Question

In every history class there is a limited amount of time and...

In every history class there is a limited amount of time and teachers must decide what topics, events, and people are absolutely musts for the course, what things they want to include because they are interesting or uniquely valuable, and what topics or sources they simply don't have time to teach.
Your job this week is to practice making the same decisions that teachers make all the time. Make a list of 5 topics, peoples, events, or ideas that you believe a teacher must cover in order to effectively teach the American Revolution. Find 1 primary source and 1 secondary source for each topic and include a 1-3 sentence description of each source. Second, include a 3-5 sentence explanation clarifying why this person, event, topic, or idea is an absolute must. Then discuss how it fits into the general theme of 1760s-80s. Make sure to provide full references in APA format for each item on your list for where you got your information.

Answer 1

Five essential topics to teach the American Revolution include the causes of the revolution, the Declaration of Independence, key battles, the role of international powers, and the Constitution's creation. For each topic, a primary and secondary source provides a deeper understanding of the period, justifying their inclusion as they encapsulate the ideals, events, and impacts of the 1760s-80s.

Step-by-step explanation:

Essential Topics for Teaching the American Revolution

1. The Causes of the American Revolution: For a primary source, the Stamp Act (1765) legislation and grievances can be examined; as a secondary source, a scholarly article analyzing the buildup to the revolution would be appropriate. These sources explain the colonial discontent leading to revolution and serve as a direct reflection of the sentiments at the time and the historian's interpretation of those events. Understanding the causes is crucial as they form the foundation of the revolutionary movement, aligning with the themes of the 1760s and 1770s when the seeds for independence were sown.

2. The Declaration of Independence: A primary source is the original document of the Declaration of Independence (1776), while a secondary source could be a historical analysis of its impact. The Declaration is a must-teach document because it encapsulates the ideals of the revolution and signifies a moral and legal justification for separation from Britain, reflecting the revolutionary era's emphasis on self-governance and liberty.

3. Key Battles of the American Revolution: Primary sources could include maps and firsthand accounts from battles such as Lexington and Concord, along with secondary analyses on the strategic impacts of various battles. Battles are fundamental to understanding the military aspect of the revolution and the overarching strategies that led to American victory, fitting into the wider narrative of the 1770s and 1780s.

4. The Role of International Powers: Treaties such as the Franco-American Alliance can act as primary sources, while scholarly research on the global impact of the war serves as secondary sources. This topic is essential because it demonstrates that the American Revolution was part of a larger international conflict and highlights the importance of foreign aid in the American victory.

5. The Constitution and the Founding of the U.S. Government: The U.S. Constitution serves as a critical primary source, and expert commentaries on its creation and significance serve as secondary sources. Covering the Constitution is non-negotiable as it represents the culmination of revolutionary ideals and the beginning of a new nation's governance, tying back to the themes of the era's political thought.