Standard 1: Demonstrate an understanding of the origins and purposes of government, law and the American political system.

Using historical examples, analyze what can happen when an unchecked government erodes freedoms and liberties and, in extreme cases, persecutes its citizens.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will apply their knowledge of the Patriots and Loyalists in a writing activity where they will argue in favor of independence or remaining under British authority. This is lesson 2 of 3 in a mini-unit integrating Civics and American History.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will develop background knowledge on the two major groups of colonists during the American Revolution: the Patriots and Loyalists. They will compare each group’s views on limits of government authority, inalienable rights, and resistance to tyranny. This is lesson 1 of 3 in a mini-unit integrating Civics and American Government.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will use new vocabulary to complete a graphic organizer, and differentiate between the Loyalist and Patriot perspectives, and civic virtue as they read Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider by Jean Fritz in this lesson.

There are three CPALMS lessons that can be used to complement a study of Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider and help students take a new perspective by merging ELA skills with civics knowledge.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.

Type: Lesson Plan

To compare the views and impacts of key figures on political and social developments in the Colonial period, students will complete a Philosophical Chairs activity on the ideas of the Loyalists and Patriots. Students will finish by choosing a side and completing a writing prompt to justify their choice.

Type: Lesson Plan

The lesson will begin with a hook activity where students will review the ideals of the Patriots, Loyalists, and Neutralists. Students will then work in small groups to work through a gallery walk where they will evaluate various scenarios to determine if the “colonist” that they are reading about is taking the viewpoint of a Patriot, Loyalist, or neither. The lesson will end with a class discussion reviewing the “colonists” presented in the gallery walk.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will engage in a discussion regarding Loyalists’ and Patriots’ arguments / perspectives on the actions needed to be taken in regard to Great Britain and develop their own supporting comments on whether or not each side was justified in their actions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will research primary and secondary sources and then use them as evidence to support the claim they choose.

Type: Lesson Plan

The lesson will begin with a hook activity where the students use fictional quotes to discuss the events that led to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. The teacher will then break the students off into a small group where they will complete a timeline poster matching the event, description/reaction, and an image in order. The students will then work individually, without notes, to complete an events sort worksheet.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will analyze the various arguments / perspectives used by Loyalists and Patriots in respect to Great Britain and their actions towards the colonists.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson 1 of 3 on copyright laws and citizenship, students will research the laws that govern the protection of intellectual property and relate it to plagiarism and good citizenship.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will interact in a hook activity where they will be presented with a series of scenarios where their “rights” will be taken away by their parents/teachers. The students will be asked how they would react under these circumstances, the students can turn and talk about their predictions. The teacher will then present the students with new guided notes. The teacher will introduce the event to the students, such as the French and Indian war, and ask the students to predict what happens next. After the students predict the reaction of the king and the colonists, the teacher reveals the true historical reaction. The students will then be asked if they think the colonists were justified in their actions as an exit slip.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will be introduced to the arguments / perspective of Loyalists and Patriots in seeking independence from Great Britain.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will be able to identify the geographic location of the countries the colonists came from. Students will also be able to analyze the physical and cultural characteristics of great regions and describe the colonial forms of governments established during the colonization of America.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will compare the views or perspectives of Patriots and Loyalists in regards to British policy during the era of the American Revolution.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will compare the views or perspectives of Patriots and Loyalists during the period of the American Revolution. Students will examine and analyze primary quotes and excerpts in order to decipher differing ideas and perspectives.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson allows for students to engage and conceptualize the views of the Patriots and Loyalists during the Revolutionary War. Students will be assigned the role of a Patriot or Loyalist and tasked with creation of a writing sample to convince the various audiences during the time period.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will be able to distinguish the difference between a Loyalist and a Patriot. Students will also analyze why some colonists remained neutral throughout the colonization of America leading into the American Revolution, eventually being made to choose a side. Students will analyze both political perspectives, using geographic skills to locate the countries that a Loyalist and Patriot represent (using a map), and to determine why these groups were loyal to their respective ideologies.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will research the policies put in place by Great Britain because of the French and Indian War and then create a timeline of the events.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will identify the views of the Patriots, Loyalists, and Neutralists toward British Policy from 1763-1774.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will compare the relationships between the British, French, Dutch, and Spanish in their struggle to colonize America. Students will be able to explain their physical attributes with the use of a Map and cultural attributes with the use of guided notes.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will predict the challenges for humans living on Mars in the future by considering the differences between Mars and Earth. In light of these potential challenges, students will consider how the rule of law could influence a new Martian society founded under the principles of the U.S. constitutional republic in this integrated lesson plan. This lesson is Part 1 of 2.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will explore excerpts of primary quotes to analyze the arguments between the Patriots and the Loyalists during the American Revolution.

Type: Lesson Plan

Students will use their understanding of the habitability challenges on Mars (developed during Part 1) to create a Martian Bill of Rights that will guarantee civil rights and liberties of future Martian citizens in this integrated lesson plan.  This lesson is Part 2 of 2.

Type: Lesson Plan

This PowerPoint slideshow is designed to support teachers in delivering direct instruction on the origins and content of Florida's 1838 state constitution. The accompanying guided notes can be completed by students during instruction.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students learn about the events leading up to the American Revolution. Students will compare the beliefs of Patriots and Loyalists regarding government authority and tyranny.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will review important individuals who were involved in the American Revolution by matching descriptions of various individuals with their names and if they were a Patriot, Loyalist, or neutral.  Students will then attempt to sway other colonists to join their side. 

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will be able to identify key individuals who contributed to the founding documents (Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison, and George Mason).

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will use primary sources to examine the impeachment of Andrew Johnson and conclude how presidential impeachment relates to the rule of law.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will work in groups to gather information on a colonial region's geography, economy, religion, and government structure, and then present that information to their classmates in the form of a poster.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will read excerpts from the Florida 1838 and Florida 1868 Constitutions to analyze similarities and differences. Students will then create a timeline of events during Reconstruction in Florida and discuss the impact Reconstruction had on the state and government.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will be able to evaluate and explain how the Fl Constitution of 1838 was amended in 1868 to conform to the US Constitution in terms of citizenship, equal protection, and male suffrage.

Students will also evaluate the impact of the Reconstruction Era amendments.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will read and compare the Florida Constitutions of 1838 and 1868.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will compare the viewpoints of Patriots, Loyalists, and other colonists that led to the American Revolution. Students will work in pairs to analyze excerpts and determine the point of view and topic. 

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will analyze several primary sources representing the views of Loyalists and Patriots and will compare these groups' arguments for or against independence.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will explore the importance of the rule of law in the United States’ constitutional republic. Students will discuss the impact of the rule of law on U.S. citizens, government, and institutions using specialized vocabulary in a fishbowl activity.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson plan, students will learn about the 1838 and 1868 versions of Florida’s state constitution. Students will work in groups to learn about the contents of the documents and the historical context in which they were written and adopted. The teacher will lead a discussion and comparison of the two constitutions as students complete written notes.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will read about different groups in the American Revolution, their beliefs, and how they impacted the movement. This is lesson 3 of 3 in a mini-unit integrating Civics and American History.

Type: Lesson Plan

Learn about the 1838 Florida Constitution and the 1868 Florida Constitution with this interactive tutorial. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

In this interactive tutorial, you'll learn about the Patriots' and Loyalists' views on government authority and tyranny. 

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn about one of the most important principles in American democracy: rule of law. In this interactive tutorial, you'll explore this important concept and learn about its application to a famous Supreme Court decision: United States v. Nixon.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

This PowerPoint slideshow is designed to support teachers in delivering direct instruction on the origins and content of Florida's 1868 state constitution. The accompanying guided notes can be completed by students during instruction.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

This Grade 8 Civics Family Guide provides some ideas and activities to support civics education when at home, out and about, and in the community. The activities provided align to the civics learning benchmarks within Standard 1 at this grade level.

Type: Teaching Idea

This Tic Tac Toe activity is intended to allow students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of British policies and colonial concerns of the American Revolutionary period.  

Type: Teaching Idea

This teaching resource intended for the debate classroom will provide teachers the tools to create a silent debate after studying the Declaration of Independence. Students will debate Patriots’ and Loyalists’ view on government authority and tyranny.

Type: Teaching Idea

Lily Tang Williams was born in communist China during Mao Zedong’s rule. She witnessed Mao’s Cultural Revolution first hand as she was growing up. She was a member of the Young Pioneers and the Red Guard, but yearned to come to the United States to learn about and live in a democracy. In 1988, she was able to come to the United States for schooling and was granted asylum status.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation