American Revolution, Patriots vs Loyalists
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Debate
Lesson Plans by Kristy Littlehale
Debates are extremely useful for helping students improve many important skills that will translate into their writing and everyday lives. Some of the most important skills students will learn include: public speaking, research, teamwork, critical thinking, independent learning, and creative thinking.
Revolutionary War History
Lesson Plans by Liane Hicks
The American Revolution was a war waged by the 13 American Colonies to overthrow British rule and become an independent nation. Historians agree that it began with the “shot heard round the world” in the battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 and officially ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. The end result was a new nation and a new form of government that inspired the creation of democracies around the world.
Storyboard Description
Compare the Patriots and the Loyalists in this activity! | Compare and Contrast American Revolution
Storyboard Text
- GEORGE WASHINGTON
- PATRIOTS
- KING GEORGE III
- LOYALISTS
- George Washington and Patriots like him believed that America should declare freedom from Great Britain. They believed that people have certain rights that the government cannot take away such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. including the right to property.
- MERCY OTIS WARREN
- "At a time, when our lordly masters in Great Britain will be satisfied with nothing less than the deprivation of American freedom, it seems highly necessary that something should be done to ...maintain [liberty]"-George Washington
- Loyalists were colonists that felt a prosperous Great Britain was good for all, that as British subjects they should obey the laws. To do otherwise was treason. The taxes imposed helped Great Britain and in turn helped the colonists. They believed that the British Empire was the greatest empire in the world.
- THOMAS HUTCHINSON
- “I wish nothing but good; therefore, everyone who does not agree with me is a traitor and a scoundrel.” - King George III
- "The rights of the individual should be the primary object of all governments." - Mercy Otis Warren
- "There is nothing so easy as to persuade people that they are badly governed." - Thomas Hutchinson, Mass. Governor
- Mercy Otis Warren wrote in support of independence and individual rights. Patriots believed in "No Taxation without Representation" because the colonies had no voice in Parliament and no say over taxes and laws that would affect their livelihoods. They believed taxes made it difficult to earn a living.
- BEN FRANKLIN
- "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."- Ben Franklin
- Loyalists thought paying taxes ensured their protection and profit through trade. Loyalists like Thomas Hutchinson believed that the King had far more wisdom and experience and that it was colonists' duty to obey. Colonists could not expect to have representation in parliament as they were so far away.
- JONATHAN BOUCHER
- Conflicts with the British were causing violence and Patriots like Ben Franklin tried to persuade Britain to stop making unfair laws. When they saw Parliament and the King would not bend, they felt they could no longer trust Britain and had to seize their independence. They felt it was their God-given duty to overthrow a tyrannical government.
- THOMAS JEFFERSON
- Loyalists believed the colonies were not strong enough on their own and did not have the right or ability to self-govern. Loyalists like Jonathan Boucher believed that the King's right to rule came from God and that disobeying the King was like disobeying God. He also argued that engaging in a war would cause more damage than paying extra taxes.
- LORD DUNMORE
- "to be very popular ... it is necessary to be ... like the people...wrong-headed, ignorant, and prone to resist authority." -Jonathan Boucher, Maryland religious leader
- "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical." - Thomas Jefferson
- "all indentured servants, [enslaved men]... that are able and willing to bear arms [will get their freedom if they join the royal army]" - Lord Dunmore, Governor of Virginia
- Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. He and other Patriots felt the colonies should be able to create their own government. He felt that the British government was impeding their economic growth, denying them their civil liberties, and that the government should come from the people.
- Loyalists believed that since Great Britain started the colonies and protected them, it was their duty to obey its laws. Fighting for independence would hurt the economy more than taxes. Lord Dunmore incited enslaved people to join him against the Patriots. He promised that if they fought with the British they would be freed after the war.
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