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Summary and Objective
In this activity, students will examine these 2 different opinions that divided the colonists during the time of the Revolution. Students will understand that the path to freedom was unclear. Students will identify reasons why one group may have chosen a different viewpoint than the other. Using primary sources they will see how this struggle over the choice of independence from England was also felt in Deerfield, Mass.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Pre-activity: Divide the class into 2 groups, the Tories (loyalists) and the Whigs (patriots). Give each group an assignment: the Whig group will read "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine (see link below, or the teacher will provide a copy to each group member); the Tory group will read "Plain Truth" by James Chalmers (see link below, or teacher provides copies -- this document requires Acrobat Reader). During class time, each group will outline the major reasons that a colonist would pick either side from the information gathered from these articles.
Step 2.
Lead the group in a discussion on the "American Revolution in the Connecticut River Valley" (see link below). Each group will think about Western Massachusetts and what was happening at the time of the American Revolution in terms of social, ecomomic and political aspects. They will examine the question: What factors would lead a colonist to take a particular side in this struggle?
Step 3.
Each group will examine the five items from the digital collection (pages 40-46 in Deerfield History, pages 3-7 of "An Old Custom"-The Liberty Pole of Deerfield 1774, and pages 82-83 in the Journal of Elihu Ashley). They will discuss how these 2 groups lived together in a small community. What might be the consequences of sharing one's views? Using the items from the collection, students will look for examples to support their thoughts.
Step 4.
Each group will compose a letter to a fictitious friend interpreting the Boston Tea Party from their respective point of view.
Step 5.
Post activity: The groups will consider where in the United States today we see different political opinions and how they work together. How has the government been designed to allow for different opinions?
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