Introduction
In 1770 the American Colonies were becoming tense and divided between Loyalist and Patriots. Watch the above YouTube video as an introduction to these two groups.
In this WebQuest, you will put yourself in the shoes of an American colonist. You will play the interactive game "For Crown or Colony?" and use your experience to compare and contrast the perspectives of Patriots and Loyalists.
Task
You will:
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Play "For Crown or Colony?" on Mission US
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Take notes on how different characters view British rule
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Create a T-chart comparing the Patriot and Loyalist viewpoints
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Write a journal entry from the perspective of your character in the game
Process
Step 1: Play the Game
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Log in and begin your journey as Nat Wheeler.
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Pay attention to how Patriots and Loyalists interact with you.
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Take notes on key events, conversations, and decisions.
Step 2: Compare & Contrast
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Create a T-Chart on paper or on Google Docs.
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List arguments and beliefs of both Loyalists and Patriots that you encountered in the game.
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Include what their reasons were for supporting or opposing British rule
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Use this document, to add supporting details to your T-Chart. https://americanexperience.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Loyalists-and-Patriots.pdf
Step 3: Journal Entry
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Imagine you are Nat Wheeler at the end of the game.
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Write a 1-2 paragraph journal entry explaining your thoughts on British rule.
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Did your experiences in Boston make you lean toward being a Patriot or a Loyalist? Why?
Evaluation
|
Category |
Excellent (10) |
Good (5) |
Needs Improvement (2) |
|
Game Completion |
Fully played the game and took detailed notes |
Played most of the game and took some notes |
Played little of the game and took little notes |
|
Compare and Contrast (T-Chart) |
Clearly explains both sides with supporting details |
Includes both perspectives but is lacking details |
Doesn't clearly explain both sides |
|
Journal Entry |
Well written, minimal grammatical and/or spelling errors. Historically accurate. |
Moderate amount of grammatical and/or spelling errors. Partly historically accurate. |
Minimal effort, many grammatical and/or spelling errors. Historically inaccurate. |
Conclusion
By stepping into the shoes of Nat Wheeler, you’ve experienced life in 1770 Boston firsthand. The choices you made reflect the difficult decisions real colonists faced. Now that you’ve completed your journey, ask yourself:
Would you have remained loyal to Britain or joined the fight for independence?
Teacher Page
Standard: 8.19 Compare and contrast the points of view of Loyalists and Patriots.