Introduction
In the next three days, we will be learning about the American Revolution.
Day one:
Analyze the causes of the American Revolution and their impact on colonial society.
Evaluate primary and secondary sources to understand the perspectives of different groups during the Revolutionary period.
Develop critical thinking skills by questioning and challenging assumptions about the causes of the American Revolution.
Task
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Compare and contrast a primary source and a secondary source related to the American Revolution. How does the nature of each source impact its reliability and potential bias? Provide specific examples to support your answer.
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Imagine you are a loyalist during the American Revolution. Explain why you would support the British monarchy and oppose the colonists' quest for independence. Then, analyze the counterarguments presented by the Patriots. How did these differing perspectives contribute to the tensions and eventual outbreak of the revolution?
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Identify two specific causes of the American Revolution and explain how they directly led to significant events or outcomes during the revolution. Discuss the cause-and-effect relationship between each cause and its corresponding effect, providing historical evidence to support your analysis.
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Read an excerpt from Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' and a response from a loyalist pamphlet. Compare and contrast the arguments made by both authors. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each perspective in terms of their ability to influence public opinion and shape the course of the revolution.
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Analyze the viewpoints of Patriots, loyalists, and Native Americans during the American Revolution. How did their different perspectives influence their actions and alliances during the war? Discuss the long-term consequences of these varied perspectives on the outcome of the revolution and the subsequent formation of the United States.
Process
Using these five websites answer the questions provided:
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_stampact.html
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/popup_teaparty.html
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_philadelphia1776.html
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/chronicle_saratoga1777.html
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/perspectives_military.html
Evaluation
After learning what you did from these websites, how do Americans today carry on the same fighting spirit as they did around the time of the Revolutionary War?
Conclusion
While America no longer has to fight for independence from other countries, American citizens continue their fight for freedom every day. As you leave this class think of the freedom the Revolutionary soldiers were fighting for and think of all the freedoms we experience today that they had no idea would come from freedom from England.