Unit 2: The American Revolution and Principles of United States Government

We recommend that teachers new to Investigating History review the Curriculum Guidebook before preparing to teach their first unit.

Cluster 1: The Colonies Before the Revolution (Lessons 1-6)
How did the outcome of the French and Indian War affect the relationships among Indigenous nations, the colonies and Great Britain? 

Lesson 1: Who Governed the Colonies? 

Lesson 2: Perspectives on the French and Indian War

Lesson 3: Outcomes of the French and Indian War

Lesson 4: Taxes and Representation: The Sugar and Stamp Acts 

Lesson 5: Boston Erupts! People and Perspectives in Conflict 

Lesson 6: Dueling Dialogues from the Pre-Revolutionary Years

Cluster 2: The American Revolution and Its Aftermath (Lessons 7-13)
How did the events and ideas of the Revolution change people’s lives?
How did the cooperation and efforts of different groups help the states to win independence?

Lesson 7: The Start of the American Revolution: Perspectives on Lexington and Concord

Lesson 8: Choosing Sides: Loyalist, Patriot, or Neutral?

Lesson 9: The Declaration of Independence, Simplified

Lesson 10: Revolutionary Ideas: Elizabeth Freeman and the Power of Words

Lesson 11: Inquiry Cycle: Cooperating for Independence — The Role of Delegates to Congress

Lesson 12: Inquiry Cycle: Cooperating for Independence — Contributions Across Society

Lesson 13: Inquiry Cycle: Cooperating for Independence — A Patriotic Dialogue

Cluster 3: Building a New Government (Lessons 16-21)
After independence, why did Americans believe they needed a Constitution? How did they decide what the Constitution would say?

Lesson 16: Creating a Constitution

Lesson 17: Who Wasn’t In the Room When the Constitution Was Written? (And What Might They Have Wanted to Say?)

Lesson 18: The Big Ideas Behind the U.S. Constitution

Lesson 19: The Harshest Compromise of All: The Constitution and Slavery

Lesson 20: Amending the Constitution: The Bill of Rights

Lesson 21: Putting It Together: The Constitution & the Bill of Rights (Summative Assessment, Part 2)

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