UA Little Rock Center for Arkansas History and Culture
Changes in Agriculture (mid-20th Century) Theme: Agriculture Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1966 Introduction Agriculture has always been critical to the Arkansas economy. In the Arkansas Territory (1819 – 1836), over 90% of the Arkansas population worked on the…
Growing Up on a Farm (Great Depression/World War II) Theme: Agriculture Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 2011 Introduction In this activity, you will examine excerpts from two oral history interviews, in which Mr. D.C. Moody (born in 1935) and…
Cotton in the Early 1900s Theme: Agriculture Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1900-1920 Introduction Cotton has been one of the most important agricultural crops in the history of the US economy. After the invention of the cotton gin in…
Big Farms in the Early 20th Century Theme: Agriculture Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1916-1917 Introduction Before the mid-20th century (1900s), most farms around the world practiced subsistence farming. This means that they were small and run by a…
Black Legislators After the Civil War Theme: Civil War and Reconstruction Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1880-1900 Introduction The end of the Civil War in 1865 marked a momentous victory for African Americans. The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution…
“There Will Be a Fight:” Arkansas After the Civil War Theme: Civil War and Reconstruction Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1868 Introduction Although the Civil War officially ended in 1865, tensions, conflicts, and fighting were not over for years…
Civil War and Transportation Theme: Civil War and Reconstruction Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1862-1864 Introduction Throughout the 19th century (1800s), the means of transportation and transportation infrastructure developed rapidly in the United States. State and federal governments as…
Civil War and Medicine Theme: Civil War and Reconstruction Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1861-1864 Introduction Medical sciences and medical education in the United States shortly before the Civil War were very different from what they are today. Most…
“Treason and Insurrection” Theme: Civil War and Reconstruction Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1861 Introduction In December 1860, following the November election of Abraham Lincoln to the office of President of the United States, South Carolina became to first…
Anti-Confederates in the South Theme: Civil War and Reconstruction Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1861 Introduction In December 1860, following the November election of Abraham Lincoln to the office of President of the United States, South Carolina became to…
Getting Ready Theme: Civil War and Reconstruction Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1861 Introduction Historians often struggle to determine the exact dates of the outbreak of wars. The Civil War is no exception. Tensions, conflicts, and local fighting (e.g.,…
Little Rock Makes Global Headlines (Again!) Theme: Arkansas and the World Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1958 Introduction In the fall of 1957, nine African American students attempted to enter Little Rock Central High School. A white mob gathered…
Global Youth and the Little Rock Crisis Theme: Arkansas and the World Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1959 Introduction In the fall of 1957, nine African American students attempted to enter Little Rock Central High School, but a white…
Who Served in World War II? Theme: Arkansas and the World Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1943 Introduction When World War II broke out in Europe in 1939, the combined forces of the US Army, Navy, and Marines were…
African Americans and World War II Theme: Arkansas and the World Grade Levels: 9-12 Time Period: 1944 Introduction Around one million African Americans served in the US armed forces during World War II. Millions more were part of national mass…
In the Trenches of World War I Theme: Arkansas and the World Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1918 Introduction World War I (1914-1918) was like no other war before. While it was not the first military conflict that pitted…
Arkansas Women and World War 1 Theme: Arkansas and the World Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1918 Introduction When World War I broke out in Europe in 1914, American women immediately organized to assist with the war effort. After…
Women’s Emergency Committee Theme: Government and Civil Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1957 Introduction In 1955, following Brown v. Board of Education, the Little Rock school board accepted a plan of gradual integration presented by superintendent Virgil Blossom. According to…
Civil Society and Law Theme: Government and Civil Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1956 Introduction In 1954, nearly a century after the formal abolition of slavery in the United States, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, one…
Educated Citizenship Theme: Government and Civil Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1920 Introduction The first serious attempt to grant Arkansas women the right to vote emerged shortly after the Civil War, when Miles Ledford Langley of Arkadelphia proposed at…
Fighting for Women’s Voting Rights Theme: Government and Civil Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1919 Introduction The first serious attempt to grant women in Arkansas the right to vote emerged shortly after the Civil War when Miles Ledford…
Making a Difference Theme: Government and Civil Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1911 Introduction The Progressive Era in US history, or the period between the 1890s and ca. 1920, was characterized by an unprecedented rise of social reform…
“I Was Conditioned” Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1986 Introduction In 1955, following Brown v. Board of Education, the Little Rock school board accepted a plan of gradual integration presented by superintendent Virgil Blossom. According to the plan,…
“No Regrets” Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1990 Introduction In 1955, following Brown v. Board of Education, the Little Rock school board accepted a plan of gradual integration presented by superintendent Virgil Blossom. According to the plan, Little…
A Story Behind A Photo Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1962 Introduction Civil rights activists relied on many strategies and tactics in their fight for legal, political, and economic equality. For example, they organized marches, protests,…
“A Land of Freedom and Justice” Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1958-1960 Introduction In 1955, following Brown v. Board of Education, the Little Rock school board accepted a plan of gradual integration presented by superintendent Virgil Blossom. According…
“A Fresh Look at Race Relations” Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 9-12 Time Period: 1959 Introduction In 1954, nearly a century after the formal abolition of slavery in the United States, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, one of…
“The Crisis Continues” Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1957 Introduction In 1955, following Brown v. Board of Education, the Little Rock school board accepted a plan of gradual integration presented by superintendent Virgil Blossom. According to the plan,…
A Young Woman on a Bench Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1957 Introduction In 1955, following Brown v. Board of Education, the Little Rock school board accepted a plan of gradual integration presented by superintendent Virgil Blossom. According…
White Religious Leaders and the Little Rock Crisis Theme: Civil Rights Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1957 Introduction In 1954, nearly a century after a formal abolition of slavery in the United States, Brown v. Board of Education of…
Trailblazers (Grades 7-12) Theme: Women of Arkansas Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1854-1980 Introduction A Trailblazer is a person who leads the way in any new field or endeavor; someone who is among the firsts in a particular field.…
Midwifery and Race Theme: Women of Arkansas Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1940-1971 Introduction For centuries, pregnant people all over the world relied on midwives to assist them during labor. Midwives typically did not attend any specialized schools but…
Arkansas Women and Politics Theme: Women of Arkansas Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1912-1925 Introduction Prior to the colonization of the Americas by Europeans, many indigenous (Native) American cultures recognized the political power of women. While men dominated indigenous…
Hot Springs, June 28, 1833 Theme: Arkansas Before Statehood Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1833 Introduction Hiram Abiff Whittington’s letters, which he wrote to his brother Granville Whittington in the late 1820s and early 1830s, remain one of the…
Little Rock, June 25, 1831 Theme: Arkansas Before Statehood Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1831 Introduction Hiram Abiff Whittington’s letters, which he wrote to his brother Granville Whittington in the late 1820s and early 1830s, remain one of the…
Little Rock, November 20, 1829 Theme: Arkansas Before Statehood Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1829 Introduction Hiram Abiff Whittington’s letters, which he wrote to his brother Granville Whittington in the late 1820s and early 1830s, remain one of the…
Little Rock, August 30, 1828 Theme: Arkansas Before Statehood Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1828 Introduction Hiram Abiff Whittington’s letters, which he wrote to his brother Granville Whittington in the late 1820s and early 1830s, remain one of the…
Dwight Mission, Indian Nation, August 15, 1828 Theme: Arkansas Before Statehood Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1828 Introduction Hiram Abiff Whittington’s letters, which he wrote to his brother Granville Whittington in the late 1820s and early 1830s, remain one…
Little Rock, April 21, 1827 Theme: Arkansas Before Statehood Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1827 Introduction Hiram Abiff Whittington’s letters, which he wrote to his brother Granville Whittington in the late 1820s and early 1830s, remain one of the…
Japanese Americans and World War II Theme: Race and American Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1942-1945 Introduction After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States formally entered World War II. In February 1942, President Franklin…
Healthcare and Racial Segregation Theme: Race and American Society Grade Levels: 9-12 Time Period: 1944 Introduction The history of segregation in American healthcare goes back to the period of slavery when slave owners established a system of rudimentary medical care…
Race and the Great Depression Theme: Race and American Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1929-1939 Introduction Samuel Proctor Massie Jr. (1919-2005) was an African American chemist who worked on the Manhattan Project, a research initiative that led to…
Black Church and Community Organization Theme: Race and American Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1900-1950 Introduction The Black Church has been historically one of the most important institutions for African American communities. During the centuries when African Americans…
Minstrelsy Theme: Race and American Society Grade Levels: 9-12 Time Period: 1877-1930 Introduction Minstrel shows, also called minstrelsy, were a type of theatrical performance, in which actors played figures based on racial stereotypes. They were very popular in the United…
Native Americans: Gaps in History Theme: Race and American Society Grade Levels: 7-8 9-12 Time Period: 1861-1930 Introduction Before the arrival of Europeans in North America, the cultures of indigenous peoples of the continent, to whom we refer as Native…