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Map of North America depicting Nouvelle France (Canada) and surrounding Great Lakes, with detailed geographical features.
Historical document featuring multiple penny tax stamps with a royal crest and the text "AMERICA ONE PENNY."
Illustration of a man in colonial attire with text about "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" by John Dickinson.
Historical illustration of a ship and a small boat, with figures engaged in trade at a waterfront.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – Chapter 3

46 items

Map of North America depicting Nouvelle France (Canada) and surrounding Great Lakes, with detailed geographical features.
Pontiac’s Rebellion
Essay - 2930 Words

Essay

2930 Words

How did Native Americans fight back against colonist expansion?
Historical document featuring multiple penny tax stamps with a royal crest and the text "AMERICA ONE PENNY."
Stamp Act Resistance
Essay - 2648 Words

Essay

2648 Words

Why did American colonists resist British taxes?
Illustration of a man in colonial attire with text about "Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania" by John Dickinson.
John Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, 1767–1768
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Historical illustration of a ship and a small boat, with figures engaged in trade at a waterfront.
The Boston Tea Party
Essay - 2731 Words

Essay

2731 Words

What does "no taxation without representation" mean?
Document excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776, with text and source information.
Excerpts of the Declaration of Independence
Activity

Activity

Excerpts of the Declaration of Independence and comprehension questions that explore the principles of individual rights, democracy, freedom, and self-government.
Graphic organizer with questions and spaces for document details related to the Declaration of Independence.
The Path to Independence Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

A graphic organizer that helps student understand the documents that proceeded the Declaration of Independence in the Colonist relationship to the British Parliament.
Timeline of British actions and American responses from 1775 to 1776 with dates and key events outlined.
The Path to Independence Timeline
Activity

Activity

A sequencing activity to help students understand the order of the response of the Colonists to the British Parliament.
On the left, a painting shows five Patriots tarring and feathering the Commissioner of Customs, John Malcolm. One Patriot forcibly pours tea from a teapot into Malcolm’s mouth. In the background, the Boston Tea Party and the Liberty Tree are visible. On the Liberty Tree hangs an upside-down paper labeled “Stamp Act.” On the right, an engraving shows a merchant signing a non-importation agreement outdoors on a makeshift table of barrels, surrounded by a crowd of stern-looking people holding thick sticks. Behind him, another man, forcibly held by a group of threatening-looking men, is apparently next in line to sign the agreement. In the background, a bag of tar and a bag of feathers hang from a wooden structure.
Loyalist vs. Patriot
Essay - 2696 Words

Essay

2696 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how British colonial policies regarding North America led to the Revolutionary War and explain how various factors contributed to the American victory in the Revolution.
Thomas Paine's Common Sense primary source
Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Scene depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence with historical figures in a formal setting.
Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence
Essay - 3472 Words

Essay

3472 Words

Why did the colonists declare independence from Britain?
Historical painting of ships in a harbor, featuring various flags and a cloudy sky.
Signing the Declaration of Independence
Essay - 2926 Words

Essay

2926 Words

A handout listing different acts of Parliament with definitions and a vocabulary section.
Acts of Parliament Handout
Activity

Activity

A handout to accompany the excerpted versions of the Acts of Parliament primary source.
Document excerpt titled "Handout B: Excerpts from Acts of Parliament" with text on the Sugar Act of 1764.
Excerpts from Acts of Parliament
Activity

Activity

Excepted text of seven acts of Parliament between the years of 1764-1774.
Graphic organizer for analyzing acts of Parliament affecting the colonies in the 1760s and 1770s.
Acts of Parliament Poster Activity
Activity

Activity

An activity to help students internalize their learning about key information about each act of Parliament that affected the colonies in the 1760s and 1770s.
Portrait of a woman in a blue dress with lace details and a white bonnet, set against a soft background.
Mercy Otis Warren
Essay - 2261 Words

Essay

2261 Words

How did Mercy Otis Warren contribute to the Revolution?
Portraits of Abigail Adams and John Adams, painted by Benjamin Blyth in 1766.
Abigail Adams: “Remember the Ladies” Mini DBQ Packet
Activity

Activity

Excerpted versions of letters between John and Abigail Adams that explore the theme of independence and showcase the role of women in the Colonial world.
George Washington leading troops across the icy Delaware River during the American Revolution.
Washington Crossing the Delaware
Essay - 2271 Words

Essay

2271 Words

Why is Washington's crossing of the Delaware River so famous?
An impressionist painting depicting a historic scene with figures in a boat, carrying flags of the American Revolution.
Art Analysis: Washington Crossing the Delaware
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source imagery to analyze major events in history.
A dramatic painting depicting a chaotic battle scene with soldiers, horses, and smoke in a wooded area.
The Battle of Saratoga and the French Alliance
Essay - 2051 Words

Essay

2051 Words

How did the American colonies win an alliance with France?
Revolutionary War soldiers engage in battle, with smoke rising and a house in the background.
Joseph Plumb Martin, The Adventures of a Revolutionary Soldier, 1777
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A colored engraving of the Maryland State House in Annapolis, featuring a prominent cupola and surrounding buildings.
The Annapolis Convention
Essay - 2864 Words

Essay

2864 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how different forms of government developed and changed as a result of the Revolutionary Period.
The Articles of Confederation primary source
Articles of Confederation (1781)
Primary Source - 3652 Words

Primary Source

3652 Words

This was the first governing document of the United States of America. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in November 1777 and ratified by the states in 1781.
A woodcut depicts Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck, who wears the uniform of an officer of the Continental Army. He holds a sword.
Shays’ Rebellion
Essay - 3013 Words

Essay

3013 Words

How did Shays' Rebellion impact U.S. politics and government?
Painting of delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787, gathered in a large hall.
The Constitutional Convention (LLPH)
Essay - 3622 Words

Essay

3622 Words

What compromises were made at the Constitutional Convention?
Blank comparison chart for analyzing deficiencies in the Articles of Confederation versus solutions in the Constitution.
The Constitutional Convention
Activity

Activity

An activity to help students see the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and the realized need for an amendment to it.
The Constitution primary source
Is the Constitution a Proslavery Document?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Did the Framers of the Constitution draft protections for slavery in the document? Or did they provide mechanisms specifically to put the institution on the path of extinction? Gordon Lloyd and Stuart Leibiger debate this question.
Graphic organizer titled "Point-Counterpoint" with three sections for claims and a comparison of arguments.
Is the Constitution a Proslavery Document Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

40 Min

A handout to accompany the scholarly claims made in the corresponding Point-Counterpoint readings that helps student synthesize the claims put forth.
Bronze statue of George Washington seated on a bench, with a hat and books nearby.
Essay: The Ratification Debate
Essay - 1079 Words

Essay

1079 Words

After the Constitution was completed and signed by 39 delegates on September 17, 1787, many of the debates from Independence Hall continued in the debate over ratification in the states. For the Constitution to go into effect, nine of them would have to ratify (or agree to adopt) it. A party division arose: Federalists argued in favor of ratification, Anti-Federalists against. Leading Federalists James Madison and Alexander Hamilton made a case for ratification in the Federalist Papers. Leading Anti-Federalists Patrick Henry and George Mason (the latter who had attended the Convention but refused to sign the final document) argued that the central government created by the Constitution would be a threat to liberty.
Three historic portraits of American figures: George Mason, Patrick Henry, and Samuel Adams.
Were the Anti-Federalists Unduly Suspicious or Insightful Political Thinkers?
Activity

Activity

40 Min

The Anti-Federalists created significant challenges on the path of ratifying the Constitution. Were their concerns with the document unreasonable, or did they correctly foresee future problems that would arise in the new government? Gordon Lloyd and Adam Tate debate this question.
Graphic organizer for comparing claims in a point-counterpoint format with three sections for arguments and evidence.
Were the Anti-Federalists Unduly Suspicious or Insightful Political Thinkers Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

40 Min

A handout to accompany the scholarly claims made in the corresponding Point-Counterpoint readings that helps student synthesize the claims put forth.
Portrait of a man with white hair and a fur-lined collar, facing slightly to the left against a dark background.
Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
Essay - 2869 Words

Essay

2869 Words

How do religious freedom and religious tolerance differ?
Document from 1793, detailing a resolution and signatures including John Hancock and Samuel Adams.
Belinda Sutton, Petition to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1783
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Northwest Ordinance map
The Northwest Ordinance, 1787
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A historical handwritten document with faded text and ink, showing signs of aging and wear.
Quaker Anti-Slavery Petition, 1783
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
New State Constitutions Essay
Essay - 951 Words

Essay

951 Words

An essay that helps students compare and contrast the State Constitutions of Virginia, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania with the United States Constitution. Comprehension questions are included.
Table comparing constitutional principles in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts from 1776 and 1780.
State Constitution Comparison Graphic Organizer
Activity

Activity

A graphic organizer that helps students compare and contrast the powers delegated by the State Constitutions of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
Handout titled "Constitution of Massachusetts (Excerpts), March 2, 1780," with directions and text excerpts.
Constitution of Massachusetts (Excerpts), March 2, 1780
Activity

Activity

Excerpts of the Massachusetts Constitution that ask students to underline examples of the rights of Englishmen and evidence of constitutional principles, and then complete the Review Activities as directed.
Excerpt from the Constitution of Pennsylvania, dated September 28, 1776, outlining governmental principles and rights.
Constitution of Pennsylvania (Excerpts), September 28, 1776
Activity

Activity

Excerpts of the Pennsylvania Constitution that ask students to underline examples of the rights of Englishmen and evidence of constitutional principles, and then complete the Review Activities as directed.
Handout featuring excerpts from the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of Virginia, dated June 12 and 29, 1776.
The Constitution of Virginia, June 29, 1776 (Excerpts)
Activity

Activity

Excerpts of the Virginia Constitution that ask students to underline examples of the rights of Englishmen and evidence of constitutional principles, and then complete the Review Activities as directed.
A historic gathering of military leaders listening to a speech, depicted in a rustic interior setting.
George Washington at Newburgh
Essay - 3004 Words

Essay

3004 Words

By the end of this section, you will explain how various factors contributed to the American victory in the Revolution.
Portrait of a young woman in a white dress with dark sleeves, seated against a dark background.
Judith Sargent Murray, “On the Equality of the Sexes,” 1790
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
Portrait of a male figure in a brown robe, gesturing with one hand against a muted background.
Junípero Serra’s Baja California Diary
Activity

Activity

40 Min

Use this primary source text to explore key historical events.
A document titled "Handout A: Warm-up Scenario and Reflection Questions" with prompts about project leadership and responsibilities.
Constitutional Convention Warm-Up Scenario
Activity

Activity

An activity that puts students in the Framers mind-set by asking them to consider what it would be like to have to revise a student handbook.
Handout titled "The Quill Project: The Process of Compromise" with directions and discussion questions.
The Quill Project: The Process of Compromise Activity
Activity

Activity

An interactive activity originally developed by the Quill Project based out of Oxford that helps students understand the various compromises made at the Constitutional Convention.
Document titled "Handout B: Background Essay and Questions" discussing the Federal Union and the Great Compromise of 1787.
The Great Compromise of 1787 | Background Essay
Essay - 1376 Words

Essay

1376 Words

A scholarly essay written by Nicholas P. S. Cole that gives student background for and insight into the Constitutional Convention. Comprehension questions are included.
Handout discussing Charles A. Beard's interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, published in 1913.
Primary Source: Charles A. Beard, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States, 1913
Activity

Activity

Excerpted text from Charles A. Beard's "An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States" that asks students to evaluate his arguments for the motivation of the Framers.