Check Out This Special American Revolution ‘Mix Tape’

By Mary Patterson

Here is my confession: I love teaching about the American Revolution, but according to an online quiz from a non-reputable news source, I would have been a Loyalist. At least I wouldn’t have been alone, because the American Revolution was a civil war.

Professor Rebecca Brannon makes the case for this in one of my favorite essays from the Bill of Rights Institute’s Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness resource: Loyalist v. Patriot. You can also hear me talk with Professor Brannon about this topic on this episode of the BRI podcast. If your students ever ask you why we don’t learn about Canada, tell them to listen to this!

As I alluded to above, I’m super risk-averse, so would I have been able to pledge my life and sacred honor to the cause? It’s a good question and one that is explored most compellingly in this decision point essay, also from Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

I think I loved teaching the American Revolution because it is easy to forget just how harrowing and terrifying it must have been to live through it. To Thomas Paine, it was Common Sense. But really, it was in many cases life or death.

Of course, the Declaration of Independence is the ultimate primary source for this period. BRI has a variety of options to cover this source, depending on how deep you want to go: a new Primary Source Essentials video that releases on Tuesday, Sept. 26, two versions of the scaffolded text with an organizer from Being an American, and a scholar talk with C. Bradley Thompson and my illustrious colleague, Tony Williams. If you have not looked at Tony’s Scholar Talks, they are a fantastic way to expand your own knowledge on a wide variety of topics!

I also really love the primary sources in this lesson from Slavery and the Founding, particularly the watercolor painting, “Soldiers at the Siege of Yorktown,” by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine DeVerger, and James Armistead’s Petition to the Virginia General Assembly. Speaking of life and death, Armistead’s story is a fascinating one. An enslaved double agent, Armistead reported on British troop movements before the Battle of Yorktown. You can learn more about him and how he demonstrated the civic virtue of courage in our updated Heroes and Villains curriculum.

All of these resources and more are part of my American Revolution Mixed Tape playlist, an homage to possibly my favorite topic in the classroom (Loyalist tendencies notwithstanding). Our updated website makes it easier to share these resources with your students with direct links and QR codes. I hope you will give one (or more!) a try.

Until next time, Patriots, be well!

Mary Patterson is a Senior Content Specialist at the Bill of Rights Institute. She is also a former history and government teacher.