Extra! Extra!

Introduction

The American Revolution began long before the War for Independence actually started.  The signers of the Declaration of Independence claimed that the Revolution was about liberty and democracy, the people's right to choose how they should be governed.  Later, others insisted the Revolution was really about money and trade.  In fact, the Revolution was about both issues.  The sentiments of the Declaration of Independence and the struggle for trade were linked together in the colonists' revolt.  The result was a British-American war - and much more. 

You are the Editor of a newspaper during the American Revolutionary War.  The people have the right to know what is going on politically, economically, and socially in the colonies.  It is your responsibility to print the news!  You have a deadline, so get to work!

Task

Your task is to step into the shoes of a newspaper editor during the American Revolution.  You must create a newspaper using Lucidpress (In the Google Drive under "New" and then "more") and include:

  • at least three articles summarizing events (social, political, economic) that happened during the American Revolution.

  • at least one letter to the editor stating your opinion about a major event during this time period,

  •  at least two or more pictures or drawings representing major events,

  • at least one political cartoon.

You will visit related Web sites to learn details of the time period.

Process

1.  Type the masthead, date, city of publication, and cost of the newspaper on the computer. 

  
2.  Visit the following Web sites: 
  Early America 
  Liberty! The American Revolution - PBS Online 
 six part documentary series about the two and a half decades of 
 debate and rebellion, war and peace.

South Carolina and the Revolution 
  History Place - American Revolution 
  The American Revolution - The Struggle for Independence 

History Channel

Decide on the events that you will summarize and use as the articles for your newspaper.  Requirements for the articles:

  • Each article should have a title.

  • At least one article should address one of the following:  the attitudes in South Carolina toward independence from England, summarize South Carolina's role in the Revolutionary War, or address the causes of the war.

  • Write your articles the computer, proofread them, and then copy the text into the Lucidpress or other newsletter app.

  • Work must be free of mechanical errors. Proofread.

3.  Look at the information about the American Revolution on the Websites provided above. 
Write a "Letter to the Editor" concerning your opinion of an event that happened during this time period.  Follow the procedures for writing the articles when writing this editorial.

4.  Visit the National Archives for pictures, and choose those that relate to your articles or that you want to express an additional event that you didn't discuss in one of your articles. Place them in your newsletter app. 

5.  Pick the subject matter for your political cartoon. Draw the cartoon or use clip art and write the caption.  The subject of your cartoon must be historicaly correct. If you need to draw on paper and then scan them into the computer to place them into your newsletter. 

6.  Make sure that your newspaper masthead, date, cost, articles, "Letter to the Editor", pictures, and cartoon in your newsletter.  Make sure the elements of your newspaper are arranged in usual newspaper format.  The page must be divided into columns.  Refer to the newspapers provided in the classroom for a reference.

7.  You may include one or more of the following optional elements in your newspaper.  The same process and format as above should be used.

  • Display Ad    

  • Sports Section 

  • Financial Section 

  • Obituaries (of famous people who lived during the American Revolution)

  • Classified Ads

  • Entertainment Section 

Evaluation

 

Possible Points

Score by Teacher

Masthead-name

5

 

Date

5

 

City of Publication

5

 

Cost

5

 

Three articles 

20

 

One "Letter to the Editor"

10

 

Two Pictures

10

 

One Political Cartoon

10

 

Mechanics

 20

 

Layout

10

 


 

Optional Elements

Possible Points

Score by Teacher

Entertainment Section

5

 

Sports Section

5

 

Financial Section

5

 

Display Ad

5

 

Classified Ad

5

 

Obituaries

5

 

Conclusion

After researching the events of the American Revolution and creating your own newspaper, present in class one of your articles.  Discuss what influence you think the printed media had on the people during this era.

Credits

Teacher Page

Lesson Title:  The American Revolution Newspaper 
Subject Area:  Social Studies 
Grade Level:  8th Grade 
Grouping: If needed, students with IEP's may need to be grouped 
Length of Lesson:  Five one hour lessons 
Interdisciplinary Connections: Language Arts, Computer Science, Social Studies 
Prior Knowledge:  General knowledge of the American Revolution. Knowledge of a computer. 
SC Social Studies Standards:

SS 8-2 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the causes of the American Revolution and the beginnings of the new nation, with an emphasis on South Carolina's role in the development of that nation.

SS 8-2.1 Explain the political and economic consequences of the French and Indian War on the relationship of the South Carolina colonists with Native Americans and England.

SS.8-2.2 Summarize the response of South Carolina to events leading to the American Revolution, including the Stamp Act, the Tea Acts, and the Sons of Liberty.

SS.8-2.3 Explain the roles of South Carolinians in the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

SS.8-2.4 Compare the perspectives of different groups of South Carolinians during the American Revolution, including Patriots, Tories/Loyalists, women, enslaved and free Africans, and Native Americans.

SS.8-2.5 Summarize the role of South Carolinians in the course of the American Revolution, including the use of partisan warfare and the battles of Charleston, Camden, Cowpens, Kings Mountain and Eutaw Springs.