Lesson Plan - Fighting for Freedom

Watch the Video
Build background knowledge with the video “What You Need to Know About the American Revolution.” Discuss: According to the video, why did many colonists become “fed up” and begin thinking about breaking free from Britain? 

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• militia
• boycotted

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify events that led to the start of the American Revolution.

1. What is meant by the saying “taxation without representation”?
The saying “taxation without representation” means being forced to pay taxes to a government in which one does not get to vote. The article explains, “[The colonists] had been forced to pay a series of taxes, or extra fees, on items like sugar, glass, paper, and tea. But they had no voice in the British government.”
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2. Why does the author write that “the British troops were in for a surprise”?
The author writes that “the British troops were in for a surprise” because the colonial fighters turned out to be more skilled and organized than the British had expected. The colonial fighters were not trained soldiers like the British were, but managed to move their weapons and supplies from Concord and turned out in large numbers to face the British.
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3. Based on the article, why were the battles of Lexington and Concord important events in U.S. history?
The battles of Lexington and Concord were important events in U.S. history because they were the first battles in the American Revolution. The colonists showed that they were willing and able to stand up to the British. In addition, the article notes that “the battles of Lexington and Concord united the Colonies like never before.”
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FEATURED SKILL: Paired Text
Inform students that Paul Revere’s ride to warn residents of the impending British attack is the subject of a well-known poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Use the skill builder “Revere’s Famous Ride” to read and analyze an excerpt from the poem.
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