Crossing the Delaware!

Today, George Washington makes a sneak attack on Hessian soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey. Harassed and battle weary, Washington's Continental Army has been chased through 3 colonies. Now, with the new year about to begin on January 1st, most of the soldiers will have to make a decision to re-enlist... or go home. Desperate to keep his men in the fight, Washington finds himself making an unusual move that pays off! Watch below as Washington makes his famous crossing of the Delaware:

Power of the Individual in History

The Big Idea for the day: Impact of Individuals

Enduring Understanding: Decisions and actions of individuals can influence the outcome of an event.

As we study the Revolutionary War, it is important that we recognize the contributions of individuals in winning American independence. Your assignment today should help you take a step in that direction! Read the task and follow the procedure below. You may type your assignment, or write on a piece of lined notebook paper.

Task:
Find 5 people you believe had an effect on the outcome of the American Revolution.
If you are at home today, you should pick just one person and be prepared to hand in your work tomorrow.

Procedure:
Using a textbook or computer, find 5 individuals who may have influenced the outcome of the American Revolution.
For each individual, write a description of the person, what he/she did that was important, and why you believe their action or actions made a difference.
Write a "what if this person had never lived" scenario for each individual.

Example:
Thomas Gage- Governor/General of Massachusetts. He was sent to place Massachusetts and Boston under martial law after the Boston Tea Party. Parliament instructed him to put down the growing rebellion, but his actions (attempt to capture guns at Concord) led to the death of 8, and many more wounded Colonists at the Battle of Lexington. The Battle of Lexington helped to unite Colonists against England. More than ever, they would view the British Army as an invading force.
Thomas Gage's decision to make a frontal assault at the Battle of Bunker Hill led to yet another British military disaster. Over 1,000 Redcoats were killed or wounded, convincing Americans that it was possible to successfully fight against the more experienced, better trained British soldiers.
Scenario:
If Thomas Gage had never lived, perhaps the Governor/General of Massachusetts would not have attempted to capture the guns at Concord, and the Battle of Lexington might not have happened. If the Battle of Lexington had not occurred, the Battle of Bunker Hill would not have happened, and the Colonists may have continued to believe that it was impossible to stand up against the powerful British Army.

Washington takes charge!

Today we will finish up with the Battle of Bunker Hill, then watch a video of General George Washington as he takes charge of a non-existent Continental Army!

To watch the video we are watching in class today, look below:

The Revolutionary War begins

Today we will study the first major battle of the American Revolution... Bunker Hill.

You will have an opportunity to place yourselves in the shoes of British General Thomas Gage.

If you found yourself in charge of an army surrounded by rebels, what would you do?

Declaration of Independence Quiz

Click on the title of today's blog to take a quiz on the Declaration of Independence.

When you finish go to the following site to read and answer questions about Common Sense written by
Thomas Paine (picture) :

http://www.quia.com/quiz/2870829.html

Declaration of Independence review

Let's see what you have learned about the Declaration of Independence.
Complete the following activities:

Rags to Riches
http://www.quia.com/rr/750706.html

Signer word search
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/word-finds/declaration-of-independence.html

Pop-up paragraph
http://www.quia.com/cz/404998.html

Declaration of Independence Jumbled Words Activity
http://www.quia.com/jw/425820.html

Film about the Declaration of Independence:
http://www.earlyamerica.com/independence.htm

Declaration of Independence

Yesterday, you learned that the Declaration of Independence was a document written to "justify" the colonial rebellion to the rest of the world. Today, we will read the actual document and complete the assignment below:

Declaration of Independence: Student Worksheet

Each student (or group) will have a copy of the Declaration of Independence. You will use the method for reading documents in your analysis. I will review with you the first two steps in analyzing the document. For the third step or reading, answer the questions below. You may write directly on the Declaration, in your notes, or on a separate sheet of paper.

Part I: As Individuals Declaration of Independence

1. On the document underline the following and letter your answer starting at the first word of the answer:

a. What is the purpose of the Declaration? (paragraph 1)

b. What three natural or unalienable rights do men have? (paragraph 2)

c. Governments get their power from whom? (paragraph 2)

d. What must people do if government abuses its power? (paragraph 2)

2. On the Declaration, number the grievances found. (Hint: there are twenty-eight.)

3. Underline the "action" part of the document. (What are the signers going to do?) (last paragraph)

4. Place brackets around the part that shows the compact or pledge of the signers. (last paragraph)

Part II: In a Group:

1. In your groups, discuss why the grievances are actually the causes of the Revolution.

2. On a separate sheet of paper entitled "Causes of the Revolution," the group should list ten of the causes of the American Revolution.

3. Put a star next to the three causes your group feels were the most important. At the bottom of the page justify why the group chose these causes. Hand in your group assignment by the end of the period.

Revolutionary Ideas: John Locke and Thomas Jefferson

Today we will begin our study of the Declaration of Independence. First, we shall look at how Thomas Jefferson used many of the ideas of English philosopher John Locke (picture) to justify the Colonists' rebellion to the rest of the world.

Click on the title of today's blog to take the quiz.

Causes of the American Revolution Test

To take the test, click on the title of today's blog. The secret word is patriot (shhh!)
When finished with the test, read a book, or work on an assignment from another class.

Good Luck! If you studied, you will do well.

Test Review

Today we review for Monday's test over causes of the American Revolution.
A great way to practice for the test is to play the formative assessment games.
Items on the test:
proclamation of 1763
French and Indian War
Sugar Act
Stamp Act
Quartering Act
Navigation Acts
Boston Massacre
Tea Act
Sons of Liberty
Boston Tea Party
"No taxation without representation"
King George III
English Bill of Rights
Intolerable Acts
Battles of Lexington and Concord
boycott
import
export
writ of assistance
Thomas Gage
martial law
Samuel Adams
Paul Revere
minutemen
"Shot heard 'round the world"
patriot
loyalist
whig
tory

Letter for Reconciliation

Today, we finished the film April Morning. Now students will write a formal letter to
King George III with three goals in mind:

1. Explain how the Battle of Lexington and Concord happened.
2. Justify the actions of the Colonists (give 3 causes)
3. Ask that the Colonists not be punished for their actions.

The letter is due tomorrow at the beginning of the period, along with the movie journal.