The American Revolution and the US Government

The Colonies Before the Revolution

Cluster 1 pays particular attention to the French and Indian War, having students consider the competing interests of various Indigenous and European powers while revisiting the theme of cooperation and conflict that unfolded in Unit 1. Students also see how the interests of the British Crown and many of its subjects in the North American colonies diverged in the aftermath of the war. In the lessons that follow, students examine the first phase of tension between the colonies and the British government by analyzing acts of Parliament, colonial boycotts, protests, and intercolonial initiatives aimed at pushing back against British authority. Throughout Cluster 1, students practice historical thinking with activities that closely analyze the point of view in two sources or source sets about the same historical event and practice explaining the relationship between cause and effect.

The American Revolution and Its Aftermath

In Cluster 2, students study the American Revolution and its aftermath, including the decisions individuals made about whether to stay loyal to the crown or fight for independence. In these lessons, students also consider the decisions of Indigenous peoples about which side of the conflict to support as they worked to determine the outcome of the war that would best safeguard their sovereignty. Throughout the cluster, students explore how the struggle was fought and who participated in the various aspects of the conflict, which involved military battles, economic pressures, boycotts, and a war of words. In doing so, students will come to understand that the American War for Independence held different meanings for different people.

Building the Nation’s New Government

Cluster 3 brings students into the moment when the Revolution’s big questions had to be solved on paper. The colonies had won independence, but they hadn’t agreed on what a new government should look like. Students study how delegates from different states arrived in Philadelphia with competing ideas about rights, representation, and the balance of power. Using short primary sources and accessible constitutional excerpts, they identify the major disagreements leaders faced and track how debate and compromise shaped the final document. As they examine features such as checks and balances, consent of the governed, shared powers, individual freedoms, and the amendment process, students learn how the framers tried to protect citizens while keeping the new country unified. They also evaluate whose interests were protected, whose concerns were minimized, and whose voices were completely missing from the room. Throughout the cluster, students practice interpreting arguments across sources, building claims that connect evidence to the Supporting Question: How did the delegates balance competing interests and ideas about rights when creating the new government?