Patriot or Loyalist?
A Revolutionary Decision
Scenario
Independence Day is coming soon, and the Baltimore Sun would like to publish a special section on the Revolutionary War in Maryland. As a new reporter for the paper, you jump at the chance to be involved! Your editor feels this is an opportunity to tell both sides of the story, Patriot and Loyalist. Furthermore, she would like you to decide, based on all that you learn: If you had lived during the Revolutionary War, would you have been a Patriot, or would you have been a Loyalist?
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Essential Question: Which aspects of colonists personal lives had the greatest influence on the decision to become a Patriot or a Loyalist? |
Task and Product
Your editor has asked you to work with a group of 5 writers to create a series of articles on the following topics:
Maryland Patriots
Maryland Loyalists
The Price of Being Loyal to the King
African American Loyalists
MD Loyalists: Where Are They Now?
When you are through, you each must write an additional editorial article explaining what your position would have been, Patriot or Loyalist, based on your personal circumstances.
Assessments
Grading for this project will be based on daily participation as well as the final product.
Click here to see how your newspaper article will be assessed.
Question
Essential Question: Which aspects of colonists personal lives had the greatest influence on the decision to become a Patriot or a Loyalist?
Subsidiary questions
- What were the differing beliefs of the Patriots and the Loyalists?
- Did economic factors such as jobs and landownership influence a person's decision to become a Patriot or Loyalist?
- How did religion influence a person's decision?
- Why did African Americans choose to be Loyalists or Patriots?
- Were there social issues that affected colonists' decisions as well (for example; treatment at the hands of other colonists or from family members)?
- Do you consider this an easy decision or a difficult decision to make?
Gather and Sort
Gather information about your topics from a variety of sources.
Sort your research findings using a graphic organizer. You can use this organizer to take notes on people. You can use this organizer to take general notes on Loyalists and Patriots. Be sure to avoid plagiarism and keep track of your resources for a bibliography.
Organize
- What new insights have emerged about your topics?
- Which facts are the most compelling and would have the greatest impact on your audience?
Evaluate: Review the checklist to make sure you have included all the information required. If you have not answered all the questions, go back and use the resources to find the missing information.
