AP African American Studies Resource Archive | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Engraving showing a Black man in a coat, vest, white shirt, and bow tie and a Black woman wearing a patterned dress with a wide white collar, with earrings.

The Dred Scott Decision and Its Bitter Legacy

1800–1858

Dred Scott’s case before the US Supreme Court challenged the nation on slavery, citizenship, and state sovereignty.

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A black-and-white photograph of President Abraham Lincoln, seated, with his head resting on his upraised left hand

Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation

1809–1870

This timeline traces Abraham Lincoln’s evolution from antislavery advocate to emancipator in the context of international events.

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A multicolored, multi-panel print with various people and vignettes on the theme of celebrating the Fifteenth Amendment's ratification.

The Fifteenth Amendment Celebrated: An In-Depth Exploration

1870

Explore a lithograph commemorating the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment.

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A black-and-white photograph of Frederick Douglass, a Black man in his fifties with graying hair and a serious demeanor staring straight into the camera

Frederick Douglass from Slavery to Freedom: The Journey to New York City

1818–1845

Follow the story of Frederick Douglass and his journey from slavery to freedom in New York City.

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A Black soldier in a blue Union Army uniform (jacket, coat, pants, and hat), holding a rifle on his right shoulder with a slight smile on his face.

Historical Context: Black Soldiers in the Civil War

by Steven Mintz

Get some key facts on Black service during the Civil War.

Teacher Resources

Scan of a book page with the text of a law passed in Virginia in 1662.

Study Aid: Slavery and the Law in Seventeenth-Century Virginia

1662–1691

Explore a timeline of laws pertaining to slavery in Virginia from 1662 to 1691.

Teacher Resources

An engraving of Frederick Douglass as a young man, wearing a double-breasted jacket, vest or waistcoat, and scarf, looking fiercely into the camera

Activist for Equality: Frederick Douglass at 200

1808–1894

Explore Frederick Douglass’s life in bondage and freedom in this online exhibition.

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