National Center for History in the Schools

United States History Teaching Units

Revolution and the New Nation

The Great Experiment: George Washington and the American Republic
Co-published with the Huntington Library
Students examine letters and public papers to appraise Washington's character, his military and political leadership, his contributions to the formation of a new government under the Constitution, and the evolution of his perceptions on the institution of slavery. Lessons in the unit introduce students to a variety of documents, allowing them to distinguish Washington as a unique individual who played a pivotal role in the development of the American Republic rather than an abstract figure. Documents include the "Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior," the Newburgh Address, excerpts from Washington's diary, the Farewell Address, and his last will and testament.114 p. Grades 8–12
>>>Preview the unit [pdf]
[NH171-LA6]                                        $16.95                                        Reproducible

Lights of Liberty: Philadelphia's Revolutionary Experience
Co-Published with Lights of Liberty, Inc.
Using Philadelphia and Pennsylvania as a case study, students have the opportunity to examine critical events leading to the outbreak of the American Revolution, the political maneuvers resulting in Pennsylvania's support of a declaration of independence, the revolutionary goals of different groups, and the economic issues confronting Revolutionary America. Students explore government making at the state level, comparing the "radical" Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 to the more conservative Virginia Constitution of the same year. Students examine a variety of reform movements during the revolutionary era. The unit is the result of a collaborative effort between NCHS and Lights of Liberty, Inc. in Philadelphia, an immersing nighttime "edutainment" experience throughout the Independence National Historic Park. 129 p. Grades 7–12
>>>Preview the unit [pdf]
[NH173-LA6]                                        $16.95                                        Reproducible

Causes of the American Revolution: Focus on Boston
Co-Published with the Organization of American Historians
By focusing on the Stamp Act riots, the Boston Massacre, and other incidents, students will use documentary materials to examine the events that defined British colonial relations between 1763 and 1775. Easily modified for use in a variety of secondary classroom situations, the unit draws on testimony from court records, newspaper reports, private correspondence, Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre, and contemporary cartoons. Students explore the causes of the American Revolution with a "you-are-there" approach. 93 p. Grades 7–12
>>>Preview the unit [pdf]
[NH150-LA6]                                        $16.95                                        Reproducible

For this theme, see also:
The Great Convergence: The Pueblo and Spaniards Meet
The Enlightenment
The Evolution of the Bill of Rights
Women and the American Revolution

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