Lesson Plan
Title: A Little Rebellion is a Good Thing
Challenge Question: What was the scope of Jefferson’s influence on bringing the country from a government that was tested by rebellion and failed to one that was tested by rebellion and succeeded?
Grade level: Middle (6-8)
Topic/subject: (pick topics or subjects, as many as applicable. Add your own as needed)
Author Information:
Name: Katherine Yeffa Orenberg
Email: kmyeffa@gmail.com
School: Pleasanton Middle School
City: Pleasanton
State: CA
Lesson type: Group
Duration: 120-150 min
Prior knowledge:
Shays’ Rebellion
August 1786 – February 1787
Angry farmers led by Daniel Shays in Massachusetts rebelled because they had no money to pay their bills and were being arrested. They had no money because the government didn’t pay them for fighting in American Revolution, and it took six months for the government to suppress it. Significance of the revolt showed how hard it was to raise an army under the Articles. This led to the feeling that Articles needed to be fixed because they were weak: They had no power to tax and could only ask states for money. They could plan an army but not draft soldiers. They had limited power to enforce laws made by congress. It was difficult to make new laws. The colonists were so afraid of a powerful central ruler that they gave too much power to the states and too little to the federal, or central, government.
The Constitutional Convention
1787
There was a decision to form a new government and throw out the Articles so states could be strong, but the national government would be stronger. Men at Convention thought that because the state constitutions had bills of rights, a general one wasn’t necessary. However, Americans were concerned that their freedoms could be taken away from them, just as the British had done. Jefferson wrote from Paris to Madison, telling him that a bill of rights was needed. In July 1788, most states ratified the Constitution after a Bill of Rights was promised to protect the rights of individuals and states.
Whiskey Rebellion
1794
There was a tax imposed on whiskey to help with debt. Many Pennsylvania farmers protested violently because they made money by selling whiskey. Washington led an army and ended the rebellion. Significance of the revolt showed that the government was more powerful under the Constitution.
State or national standards:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.9
Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.
Objectives/Rationale: This lesson is designed to be a culminating activity to learning about both Shays’ and Whiskey Rebellions, and the role they played in the timeline of changing American government. There will be a special focus on Jefferson’s contributions during this time.
Outcomes: Students will create museum exhibits that make inferences on the larger themes of why the Articles of Confederation failed under one rebellion, and the Constitution survived under another.
Students will analyze the scope of influence and pivotal role Jefferson held in the creation of The Bill of Rights.
Steps:
Period/Day 1: Introduction to Sources and Web Tools
(Optional: Take this period to introduce the web tools and sources to students if they have not yet used them in prior activities. If your students are already familiar, you may skip Day 1.)
Period/Day 2:
Period/Day 3
Materials:
-1 computer per group of 3 or 4 students
– Handout (in shared document online or paper copies for each group)
– Ability to save or print images/letters from websites
– Projector (optional for modeling tutorials on Day 1)
– If you do not have enough computers for student groups to create exhibits, have students write, print, or draw the artifacts and glue them to construction paper.
– Access to the following websites:
Assessment criteria:
Accommodations: Multiple learning styles are present in this lesson, and the size of groups may vary based on grade level and ability. If there is a lack of technology or a technology modification is necessary, all parts of this may be done on paper as long as a student or teacher has access to the 3 resources listed at the top and the ability to draw or print a picture of a chosen artifact. This activity would be equally valuable completed in a “scrapbook style.”