Adam Cloutier
2/12/13
EDC 441
Text Set- American Revolution
Guiding Question
1. What were the primary causes of the American Revolution, stemming from the beginning of the
French and Indian War to the first shots fired at Lexington and Concord?
Text Set
1. American History Textbook
Dallek, Robert, Jesus Garcia, Donna M. Ogle, and C. Fredrick Risinger. American History. New York:
McDougal Littlell, n.d. Print.
This off-line text is an academic textbook that is used in many high school curriculums. It is a
pretty long piece of literature, as are most official textbooks. It is broken up into multiple
sections based on time periods, which included a handful of chapters each.
This textbook is an average high school learning tool that covers the basic topics that are taught
about American history, and, more specifically for the purposes of this text set, the American
Revolution. The language used in this book is very basic and is written in a way to keep students
of most reading levels on task. While this isn’t always the most exciting teaching tool in a
teacher’s arsenal, using an academic textbook is the foundation to any text set in any subject
area. Every other text included in this set is a branch off of the information found in this text.
During my quantitative analysis of this text, I found some varying scores. All three of the
methods I used were done by using the average number of syllables and sentences in 3 separate
100 word sections of the text. Using the Fry Graph, I determined that this textbook sits on the
border of a 11th and 12th grade reading level. This tells me that this textbook can be used in high
school classrooms that included students that are in 11th or 12th grade classrooms. Using the
Flesch Reading Ease test (FRES), this textbook scored a 65.04. According to the scoring chart,
this particular score says that this text should be easily understood by 13-to 15-year-old
students, which falls into the category of high school students as well. However, the FleschKincaid Grade Level Test determined that this text was fitted for a 6th grade reading level, as it
scored a 6.2. I found that interesting, since this textbook is used in a variety of high school
curriculums. Regardless, judging by the previous two tests, this textbook is qualified to be read
by high school students.
2. Online database on The French and Indian War
"Cause of the French and Indian War." frenchandindianwar.info. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2013.
<http://frenchandindianwar.info/causes>.
This text was found on an online data base. The information on this data base is broken up into
4-8 paragraph long essays, making the information included in the source more organized.
This online data base is an excellent resource for students to learn about the French and Indian
War, which in many ways laid the foundation for the American Revolution. While a lot of the
information found in this database can be found in a multitude of textbooks, I see it as a nice
change of pace for students learning about this subject. The information from this database
breaks down the French and Indian War into specific sections. Also, unlike most high school
textbooks, this source of information is focused solely on this particular war, so it provides a
plethora of information on a topic that isn’t really covered very much in most curriculums. The
source does a great job of introducing the topic, making in-depth prior knowledge not a
requirement. This is a great tool for students to gain knowledge on an unfamiliar topic. The
language is very similar to that of academic textbooks and there weren’t any words or
expressions that I read that seemed out of place and that could potentially stump students.
3. 1776 by David McCullough
McCullough, David G. 1776. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005. Print.
This book is an off-line print and a narrative that is structured into informative chapters. It is 368
pages in length.
This Pulitzer Prize winning novel, 1776, might be my favorite addition to this knowledgeable text
set. This book, written by renowned historical author David McCullough, is a tribute to the
handful of farmers, preachers, stablemen and soldiers who changed the course of our history
with daring acts of valor and courage. What is great about this text is the way McCullough is
able to draw in historical knowledge from numerous American and British archives and still
make this a readable narrative. It probably contains more facts about the year of the Declaration
of Independence than most academic textbooks. This story puts you in the shoes of actual
historical figures during that time period, while at the same time educating readers about the
timeline of events that transpired after British Parliament and King George III declared the 13
colonies in “rebellion”. It helps to have a decent background on the events that took place
during the Revolution, but it is certainly not required to enjoy and learn from the book. This sits
at the top of my favorite historical narratives, and is a must read for any high school history
student (or anyone for that matter).
4. April Morning by Howard Fast
Fast, Howard. April Morning, a Novel. New York: Crown, 1961. Print.
This book is an off-line print novel. It is 184 pages in length and is structured into concise
chapters.
This novel, much like 1776, takes a pivotal event during the American Revolution timeline and
takes a narrative approach to it, making it a more interesting and readable piece of literature. In
April Morning, Howard Fast gives you the perspective of the Battle of Lexington and Concord,
the first official shots that were fired between the colonists and the British regulars during the
American Revolution, through the eyes of a fictional teenager, Adam Cooper. The entire book’s
time span is 27 hours, and the chapters are broken up into times of the day (i.e, The Forenoon,
The Midday, ect). In such a short period of time, Fast depicts the events that took place during
and after the first shots of the Revolutionary War through the eyes of a civilian, a civilian who
also happens to be working out some differences with his father throughout the novel. Factual
information is given throughout the story, making this narrative a reliable text for teaching
about the American Revolution. In terms of sources pertaining to this particular time period,
April Morning is a very common tool used in high school curriculums across the nation that
requires no prior knowledge of the events covered within. It is a relatively easy read, and it gives
you a standpoint of the Revolution through the eyes of a teenage boy.
5. Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Paine, Thomas. Common Sense. Philadelphia: W & T Bradford, 1776. Bartleby.com. New York,
Bartleby.com, 1999. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
This is an online text that is a copy of the original book. While the word count was included, it is
of moderate length, and it is separated into sections that are organized from its introduction to
its conclusion.
Thomas Paine was one of most influential men of his time, mainly due to this convincing
colonial pamphlet, Common Sense. In short, his text argued for independence from Great
Britain and how a brand new nation could eventually thrive without the oppressive assistance
from the Mother Country. The effect his work had on the inhabitants of the colonies is without
question one of the turning points for hopes of America becoming an independent nation. While
some of the language is aged, outdated and possibly unfamiliar to some students, this online
source does an excellent job of breaking up Paine’s work into sections, and also offers
biographical information about Thomas Paine. In terms of historical documents, Common Sense
is something that should definitely be analyzed in high school history classes. This is a text that
requires some knowledge as to its purpose in American history. It was the major motivational
tool that convinced many colonists who were on the fence about breaking off from King George
to side with the radical revolutionaries, and present students can surely benefit from examining
this historical text.
6. Olive Branch Petition by John Dickinson
Dickinson, John. "Olive Branch Petition." Letter to King George III/ British Parliament. 8 July 1775. MS.
Second Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This is an online text that has been copied from its original document and put onto a wiki space.
A word count is not included on the page, but it is in essay format and is about 1-2 pages in
length.
John Dickenson’s Olive Branch Petition was written by John Dickenson and adopted by the
Second Continental Congress in 1775, and was used as a last ditch effort to reconcile with King
George in the hopes to prevent an all out war. This petition was denied by Great Britain, and a
few short weeks after its delivery to England, King George declared the colonies as rebellious. I
chose this specific document for this text set because I feel that it clears up the colonies’
intentions during the Revolution. I sense that many that are uneducated about the Revolution
believe that we welcomed war as a chance to win our freedom through feats of military
strength and strategy. In fact, our forefathers did everything they could to make peace with
Great Britain because they initially thought there was no chance they could win their freedom
throughout combat. This explanation is exactly why this document is included in my text set. It is
a great way for students to learn about America’s last attempt to reconcile with the Mother
Country, and to at least show one example that while our ancestors weren’t the war hungry
rebels that they have been mistakenly portrayed as by some writers. The language is a little bit
outdated but it isn’t a very difficult read for students of a high school reading level.
7. Declaration of Independence
United States of America. The Declaration of Independence. Philadelphia: John Dunlap, 1776.
Archives.gov. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/>.
This online source is in essay format and it an exact word for word copy of the original legal
document, including the signatures of delegates from the 13 colonies. It is of moderate length.
The Declaration of Independence is probably one of the most well known (if not THE most well
known) historical American documents in our short but eventful history. It illustrates the birth of
a nation through colonial language, which can be tricky at times to read. It is the centerpiece of
the history of the American Revolution, and its creation exemplified the unity between the
colonies during the height of the Revolutionary War. Every textbook has a section dedicated to
this significant document, including the one I have included in this text set. But what better way
to learn about our forefather’s triumphs than through examining the actual document? This text
was found in a government archive that contains numerous other historical documents, such as
the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. It even provides insight on the impact that these charters
had in a separate section on the government database, which can be a great teaching tool in
order to summarize the document and make it easier to understand for students. The online
print contains some old word language but overall it isn’t a very difficult read. It is
recommended that students look at the document and analyze it in pieces in class with a
teacher. In terms of relevant and educational documents, it doesn’t get much better than this.
8. Colonial images- “Join or Die” and “Boston Massacre”
Franklin, Benjamin. Join or Die. 1754. Colonial Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. Join or Die. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N.
pag. Colonial Williamsburg. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.history.org/history/teaching/enewsletter/volume5/november06/primsource.cfm>.
Revere, Paul. The Boston Massacre. 1770. Boston Massacre Histrorical Society, Boston. The Boston
Massacre. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Boston Massacre Historical Society. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
<http://www.bostonmassacre.net/gravure.htm>.
These colonial images are both excellent teaching tools. They say a picture is worth a thousand
words. While these two images may not be worth that much, they both do an excellent job of
illustrating their impact on society during their respective time periods. The first image (Join or
Die) was created by Benjamin Franklin during the 1760’s to exemplify the need for unity
amongst the colonies during the start of the French and Indian War. The Boston Massacre
portrait is an excellent example of early propaganda that was used to sway the general opinion
of the public during the start of the American Revolution. Each image has an important place in
early American history, and using them in place of actual text is a great way to differentiate
instruction to students.
9. Scene from “The Patriot”
The Patriot. Dir. Roland Emmerich. Perf. Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. 2000. YouTube.com. Web. 12
Feb. 2013. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTz-kUVvQEY>. (4:30-5:20)
This is a 50 second clip of the motion picture The Patriot” (2000), starring Mel Gibson, that was
found on YouTube. The clip contains some mature content (shooting, blood, death) but it isn’t
over the top in terms of inappropriateness. However, depending on the grade level of high
school students, receiving a parent’s signature from the students before viewing this clip
wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
This scene from the movie “The Patriot” is yet another way for students to see how life was
during the time of the American Revolution, with a little bit of a theatrical twist. The clip that I
chose is a battle scene that appears at the end of the film. The point of showing this scene is to
show students how the average battles looked during the Revolution. This is an important
aspect of the war because the fighting style during the Revolution was very unique and it was on
the battlefield of the New World where the war turned in the favor for the colonies. Students
will learn about how the British were so lethal with this particular fighting style, and it ended up
being their monumental success with this particular fighting style that ended up being their
downfall in the war. This point is much better illustrated from viewing a motion picture
reenactment. The length of the clip is less than a minute, making it a quick and easy view for
students that gets its point across efficiently.
10. “The Road to Revolution” online game (http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/road.html)
Pbs.com. "The Road to Revolution" Online Interactive Game. N.d. A game on pbs.com that takes you
through the American Revolution timeline and asks you questions in order to advance to different levels
in the game.
This is an online game that is found on pbs.com. It is a very brief game that is broken up into
sections.
PBS has provided a very basic, yet interesting learning tool with “The Road to Revolution” online
game. It is an interactive study tool that takes you through the American Revolution timeline of
events, starting with the end of the French and Indian War. The game asks you questions along
the way in order to give you a sense of what was going on during that specific time period. It
brings up a plethora or historical terms, such as the British economic acts like the Stamp and
Intolerable Acts, and also challenges players to remember certain historical characters that were
associated with particular battles, literature and political events. This interactive online game is
just another way to differentiate learning to your students, much like the short YouTube clip
from “The Patriot”. It covers the American Revolution in the most basic possible way, making it
easy to complete and beneficial to students learning about the Revolution.