Description of lesson/activity
1. explain the political and economic causes of the American Revolution.
2. analyze the Declaration of Independence.
3. justify the American struggle for independence.
4. gather information from a variety of resources and organize that information on a chart.
5. write a persuasive letter to defend a point of view.
1. In Unit III, students studied the founding of the English colonies and the geographic, economic, political, and social factors that shaped the colonies.
2. The teacher should provide students with background on the French and Indian War. Students should understand that Great Britain and France were longtime rivals in America and throughout the world. The teacher should emphasize that the Treaty of Paris (1763) represents a dramatic change in political power in North America. One way to study the French and Indian War is to do so from the point of view of Indians involved in the conflict.
3. The teacher should introduce the concept of mercantilism. Students need to understand how mercantilism policy helped Great Britain and both helped and hurt the colonies. The effect of mercantilism on colonial trade should be discussed.
4. Next, divide the class into small groups. Distribute the "British Laws: Student Worksheet." Explain the importance of each category in the chart. Have students research the British laws using a variety of resources. Students must be provided with information about British writs of assistance and admiralty courts.
5. The teacher can include other laws such as the Navigation Acts (1763), Currency Act (1764), Quartering Act (1765), and Declaratory Act (1766) to supplement this activity.
6. Using the information on the chart, have each group of students develop a broadside or poster that shows how colonists reacted to one of the British laws. Evaluation is up to the teacher.
7. With their knowledge of British laws, students are prepared to analyze the Declaration of Independence. Students must have background on the relevant terms such as social compact. (See the accompanying teacher resource on the Declaration of Independence for additional background.)
8. Provide students with a copy of the Declaration of Independence which is provided. Using the teacher resource here and the instructions from the Mayflower Compact activity introduced in Unit III, review with them the method for analyzing documen ts. This is a group activity. Have students complete "Declaration of Independence: Student Worksheet." Evaluation is up to the teacher.
9. The concluding activity requires students to use their knowledge of British laws and the Declaration of Independence to develop an argument in support of the American Revolution. Use "Causes of the American Revolution: Concluding Activity." Evaluation of this assignment is up to the teacher. Student answers should be well-written and contain strong, accurate arguments.
Resource 1: British Laws: Student Worksheet
Resource 2: Teacher Resource on the Declaration of Independence
Resource 3: Declaration of Independence: Student Worksheet
Resource 4: Declaration of Independence
Resource 5: Causes of the American Revolution: Concluding Activity