HIST 1301
Chapter 1: A New World
(1492-93) Christopher Columbus' First Impressions of Native Americans Written in 1492, this excerpt from Columbus' journal describes his first impressions of the Native American people he "discovered" on his historic journey.
Chapter 1: A New World
In this episode of Engines of Our Ingenuity, we find out what Montezuma's revenge really was - tobacco.
Chapter 2: American Beginnings 1607-1650
(1609) The Starving Time an account of the starvation period of Colonial Jamestown, from the writings of Captain John Smith.
Chapter 2: American Beginnings 1607-1650
An interactive “simulation” has entertainment value, alongside some interesting practical facts concerning Jamestown.
Chapter 3: Crisis and Expansion: North American Colonies (1650-1750)
African servants teach medicine to Colonial America in the early 1720s. The University of Houston's College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them.
Chapter 3: Crisis and Expansion: North American Colonies (1650-1750)
"(1730s) The Great Awakening Comes to Weathersfield" A first hand account describes the revivalist George Whitefield’s powerful sermon.
Chapter 4: Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire (1750-1763)
"Ayuba Suleiman Diallo" This ex-slave describes how he became a slave as well as his life as a slave. Note his pre-slavery socio-economic status as well as his religious affiliations.
Chapter 4: Slavery, Freedom, and the Struggle for Empire (1750-1763)
Slaves reshaped colonial Virginia. The University of Houston's College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them.
Chapter 5: The American Revolution (1763-1783)
"Abigail Adams' Letters to her Husband John" Shortly before the publication of the Declaration of Independence, this exchange of mail took place between American patriot, John Adams, and his wife, Abigail.
Chapter 6: The Revolution Within
"1780, Sarah Osborn on her Revolutionary war experiences" American women participated in the Revolutionary War in a variety of ways. Sarah Osborn traveled with the Continental Army for the campaign in the southern colonies, working as a washerwoman and cook.
Chapter 6: The Revolution Within
"(1781) Battle of Yorktown" Joseph Plumb Martin, born in western Massachusetts, joined the militia in 1776 before his 16th birthday and served in the Continental Army from 1777 to 1783. In this excerpt, Plumb described the British surrender at Yorktown in October 1781.
Chapter 7: Founding a Nation (1783-1789)
"An American Intellectual Revolution" examines some of this nation's great minds and ideas at the birth of these United States.
Chapter 7: Founding a Nation (1783-1789)
The Articles of Confederation was this country's first compact. It created an inherently weak federal government that was impotent to act against the individual states.
Chapter 8: Securing the Republic (1790-1815)
"(1796) Washington's Farewell Address" Beloved outgoing President George Washington leaves office with some advice for his nation.
Chapter 8: Securing the Republic (1790-1815)
"A Boxing Match or another Bloody Nose for John Bull" This political cartoon makes fun of England’s recent naval defeats during the War of 1812.
Chapter 9: The Market Revolution
"An Irish Immigrant Suffers at First" (1818), this account covers the early period of an immigrant's story in the US
Chapter 9: The Market Revolution
Harriet Robinson was an employee at the Lowell Mill. There was a great abyss between the ideal of the factory system and the reality of working in an age before OSHA.
Chapter 10: Democracy in America (1815-1840)
"Colonel William B. Travis’ Letters from the Alamo (1836)" Grossly outnumbered and desperate for reinforcements, the commander of the Alamo penned a letter to fellow Texans, requesting military aid in the form of men and supplies.
Chapter 10: Democracy in America (1815-1840)
"Jackson’s Cabinet" a political cartoon depicting the chaotic state of President Jackson’s closest advisers.
Chapter 11: The Peculiar Institution
"(1831) Nat Turner" After the rebellion, Nat Turner was arrested for trial. This article is a first person “confession” of that blood-filled night.
Chapter 11: The Peculiar Institution
"Amistad" this Engines of Our Ingenuity episode examines the divergence of art and slavery.
Chapter 12: An Age of Reform
"Ain’t I a Woman?" One of the most famous speeches in American History, given on behalf of African-American and women's rights --Sojourner Truth, 1851
Chapter 12: An Age of Reform
This Engines of Our Ingenuity episode examines advice Americans received in the 1830s on how to live healthy lives -note the author's concerns are not foreign to our twenty-first century eyes and ears.
Chapter 13: A House Divided (1840-1861)
"(1859) John Brown" This was John Brown's (1800-1859) last speech during his trial by the Commonwealth of Virginia in Charles Town, Virginia (now part of West Virginia). Brown was executed December 2, 1859.
Chapter 13: A House Divided (1840-1861)
Harriet Beecher Stowe turns slavery from theoretical wrong into personal evil. The University of Houston's College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run, and the people whose ingenuity created them.
Chapter 14: A New Birth of Freedom—The Civil War (1861-1865)
"(1861) Battle Hymn of the Republic (Lyrics)" This song was written during the Civil War era. It became a popular marching song of the Union soldiers. It is recommended that as you read the words of this file, you listen to the audio performance.
Chapter 14: A New Birth of Freedom—The Civil War (1861-1865)
(1863) The Emancipation Proclamation President Abraham Lincoln freed all of the slaves with this important speech. Or did he?
Chapter 15: What is Freedom? Reconstruction (1865-1877)
"General Order No. 3 - 'Juneteenth'" Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on Galveston Island to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves.
Chapter 15: What is Freedom? Reconstruction (1865-1877)
"An Unreconstructed Rebel Laments His Cause" This is a poem written by an ex-Confederate soldier from Texas, shortly after the Civil War. He clearly expresses his disappointment from the military defeat, as well as his determination to avoid cooperation with the reconstruction effort.