7-12 Lesson Plans (Revolutionary Period)

George III and the post 1763 Tories: A Comparison of Pre-Revolutionary Thought

This lesson reenacts the actions Parliament’s debate over the Coercive Acts of 1774, which set off a chain of events eventually leading to Lexington and Concord in the spring of the following year.  The students will be put into groups, learn the parliamentary procedure that was loosely used by the British Parliament in the late 1700s.

James Harrington and Algernon Sidney

Students will be analyzing the writings of these two very influential philosophers and gauging their impact on America’s Founding Fathers. In this lesson students will work in groups and through the use of focus questions draw conclusions regarding how concepts such as natural law and virtue played in the development of America. Students will also be discussing how Harrington, Sydney, Jefferson, etc., may have felt about events that took place in America well after their deaths. Such events could include the secession of the South, suffrage movements, the Patriot Act, etc.

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Natural Law: Thomas Aquinas & Richard Hooker

Initially students are challenged to brainstorm about the legitimacy of governments throughout history.  Students view a PowerPoint presentation to obtain knowledge of key concepts and terms related to natural law.  Primary Source excerpts from Thomas Aquinas and Richard Hooker are used to allow students to identify and explain elements of natural law theory.  Students use a graphic organizer to contrast the circumstances surrounding Aquinas’ and Hooker’s application of natural law to justify ecclesiastical legitimacy.  Finally, students will examine an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence and are evaluated on their ability to draw parallels between Jefferson, Aquinas, and Hooker’s use of natural law to justify political legitimacy.

Revolutionary War in the South

This lesson revolves around a film and a discussion based on the Revolutionary War in the South, bringing attention to the importance of this theater of combat during that crucial phase of the War.  Other concepts that this lesson addresses are the Native American relationship with the colonists, the conflict between Loyalists and Patriots in the Carolinas, and the use of guerrilla war.

Cicero and Natural Law: A Comparison to Revolutionary America

This lesson will have students compare the writings of Cicero and Jefferson to comprehend how the philosophies of this noted Roman philosopher helped to mold Jefferson’s belief in natural law, which came to represent the principles on which the Declaration is based. For this to be achieved students must have some basic knowledge of Cicero, which is why the narrative below is focused on his life and is why his ascension to power in Rome is highlighted in the streaming video that will open the lesson. What follows is meant for review by the instructor so as to be adequately versed on the life and times of Cicero, but more importantly how his views on the republic helped to shape those of Jefferson.

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The New Jersey Constitution of 1776

This lesson allows the students to explore the context and details of the framing and writing of the New Jersey Constitution of 1776.  Also, this document is compared to the national Articles of Confederation and United States Constitution.  Comparing and contrasting these documents and analyzing the New Jersey State Constitution allow the students to compare how New Jersey’s concept of government differed from that of the national government.

John Locke and Jefferson’s America: A Historical Simulation

This lesson serves to compare, contrast and apply the principles of Locke and Jefferson regarding Natural Law.  The practicality and viability of Natural Law in today’s society is explored through this comparison.

New Jersey and the Revolutionary War

In this lesson students will examine New Jersey as the “Crossroads of the Revolution” within the broader spectrum of the Revolutionary War.  Students will locate and plot battle sites on map of New Jersey.  Additionally students will create a timeline of events incorporating major significant Revolutionary War events with the New Jersey events and battles. In the culminating activity of the lesson, students will create a New Jersey “history trail” travel guide of the Revolutionary War for South Jersey.

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Battle of Yorktown

The lesson is a focus on the final battle of the Revolutionary War – the Battle of Yorktown.  Students will be working in groups to examine and analyze a series of primary and secondary source documents and take their findings to create a two-page scrapbook entry pertaining to the Battle of Yorktown.

Sons of Liberty

Students will work in groups on a WebQuest (the link can be found on page four) to investigate the background and creation of the Sons of Liberty by addressing the following key questions:  Who were the Sons of Liberty?, What did the Sons of Liberty do?, How were the Sons of Liberty viewed by other colonists?, and How did the actions of the Sons of Liberty escalate tensions?  Following this research, students will have learned about the different aspects of the Sons of Liberty through a series of different perspectives.    Finally groups will share their findings, engage in debate and discussion and then collaborate to write a persuasive letter to a relative in Western Pennsylvania that contains informed opinion, facts, and gained perspectives.

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