Revolutionary War Test Part 2:
Scenario:
“It is July 2, 1776 and you are representing your colony’s views on independence in
Philadelphia at the Second Continental Congress. Discussions have been heated
between the Patriots and the Loyalists. In June, a committee was assigned to draft a
declaration of independence and their draft was presented to Congress on June 28. It is
now time to convince the other delegates of Congress to agree with your position.
Should they agree with the Patriots and vote for independence or should they support
the Loyalists position and vote against independence?” You will use primary and
secondary source documents to support your position.
Task: Choose one of the following options to explain your response to
the scenario above. You will use the attached documents to support your
position.
Letter to the Editor – Explain your reasons for
supporting or rejecting American
independence using the documents provided
to cite specific reasons.
Political Cartoon – Illustrate your point of
view in a political cartoon. Include your
reasons for supporting or opposing
independence. Use the documents provided to
support your argument.
Song/Poem – Create a song or poem that
explains your position in favor or against
independence. Use the documents provided to
cite specific reasons.
Advertisement – Create an advertisement or
brochure trying to convince others to support
or oppose independence. Use the documents
provided to cite specific reasons.
Rubric:
TASK
TASK: Scenario
Response
MASTERY
PROGRESSING
BEGINNING
I can correctly
identify arguments for
the Loyalist or Patriot
point of view on
independence and can
use multiple
documents to support
my position.
I can correctly identify
arguments for the
Loyalist or Patriot
point of view on
independence and can
use documents to
support my position.
I can correctly identify
an argument for the
Loyalist or Patriot
point of view on
independence.
Sources
Source 1-Excerpt from Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Small islands not capable of protecting themselves are the proper objects for
government to take under their care; but there is something absurd, in supposing
a Continent to be perpetually governed by an island. In no instance hath nature
made the satellite larger than its primary planet; and as England and America,
with respect to each other, reverse the common order of nature, it is evident that
they belong to different systems. England to Europe: America to itself.
Source 2-A Loyalist is Tarred and Feathered (1774)
The most shocking cruelty occurred a
few nights ago, upon a poor old man
named Malcolm. A quarrel was picked
with him, he was afterward taken and
tarred and feathered. He was stripped
stark naked, on one of the coldest nights
this winter, his body covered all over
with tar, then with feathers, his arm
dislocated in tearing off his clothes. He
was dragged in a cart with thousands
taking part some beating him clubs and
knocking him out of the cart, then in
again. They gave him several severe
whippings, at different parts of
town…These events serve to show the
hopeless state of government and the
lawlessness and barbarism of the times.
No person is safe.
Source 3-An excerpt from Plain Truth by James Chalmers (1776)
Can we suppose the Americans are capable of defending against the power of
Great Britain? Our colonies, covered with navigable rivers, everywhere accessible
to the fleets and armies of Britain, can make no defense. We must view our
colonies, half armed, without money or a navy…Can a reasonable person for a
moment believe that Great Britain…whose political existence depends on our
obedience, who but recently made such tremendous efforts to save us from
France, will not exert herself as powerfully to save us from the wild schemes of
independence?
Source 4-Paul Revere’s Engraving of the Boston Massacre
Source 5- The Boston Massacre, ca 1868 Alonzo Chappel
Source 6- A Comparison of Strength
A Comparison of British and American Military and Financial Power 1775-1783
Country
Great Britain
Army




Colonies



Navy
One of the best
in the world.
Well trained
and well
disciplined
Well equipped
Hired 30,000
Hessians
(German
Mercenaries
Continental
Army created
in 1775
Never more
than 20,000
men at one
time
Problems with
pay and lack of
supplies






Finances
Best in the
world
131 ships of
the line (at
least 64 guns
each)
Hundreds of
other ships


Continental
navy created in
1775
Never
numbered
more than 64
ships at one
time
Most ships
were frigates
(smaller than
ships of the
line)



British pound
Currency of
stable value
Well
established
system of
taxation and
finance
Continental
Dollar
established
1775
Value of dollar
dropped
throughout the
war