The American Revolution and Beyond

1. In this module, you will learn about the issues facing the Revolutionary generation.  The American Revolution was a watershed moment in American History: it created America!  What the American Revolution meant to people who lived through it, of course, was much different than what it will mean to future generations.
2. In this module, you will complete a number of assignments that will enhance your understanding of the American Revolution.  Let me know if you have any questions.
3. What to Expect:
4. Texts and readings: You will read the textbook as well as additional sources to further your understanding of this period.  Remember, the people who lived in the past were real, and they did not know how the choices they made would affect their futures.
5. Assessments-You will explore the arguments against and in favor of the Radicalism of the American Revolution.  You will also explore one of the most important documents in American history: The US Constitution.

The material and assessments in this module will be used to assess Outcomes:

1. Discuss the historical development of pre-civil war America, including the key political, social, cultural, artistic and economic forces that shaped the nation.
2. Discuss varying interpretations of institutions, people, practices, and events throughout this period, including ethics and motivations.
3. Identify and analyze problems throughout this period, such as factors leading to the Revolution and the Civil War.
4. Employ appropriate research methodologies to study major topics in US History and to produce clear, well-organized and accurate term papers and journal critiques to communicate knowledge of US History, according to AHA standards.

Chapter 8-10 Assessment

At the end of each chapter, there are critical thinking exercises.  Choose ONE question from each chapter and submit your answer here.

Chapter 8:

1. Why would delegates to the Second Continental Congress hope

that the colonies and the mother country could be reconciled? Why

did they ultimately change their minds?

• Why do you think that Thomas Jefferson and those on the

committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence decided

to use the “pursuit of happiness” instead of John Locke’s

“property” as a natural right?

• What could the British have done to prevent violence at Lexington

and Concord?

• How did the ideas of the revolution inspire abolitionists such as

Benjamin Franklin?

Chapter 9:

1. How did the state constitutions show the promise and the limits of

American revolutionary thought?

• During the ratification period, supporters of the Constitution

referred to themselves as “Federalists,” even though they

supported a government that could be called national due to its

structure and the central government’s amount of accrued power.

Why did they choose this name? What did they hope to achieve

among the American populace? And why was Antifederalists, the

name taken by the opponents of the Constitution, an unfortunate

choice?

• In what ways did the “necessary and proper clause” and the Tenth

Amendment create the basis for conflict between the states and the

national government?

• Why is the Tenth Amendment a natural inclusion in a statement of

rights that belong to U.S. citizens?

Chapter 10:

1. Throughout American history, international developments have

affected domestic public policy. How did they alter the nation’s

course in the Federalist Era? How might the experiences of George

Washington and John Adams compare to the presidents of the

twenty-first century?

• Political parties in the United States have constantly evolved. How

do Federalists and Republicans in the first party system compare

to the Democrats and Republicans today? What similarities and

differences do you see between these parties in terms of political

philosophy and important public policy issues?

• The popular press played an active role in the political debates of

the 1790s. What did the newspapers provide to national leaders,

and why did they become so important? How do the papers of the 1790s compare to modern social media? Do they play the same

Role?

Rubric

Assignment (1)

Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Student answered the Questions Completely	15 pts Full Marks 12 pts Good 8 pts Needs Improvement 0 pts No Marks	15 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Student Used Evidence/Examples from text/lectures when answering the questions	10 pts Full Marks 8 pts Good 5 pts Needs Improvement 0 pts No Marks	10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Student Used Appropriate Academic Style/Grammar When Writing Answers	5 pts Full Marks 4 pts Good 3 pts Average 0 pts No Marks	5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Outcome 1 Discuss the historical development of pre-civil war America, including the key political, social, cultural, artistic and economic forces that shaped the nation. threshold: 3.0 pts	0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations 0 pts Exceeds Expectations 0 pts Meets Expectations	0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Outcome 2 Discuss varying interpretations of institutions, people, practices and events throughout this period, including ethics and motivations. threshold: 3.0 pts	0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations 0 pts Exceeds Expectations 0 pts Meets Expectations	0 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Outcome 4 Relate the events, ideas and people of pre-civil war America with present societal conditions. threshold: 3.0 pts	0 pts Does Not Meet Expectations 0 pts Exceeds Expectations 0 pts Meets Expectations	0 pts
Total Points: 30