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| New Laws Needed: Andrew Wilkerson |
Student Activity: Learning About North
Carolina's Role in the American Revolution
The American Revolution had many ramifications on life
today: our political system, our rights and our identity as a
nation. North Carolina had its own role to play and even drafted
its own declaration of independence. The war impacted North Carolina
greatly, especially since it was an agricultural state. But NC
citizens thought that the right to elect their own government
was worth the cost.
As students learn about North Carolina's role in the War
for Independence, they will also consider how that role has influenced
life in the state today.
Objectives
- To learn about the importance of different regions of North Carolina
to the war, how they differed from each other, and how the war impacted
them.
- To discuss what North Carolinians risked to fight for independence.
- To learn how the war influenced the development of different NC
regions.
Estimated Time
In addition to out of class reading, students should prepare
to devote at least 2 class periods to this discussion.
Teaching Strategy
- Give the class a short history of the American Revolution.
- Have the class divide into 3 groups: Mountains, Piedmont, Coast.
Ask each group to go to the library (or to local landmarks if they
are in the region they're representing) and find out what happened
in that particular area during the war. Ask them to gather information
on these topics:
- Battles that were fought in that region
- Economic conditions before and after the war
- If that region was key to the war, and if so, why
- Other ways the region contributed to the war (e.g., signing Declaration
of Independence, drawing up individual declaration, material contributions,
etc.)
- Ways in which the war affected the region (economically, loss
of men, property damage, etc.)
- Take one or two class periods and have the groups share what they
learned. As the groups talk about their findings, discuss what about
the regions may have made their contributions different.
- Did any of the regions lose something of great value? For instance,
did they suffer financially, did many women lose their husbands, did
anyone lose property? Ask the students if they think the colonists
were aware of what the war might cost them and why they joined the
war anyway.
- Talk about ways in which the students can see, in their community,
how the American Revolution affected North Carolina life or legislative
policies.
Relevant NC Curriculum Standards
NC History Standards
- Competency Goal 11: Assess changes over time
- Competency Goal 12: Trace developments in NC history and how they
impact life today
Economics
- Competency Goal 9: Evaluate how North Carolinians use state resources
Political Science
- Competency Goal 8: Examine ways North Carolinians govern themselves
Minority
Groups in the American Revolution
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