About Unit 4

💭 Essential Question: How are the causes, impact, and ideals of the American Revolution historically significant to the story of the United States?

Unit 4: The American Revolution (1754-1783) prioritizes the American Revolution as a historically significant event to the story of the United States. The unit contextualizes the era preceding the American Revolution by giving opportunities to explore the anglicization of the colonies, where white colonists increased their loyalty to the British crown. The post-French and Indian War 1760s, however, ushered in a turning point in colonial identity, where colonists began to question whether their Britishness was inherent to their identity. Students will dive into their transformative era by analyzing the causes of the American Revolution. The “final” causes, the Declaration of Independence further highlights the historical significance of this moment by acknowledging America’s founding as a nation of ideals, unlike most historical nations founded on ethnic or geographic identity. Still, the nation was geographically bound and privileged certain ethnicities, bringing to light the paradox of the American founding: liberty and slavery. Through analysis of this document and others that appealed to it, students can begin to uncover this paradox. Finally, students will explore how those ideals impacted the social and political status of different groups, especially through their final assessment, a curated research paper (CRP) exploring the roles that women held during the American Revolution.