Reconstruction and an Expanding America (Reconstruction-1897)

What changes did Americans see in people, culture and politics?

Topic 1: Freedmen's Bureau and Education

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources relating to education for freed slaves after the Civil War.

Go to Topic 1: Freedmen's Bureau and Education

stereoscopic photo of children and teachers outside of a schoolhouse

Topic 2: Westward Expansion and the Homestead Act

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources relating to the Homestead Act and Westward Expansion.

Go to Topic 2: Westward Expansion and the Homestead Act

front page of 'The Independent' newspaper from 1863

Topic 3: Government and Public Responses to Immigration

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources relating to immigration issues at the end of the 19th century.

Go to Topic 3: Government and Public Responses to Immigration

color cartoon showing Uncle Sam looking over a crowd of immigrants

Topic 4: “Chicago's Wild Mobs:” Industrialization and Anarchy

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources focusing on the Haymarket Riot in Chicago as factory workers protested poor working conditions.

Go to Topic 4: “Chicago's Wild Mobs:” Industrialization and Anarchy

black typeset on white paper calling for a meeting

Topic 5: Silver and Gold: The 1896 Election

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources relating to the election contest between William McKinley and William Jennings Bryan.

Go to Topic 5: Silver and Gold: The 1896 Election

color cartoon showing a caricature of William Jennings Bryan entering a tunnel to the White House while pulling an overloaded donkey

Topic 6: The Oyster Wars

This inquiry kit features Library of Congress sources that relate to the Oyster Wars on the Chesapeake Bay.

Go to Topic 6: The Oyster Wars

black and white drawing of a policeman in the foreground tossing a rope to the boat of an oyster dredger

Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress, Maryland Humanities and MPT developed the Teaching with Primary Sources Inquiry Kits and Research Learning Modules to support K-12 educators and students.

The MSDE Social Studies Department is committed to providing materials and professional development to teachers to assist them in teaching primary source analysis and in providing authentic, project-based assessments to students.