Curriculum
American Independence Unit Documents
Unit Guide, Unit Storyboard, Lesson Calendar; Brief Answers for Teachers
American Independence Lesson One
Unit Launch; The British Take Control (Q1)
Students learn the story of the changes in British policy after the French and Indian War, and tell the story back using “Because – But – So” sentences.
American Independence Lesson Two
The Stamp Act Controversy (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Stamp Act controversy, and tell the story back with a Four Sentence Story.
American Independence Lesson Three
The Stamp Act Congress (Q2)
Students interpret excerpts from the declaration of the 1765 “Stamp Act Congress.”
American Independence Lesson Four
The Boston Massacre (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Boston Massacre and tell it back in a Four Sentence Story.
American Independence Lesson Five
The First Continental Congress (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Boston Tea Party, the Intolerable Acts, and the First Continental Congress, and tell the story back using a Four-Box Storyboard.
American Independence Lesson Six
Revolutionary and Loyalist Elites (Q3)
Students study data to explain why some colonial elites became revolutionaries. Then they write a general hypothesis, and test it on a new case: Simon Bolivar.
American Independence Lesson Seven
The Battles of Lexington and Concord (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and tell the story back using “Because – But – So” Sentences.
American Independence Lesson Eight
The Second Continental Congress (Q1)
Students learn the story of the Second Continental Congress, then tell the story back in a Four-Box Storyboard.
American Independence Lesson Nine
Debating Independence: Thomas Paine (Q2)
Students interpret excerpts from Thomas Paine’s pamphlet, “Common Sense.”
American Independence Lesson Ten
Debating Independence: Charles Inglis (Q2)
Students interpret a loyalist response to Paine’s “Common Sense.”
American Independence Lesson Eleven
Declaring Independence (Q2)
Students interpret excerpts from the Declaration of Independence.
American Independence Lesson Twelve
Fighting for Independence (Q1)
Students learn the story of the American Revolution, and tell it back using “Because – But – So” Sentences.
American Independence Lesson Thirteen
Justifying Revolutionary Violence (Q4)
Students consider the specific case of the American colonists and judge if they were justified in using violence to achieve independence. Then they try to establish a general principle, and apply their principle to a new case: the Stono Rebellion.
American Independence Lesson Fourteen
An Independent America (Q1)
Students learn the story of America at independence, then sum up the story of the unit in just six words.