Lesson Plan

Dunmore's Declaration

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

To fight or not to fight, that is the question. A thought-provoking activity focuses on the Dunmore Declaration that promised to free enslaved people who chose to fight for the British during the American Revolution. Scholars read the document, complete a worksheet, and participate in a short group discussion to understand the impact the offer had on the lives of African Americans. 

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Instructional Ideas
  • Have pupils write a journal entry from the perspective of an enslaved person during the American Revolution 
  • Compare the pros and cons of enslaved people fighting for King George III
Classroom Considerations
  • Activity is pulled from a larger unit, Through Their Eyes: Major Causes and Events of the American Revolution Teacher Resource Guide 
  • Virtual tour requires Internet access 
Pros
  • Short length of activity makes it easy to incorporate into another lesson 
  • The resource includes a virtual tour if time allows
Cons
  • None