to a more rationalist ethic. Discusses Stanton's involvement in the abolitionist movement and draws parallels between the ideals of Jacksonian democracy and the early suffragette movement. (MJP)