Format
1. Introduction
2. Explanation of American Revolution and the three main sides of the conflict
3. Discuss causes of the war including geography and taxes
4. Explore the unsung heroes of the war including women and enslaved people
5. Debate and choose which side of the war the students would want to join
6. Primary source document decoding workshop
Objectives
At the end of this program students will be able to:
- Analyze primary source documents from the 18th and 19th centuries and identify key components and facts described in the documents
- Discuss the role of records, memoirs, and artifacts in preserving history
- Recognize the motivations that led the colonists to declare war on Great Britain
- Gain an understanding of the typical lifestyle of an American colonist
- Compare and contrast the reasons a colonist would join the Patriot, Loyalist, or Quaker side of the Revolution
- Engage in a discussion regarding the often underrepresented groups of people who were vital to the war effort
Standards Alignment
National Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.6-8.RH.1 -- Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.6-8.RH.2 -- Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.6-8.RH.4 -- Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.
State Standards
New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Social Studies
6.1.8.CivicsDP.3.a:Use primary and secondary sources to assess whether or not the ideals found in the Declaration of Independence were fulfilled for women, African Americans, and Native Americans during this time period.
6.1.8.GeoSV.3.a: Use maps and other geographic tools to construct an argument on the impact of geography on the developments and outcomes of the American Revolution including New Jersey's pivotal role.
6.1.8.HistoryCC.3.a: Explain how the consequences of the Seven Years War, changes in British policies toward American colonies, and responses by various groups and individuals in the North American colonies led to the American Revolution.
6.1.8.HistoryCC.3.b: Explain how political parties were formed and continue to be shaped by differing perspectives regarding the role and power of the federal government.
6.1.8.HistoryUP.3.b: Examine the roles and perspectives of various socioeconomic groups (e.g., rural farmers, urban craftsmen, northern merchants, and southern planters), African Americans, Native Americans, and women during the American Revolution, and determine how these groups were impacted by the war.
6.1.8.HistorySE.3.b: Analyze a variety of sources to make evidence-based inferences about how prominent individuals and other nations contributed to the causes, execution, and outcomes of the American Revolution.