SED 5485 Project

Day 1

Your objective is to understand the basic causes of both the American and French Revolutions.

American Revolution

Watch this short clip about the Declaration of Independence.

http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#declaration-of-independence

Readt hrough this explanation of American and British tensions; click on several of the actual sources.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/web01/segment3.html

                Consider and answer the following questions in complete sentences:

                                -What were the main reasons that the colonists were unhappy with Great Britain?

                                -What had the colonists tried to find a peaceful solution?

                                -How did the colonists give notice of their revolt?

                                -Do you think the colonists were justified in their actions? Why or why not?

French Revolution:

Watch this short clip about the beginning of the French Revolution:

http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution/videos#robespierre-and-the-reign-of-terror

Read this collection of reasons and sources for French resentment:

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/year8links/frenchrevolution_causes.shtml

Consider and answer the following questions in complete sentences:

                                -What were the main reasons that the people of Paris were unhappy with the rulers of France?

                                -What had the citizens tried to find a peaceful solution?

                                -How did the colonists give notice of their revolt?

                                -Do you think the colonists were justified in their actions? Why or why not?

Turn in your answers at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Day 2

Your objective is to draw a persuasive political cartoon in favor of one of the revolutions.

To get a better understanding of the emotions of the time, your job is to “travel”back in time to either the American colonies or France during their uprisings.You will play the part of a newspaper editor, in which you will draw and publish a persuasive political cartoon to help sway the common people to take part in the revolution.

Read this guide about political cartoons

http://www.eastconn.org/tah/1011DC1_ElementsSymbolsPoliticalCartoons.pdf

Choose one of the major cities in France, or one of the major cities in the 13 colonies to publish your cartoon

Useat least two of the common political cartoon elements and two examples of symbolism in your cartoon.

Turn in your political cartoon tomorrow at the start of class tomorrow.

Day 3

Your objective is to compare George Washington and Maximilien Robespierre’s leadership in their respective revolutions.

French Revolution: Maximilien Robespierre

Watch this short clip about Maximilien Robespierre.

http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution/videos#robespierre-and-the-reign-of-terror

Readt his abbreviated biography on Robespierre

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b2robespierre.htm

-Consider and answer the following questions incomplete sentences:

                                -How did Robespierre motivate the people of France?

                                -What did Robespierre do with the power that was given to him?

                                -What happened to Robespierre at the end of the revolution?

                                -What do you think motivated Robespierre to be a leader?

                                -Why do you think he made the decision to increase the Great Terror?

                                -What legacy did Robespierre leave his followers? France?

American Revolution: George Washington

Watch this short clip about George Washington.

http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/videos#george-washington

Read this abbreviated biography on George Washington

http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b4washingtong.htm

-Consider and answer the following questions incomplete sentences:

                                -How did Washington motivate the people of the American colonies?

                                -What did Washington do with the power that was given to him?

                                -What happenedto Washington at the end of the revolution?

                                -What do you think motivated Washington to be a leader?

                                -Why do you think he made the decision to step down after the Revolution?

                                -What legacy did Washington leave his followers? The United States?

Turn in your answers at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Day 4

Your objective for your group is to set up a government in the wake of the revolution that benefits all the different interest groups in your country.

1)      Get into your assigned group of 3.

2)      Each of you will represent a different class of society: nobles (upper class), clergy, commoners(workers)

3)      Together discuss what kind of laws the group you represent will support; what do you agree on? What do you disagree on?

4)      Read the Declarations of the Rights of Man

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rightsof.asp

5)      Read the AmericanBill of Rights

http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rights1.asp

6)       Based on what you read, draft a document that represents the rights of the people. You can onlyhave 10 major points on the document, so you must choose which are the mostimportant. Each member of your group must sign off on the document.

7)      Go to http://freedom.indiemaps.com/ to see a map of the world related to human rights. Which continents and countries lead the world in human rights? Which continents and countries are known for not having many human rights?

8)      Turn in your document at the end of class.

Day 5

Your objectiveis to write a 1250-1500 word opinion essay about why the two revolutions wereso different and yielded different results. Draw from information that you havelearned this week to make convincing and accurate arguments. Which do you thinkwas harder to pull off? Why do you think the United States refused to helpFrance in their revolution, when France had helped the United States? Do youagree with one or both of the revolutions? If you lived in France or the UnitedStates at the time, would you have supported the revolutions?

Makesure you pay attention to the MLA writing guide, as well as the rules ofgrammar. Be careful not to plagiarize from other sources, but use your ownwords.

Turnin your essay on Monday at the beginning of class.