Road to the American Revolution- British Colonies to Continental Congress

Whether you know the conflict between British and American Colonial forces as the  American Revolution or the American War of Independence, it is important to understand the events that led to this military conflict. 


All political revolutions result from resistance to conditions that are perceived as unfair by the people who are demanding change. The changes brought about by this political revolution can be viewed as both positive and negative. To understand the results of the conflict between the 13 British colonies in America and England the learner will learn about these key events in order to be able to explain the major political and economic factors that led to this military conflict, such as;

1. The 1750s-1763: Colonial trade and the Navigation Acts, mercantilism, and the French and Indian War (Seven Year War), Salutory Neglect, and Rights of British Citizens in the Colonies
                               Key people: King George III and George Washington

2. 1763-1765:  Proclamation Act of 1763, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Stamp Act Congress
                              Key People: Longhunters, Native Nations ( Cherokee, Seneca, Delaware, and Shawnee ), Sons and Daughters of Liberty,  James Otis

3. 1767: Townshend Acts and Boston Massacre
                           Key People: Paul Revere, Crispus Attucks

4. 1773: Tea Act and Boston Tea Party
                          Key People: East India Trading Company

5. 1774: Coercive or  Intolerable Acts and the First Continental Congress 
                          Key People: Loyalists and Patriots

I use a combination of direct instruction, slide images with bullet points, and video clips to encourage learner discussions. My goal is for learners to make connections with the past. I explain content vocabulary to expand understanding for this class and future history classes. Optional primary and secondary historical sources will be provided.

Each lesson is built on the previous lesson. Learners do not need background knowledge of the British colonies and settlers to be successful in this class.


In each lesson, students will learn how the colonists resisted British laws through the use of boycotts, petitions, and congresses. They will learn to identify people who were Loyalists and those who were Royalists. 

Because this class is an overview of key events leading to the American Revolution and is structured for a lower-age learner,  specific details of each Native nation involved in the Seven Years War/French and Indian War will not be discussed. Students will learn about how the British military was aided by the Iroquois, Catawba, and Cherokee nations and thow he French were aided by the  Wabanaki Confederacy member nations Abenaki and Mi'kmaq, and the Algonquin, Lenape, Ojibwa, Ottawa, Shawnee, and Wyandot tribes. 

This class focuses on cause and effect. Students will receive guided notes that help them to understand the overall causes and effects of each specific event (1-5) that led to the American Revolution. 

Learners are provided optional weekly Kahoot! and Blooket review quizzes and links to additional resources through files sent through the classroom posts.