American Liberty Revival

Grade Level: 5-8

Subject: Social Studies/Language Arts

The Fourth of July is a holiday that sparks massive fireworks displays and festive barbecues. For most Americans, celebrating this day is a way to remember that we enjoy and appreciate our liberty as an independent nation. Without the Declaration of Independence, ratified on July 4, 1776, the United States would have a very different history and a different role in the global society.

The Declaration formally broke England's governance over American residents. Of course, a lot of fighting and debate surrounded the actual signing event. Many believe that the Stamp Act of 1765 served as the initial catalyst for revolution. Protests over British rule grew louder over the next decade. In 1778, the revolution escalated into a world war when France became the young nation's first ally. The Bill of Rights was not passed until 1791.

During this week's lesson, you will learn enough about the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence to be properly armed in reminding family and friends exactly why they celebrate their liberty on the Fourth of July. You will also discover how the well-crafted Declaration illustrates the pen's power of persuasion.

Give Me Liberty!

Begin your journey at the PBS site Liberty: The American Revolution. As you browse through events, click every underlined key term to learn more about that event or person. Watch and listen to the related videos, where available.

Start with the Timeline of the Revolution to get a brief overview of events. What was the Stamp Act, and why did Americans protest it? What did Thomas Paine do that encouraged revolutionary thinking? What were the four promises contained within the Northwest Ordinance?

Next, explore a few of those key events in-depth through a Chronicle of the Revolution. Review Boston 1774, Philadelphia 1776, Trenton 1776, Saratoga 1777, Yorktown 1781, and then return to Philadelphia 1791. Based on what you have learned about events and people during this era, create a realistic character using your imagination—for example, he or she could be a politician, a farmer, a housekeeper, a newspaper printer, or a merchant. Briefly describe your character's age, occupation, residence, and political leanings. Compose one essay reflecting on each event—from Boston 1774 through Philadelphia 1791—as if you were writing in a personal journal or diary. In what ways does each event affect your life?

Now, get some Perspectives on Liberty. Check out Daily Life in the Colonies, The Global Village, and Military Perspectives. Lastly, play The Road to Revolution game. Record a few of your favorite trivia questions to test your family and friends.

Power of the Pen

Visit The Charters of Freedom to take a closer look at the Declaration of Independence.

Carefully read a transcript of the document. You may wish to print the text so you can read it more easily and make notes on it. As you examine the Declaration, identify and list the colonists' complaints. Choose one complaint and explain it more thoroughly, citing examples you learned about in this or in other lessons you may find while doing further research. As a second exercise, summarize how the new republic intended to govern itself.

Before leaving this site, read A History of the document. Also, print and analyze The Virginia Declaration of Rights. Use a highlighting marker to show which parts of that document you think Thomas Jefferson used as inspiration for the national Declaration of Independence.

Discuss with classmates how the Declaration's writers carefully crafted the language that they used in the document. How is the document structured in terms of having a beginning, middle, and an end? How did the writers choose to present their viewpoint persuasively?

Newspaper Activities

Review articles in The Sacramento Bee to find one that features an issue in your community over which two or more groups of people are debating. For example, you may find issues currently being debated by your city council and members of the general public. Read and analyze the article, along with any related archived articles about the issue. In writing, summarize the debated issue. Also, write a list of what each group wants or does not want related to the issue. Choose one group to represent. Write a thoughtful, well-organized persuasive argument declaring why you think your group's viewpoint should be favored in resolving the issue.