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America Dept. Of State: Outline of American Literature [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This online book presents an overview of American literature chronologically. Eras and movements are explained and biographies of significant authors are provided. This is a good way to understand the background and influences of...
Primary
US National Archives

Nara: Charters of Freedom: Courage of the Founders:perilous Road to Independence

For Students 9th - 10th
Primary source document, The Agreemnt of Secrecy, 1775, and an 1896 painting in the Old Raleigh Tavern, outlining and illustrating the strict rules of secrecy adopted by Congress to protect lives and the cause of American liberty, .
Whiteboard
SMART Technologies

Smart: Causes of the Revolutionary War

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Highlighting the domino effects that led to the American Revolution, this interactive SMART lesson uses videos, games, and other facts to help students learn about the war.
Handout
The History Cat

The History Cat: Countdown to Revolution

For Students 9th - 10th
Begins with a description of the British system of mercantilism that was imposed on the American colonies along with the taxes levied through the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act. The Americans complained that it was taxation without...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Declare the Causes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Offers lesson plans that guide students to understanding the structure of the Declaration of Independence. Throughout the course of the lesson plan, students will be working on writing their own declaration of grievances relative to...
Primary
Other

All the News? American Revolution & Maryland's Press

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore this collection of digitized historical newspapers and broadsides from the 1760s about pre-Revolutionary topics. Requires Adobe Reader.
Handout
History of American Wars

History of American Wars: Revolutionary War Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
A timeline showing the events leading up to the Revolutionary War, beginning with unpopular legislation implemented under British rule. It follows with the reaction of the American colonists and continues in a cause and effect manner...
Website
Digital History

Digital History: British Mercantilism and the Cost of Empire [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the theory of mercantilism and how it affected the economies of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies. Practice making a bar graph showing the value of exports to and imports from England between 1700 and 1774 with...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: American Revolutionary War

For Students 9th - 10th
This article on the American Revolutionary War looks at its causes, the phases of the war, naval warfare, the involvement of other countries, the Treaty of Paris, the different groups of combatants, and the impact of the war.
Handout
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook

For Students 9th - 10th
A rich Fordham University site of primary source material that include full-text, and multimedia sites. There are additional study and research guides such as Modern History in the Movies.
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: John Dickinson

For Students 9th - 10th
John Dickinson was called "The Penman of the American Revolution." During the 1760s and 1770s, he authored numerous important essays in defense of American rights, including The Late Regulations Respecting the British Colonies, the...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Causes/necessity of Arms

For Students 9th - 10th
The complete text of the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms, ratified July 6,1775.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: John Dickenson's Letter 2 From a Farmer 1767 1768

For Students 9th - 10th
This letter, from a farmer in 1767, addresses his conceerns regarding the Townshend Duties and their effect on the colonies as a whole.
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: James Otis

For Students 9th - 10th
James Otis was called the most important American of the 1760s by John Adams. A trained lawyer and master of argument, James Otis was a leader of the Patriot movement in Boston in those years. Initially a prosecutor for the British...
Website
Other

Object of History: Rallying Revolutionaries: "Common Sense"

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Annotated excerpts from Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" that clearly demonstrate the writer's ability to persuade his American readers to separate from England.
Lesson Plan
iCivics

I Civics: Got Grievances?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learn what economic, political, and social factors led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. In this lesson, students learn what caused the colonies to declare independence from Great Britain and...
Lesson Plan
Council for Economic Education

Econ Ed Link: Taxation Without Representation?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Check out this informative site to learn more about life in the colonies before the Revolutionary War. Find out why the colonists had issues with "taxation without representation." "You will work independently and in pairs to learn about...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

National Park Service: Now We Are at War

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A good look at the impact of geography in regard to the Battle of Bunker/Breed's Hill. Site offers a great lesson plan put together by a Park Ranger from the battleground park.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Independence: Boston Tea Party and Other Acts of Rebellion [Pdf]

For Teachers 6th - 8th
A lesson plan from the producers of the 16-episode PBS series "Freedom: A History of US" that helps learners understand why the American colonists objected to taxation without representation. Includes activities that investigate the acts...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
Included here are Thomas Jefferson's two inaugural addresses and his State of the Nation speeches. You can follow Jefferson's increased distress concerning the young nation's treatment by European nations. Fascinating reading.
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Presidents: James Madison

For Students 9th - 10th
Included are James Madison's two inaugural addresses, his State of the Nation speeches, as well as other writings related to the Constitution. Of particular interest is his speech of 1812.
Handout
Bill of Rights Institute

Bill of Rights Institute: Charles Pinckney

For Students 9th - 10th
Born near Charles Town (now Charleston), South Carolina, Charles Pinckney was the child of a wealthy family. He received a first-rate education and became an accomplished lawyer. Pinckney joined the state militia during the American...
Primary
University of Groningen

American History: Documents: Excerpts From "The Fugitive Slave Act"

For Students 9th - 10th
This site titled, "From Revolution to Reconstruction," provides excerpts from the text of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, part of the Compromise of 1850.
Website
Independence Hall Association

U.s. History: Gabriel's Rebellion: Another View of Virginia

For Students 5th - 8th
Gabriel Prosser, a skilled slave, planned a revolt as a way to carry out the ideals of the American Revolution and give freedom to slaves. Read about what his vision was, what group of white men might be helpful to his cause, and what...