Academic U.S. & Virginia History
Mr. Briscoe & Mr. Null
Name: _______________________________
Block: _______
UNIT GUIDE: BIRTH OF THE REPUBLIC
Unit Description
Britain’s victory over France and the Native American nations in 1763 opened the way for a period of
unparalleled peace and prosperity in the thirteen British American colonies along the Atlantic seaboard.
However, Parliament’s decision to tax the American colonies to pay for their own defense upset relations
between the colonies and Great Britain. Many colonial leaders viewed such taxation measures, combined
with increasingly strict enforcement of mercantilist policies, as a direct challenge to their traditions of
self-government. From 1763 to 1775, tensions between the British government and the thirteen colonies
rapidly escalated, despite efforts on both sides to reach a compromise. The shots fired at Lexington and
Concord in April 1775 started the military phase of the American Revolution. The signing of the
Declaration of Independence in July 1776 led to a formal political split with Britain.
While the French and American victory at Yorktown in 1781 forced Britain to accept the loss of her
rebellious colonies, America’s leaders were immediately faced with a host of political, socio-economic,
and diplomatic difficulties. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation compelled America’s
Founders to search for a more workable alternative. The “Miracle at Philadelphia” in 1787 produced the
Constitution of the United States, which laid the groundwork for a strong and enduring federal system.
Schedule of Classes and Topics
While subject to change due to unanticipated school events and cancellations, the schedule offered in each
unit guide is a good indicator of what we will be doing in each class session throughout the unit. Note
that the homework sheets provided separately are numbered in sequential order (H4 & H5) to help keep
you organized. Please keep homework with the unit guide in the appropriate section of your binder.
F Sep 27
Intro to the Unit; Focus 8: America’s First Political Cartoon; French & Indian War;
DUE: Focus 8 (completed in class)
T Oct 1
Intro to Revolution & Constitution Exhibit; Focus 9: Road to Revolution
DUE: Focus 7 (New England and Mid-Atlantic Geography, distributed Sep 25)
TH Oct 3
Road to Revolution (presentations and discussion)
DUE: 1. Homework 4 (H4) attached
2. Focus 9 (completed in class)
M Oct 7
Primary Source Investigation (PSI): Liberalism & the Revolution
DUE: Completed PSI (quiz grade)
W Oct 9
Focus 10: Common Sense & The Crisis; The American Revolution
DUE: Focus 10 (completed in class)
F Oct 11
Library Research for Revolution & Constitution Exhibit
Blocks 2 & 3 only (meet in media center); Block 4 (meet in 208 for pep rally)
W Oct 16
PSAT; Library Research for Exhibit – Blocks 3 & 4 only (meet in media center)
TH Oct 17
Flex 4 will be instructional time (45 minutes) – meet in media center
F Oct 18
Quiz #2: Chapters 3-4 & New England/Mid-Atlantic Geography;
The Articles of Confederation
T Oct 22
Focus 10: Forging the Constitution
DUE: Homework 5 (H5) attached
W Oct 23
Flex 2 will be instructional time (45 minutes) – meet in media center
TH Oct 24
Exhibit Presentations: Revolution
DUE: ALL Exhibit Presentations
M Oct 28
Exhibit Presentations: Constitution
W Oct 30
Unit Test: Birth of the Republic (60 minutes); Quiz #2 Retake (20 minutes)
Focus 11: The Bill of Rights
DUE: 1. Review all unit materials for the unit test (see below)
2. Binder check (in class during the test)
Unit Test (20% of quarter grade)
The unit test on October 30 will consist of a mix of objective and written sections as follows:
*Key Terms (30%) – 15 items, fill in the blank to complete a sentence, word bank provided
*Chronology (5%) – place five events in order from oldest to most recent
*Biography (20%) – 10 items, fill in the blank; word bank provided
*Geography (5%) – 5 items, match terms to locations on a map
*Primary Source Analysis (20%) – answer a question related to primary sources
*Short Essay (20%) – answer a question related to unit content, choices provided
Completing the unit guide reading and homework assignments, as well as all in-class activities, will help
prepare you for the unit test. You will also be able to use selected resources on the test since there is no
retake offered for the second test of the quarter.
Colonial America Unit Test Retake
Once the first unit test is graded and returned to you in early October, information will be provided on the
retake option for the test. Students who have completed all unit materials (including homework, focus
assignments, and class notes) are eligible for the retake, which will be offered on specified dates. The
retake is offered only once and the higher of the two scores will be entered as the final test score (20% of
the quarter grade).
Exhibit: Revolution & Constitution (20% of quarter grade)
The quarter exhibit will be introduced in class on October 1. You will work with at least one other
student to research, create, and present on a topic related to the unit. The exhibit constitutes 20% of your
quarter grade. All exhibits are due by Thursday, October 24.
Important Reminder on Homework
Homework will be checked or collected during the indicated class session for a homework credit.
Incomplete homework will receive a percentage grade (25, 50, or 75) or will be marked in Clarity with a
“Z” (meaning a zero for an assignment that was not attempted). At the end of the unit, all unit
materials will be turned in as part of the unit binder check. At that time, any homework grade that
was less than 100% (or even a “Z”) can be adjusted up to 100% if the work has been subsequently
completed. The important thing is that you have prepared for the unit assessments and any retake
opportunities.
Academic U.S. & Virginia History
Mr. Briscoe & Mr. Null
Name: _______________________________
Block: _______
HOMEWORK 4 (H4) – Birth of the Republic
Please complete the following for the start of class on Thursday, October 3:
1. Read Ch. 3, “The Colonies Come of Age” (section 4 only – “The French and Indian War”) and
Ch. 4, “The War for Independence” (all)
2. Complete the vocabulary and questions below. Feel free to write out your answers on notebook
paper if you need more room. A sample has been provided for you in each case.
Vocabulary Term
French & Indian War
Proclamation of 1763
Sugar Act
Stamp Act
Samuel Adams
Townshend Acts
Boston Massacre
Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts
What/who is it?
Significance in U.S. history?
Minutemen
Second Continental
Congress
Olive Branch Petition
Short Responses
1. Who were the Patriots and Loyalists? Also, offer at least two examples for why each side either
opposed or supported the British government.
Patriots: ____________________________________________________________________
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Loyalists: ______________________________________________________________________
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2. Explain how the following battles were major turning points in the Revolutionary War:
Battle of Trenton (1776): _________________________________________________________
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Battle of Saratoga (1777): _________________________________________________________
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Battle of Yorktown (1781): ________________________________________________________
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Academic U.S. & Virginia History
Mr. Briscoe & Mr. Null
Name: _______________________________
Block: _______
HOMEWORK 5 (H5) – Birth of the Republic
Please complete the following for the start of class on Tuesday, October 22:
1. Read Ch. 5, “Shaping a New Nation” (all)
2. Complete the vocabulary and questions below. Feel free to write out your answers on notebook
paper if you need more room.
Vocabulary Term
republic
Articles of Confederation
Land Ordinance of 1785
(see also pp. 138-39)
Northwest Ordinance
Shays’s Rebellion
James Madison
Great Compromise
Three-Fifths Compromise
federalism
What/who is it?
Significance in U.S. history?
checks and balances
electoral college
Short Reponses
1. What were three major weaknesses of the Confederation government that contributed to political
and economic instability in the 1780s?
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2. Choose either the role of a Federalist or Anti-Federalist and provide three reasons for why the
Constitution should be ratified or not ratified.
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