American Revolution Webquest

Mira SpurgeonGrade 5Topic: The American RevolutionLearning Objective: Investigate the causes and key events of the American RevolutionFirst, let’s find out how America was first colonized.1. http://www.americaslibrary.gov/index.htmlClick on “Jump Back in Time”, then on “Colonial America”. a) What were the first two English colonies established in America? When was each one founded? _____________________________________________________________ b) What was the main crop for each colony? _____________________________________________________________How did this peaceful colonial life become violent revolution? Let’s find out.2. http://americanhistory.about.com/od/revolutionarywar/a/amer_revolution.htmScroll down to the section titled “Major Events that Led to the American Revolution” a) Pick one action done by the British and explain how it helped lead to the revolution. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ b) Pick one action done by the colonists and explain how it helped lead to the revolution. _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________One of the events that led to the American Revolution was the Boston Tea Party. Let’s find outmore about it.3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwEX_YVyAS4Watch the short video. a) What did the British do to cause the Boston Tea Party? _____________________________________________________________

b) How did the British respond to the Boston Tea Party? _____________________________________________________________ c) What effect did this response have on the colonists? _____________________________________________________________Who were the people who led the Revolutionary Movement? We call them the FoundingFathers.4.http://americanhistory.about.com/od/revolutionarywar/tp/foundingfathers.htmChoose one Founding Father and explain why he was important.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One of the most famous Founding Fathers was George Washington. Let’s explore a portrait ofhim.5. http://www.history.org/history/paintings/george_washington/Click on the blue dots on the painting to find more information. a) What was the name of the army that Washington commanded? _____________________________________________ b) Whom did Washington defeat at the Battle of Trenton? _______________________________________ c) What city is pictured in the background of the painting? _______________________________________But how did the fighting begin?6. http://www.ushistory.org/us/11c.asp a) Why did the British want to seize Lexington and Concord? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ b) What was the name of the militias that defended Lexington and how did they get their name? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________

The American Revolution was more than just a war. It was also an independence movement.Let’s look at an important document of that movement.7. http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/Click on “Document” in the menu on the left. a) What are the “unalienable rights” to which everyone is entitle?___________________________________________________ b) Why did the colonists feel that they were not being given these rights? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________The language of that document is kind of confusing because it was written a long time ago.Let’s look at a simpler version.8. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/government/declaration.htm a) Why did the colonists write the Declaration of Independence? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ b) In your opinion, what was the worst thing that the King of England did to the colonists and why? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________Now that America was independent, it needed it’s own Constitution.9. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/government/constitution.htm a) What was the purpose of the Constitution? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ b) Which part of the government makes the laws? ____________________________ c) Which part of the government commands the army? _________________________ d) Which part of the government judges whether the rest of the government is following the Constitution? _______________________________________But the Constitution alone was not enough. The new nation also needed a Bill of Rights

10. http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/government/billofrights.htm a) How is the Bill of Rights different from the Constitution? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ b) In your opinion, which right is the most important and why? _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________Finally, the United States of America had become an independent country.

Answers1. a) Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620) b) tobacco (Jamestown) and corn (Plymouth)2. a) Answer will depend on event chosen. b) Answer will depend on event chosen.3. a) The British repealed all taxes except the one on tea. b) The British closed Boston harbor. c) Many colonists lost their jobs.4. Answer will depend on Founding Father chosen.5. a) the Continental Army b) the Hessians c) Princeton, New Jersey6. a) They wanted to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock and take the colonists’ gunpowder. b) They were called Minutemen because they could be ready to fight in minutes.7. a) Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness b) The colonists felt oppressed by the British government and military (or similar ideas).8. a) They wanted to explain why they were splitting from England. b) This answer is based on opinion, but should be an item from the list on the website.9. a) The purpose of the Constitution was to set up the structure of the American government. b) Congress c) the President d) the Supreme Court10. a) The Bill of Rights deals with the rights of individuals, while the Constitution sets up the structure of government (or any other valid comparison). b) This answer depends on which right is chosen.

American Revolution Webquest

by Mira Spurgeon

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