SS.8.CG.1.1

Compare the views of Patriots, Loyalists and other colonists on limits of government authority, inalienable rights and resistance to tyranny.

Clarifications

Clarification 1: Students will describe colonial forms of government prior to the American Revolution.

Clarification 2: Students will evaluate the Loyalists’ and Patriots’ arguments for remaining loyal to the British Crown or seeking independence from Britain.

General Information
Subject Area: Social Studies
Grade: 8
Strand: Civics and Government
Status: State Board Approved

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
2100010: M/J United States History (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2100015: M/J United States History & Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2100020: M/J United States History Advanced (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
2100025: M/J United States History Advanced & Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))
7821026: Access M/J United States History and Career Planning (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2019, 2019 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
7821025: Access M/J United States History (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
2100045: M/J United States History & Civics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 - 2023, 2023 - 2024, 2024 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
SS.8.CG.1.AP.1: Identify the views of Patriots, Loyalists and other colonists on limits of government authority, inalienable rights and resistance to tyranny.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Lesson Plans

Colonists of the American Revolution (Lesson 2 of 3):

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

Colonists of the American Revolution (Lesson 1 of 3):

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

Alexander Hamilton: The Outsider: Understanding Perspectives: Colonists, Patriots, and Loyalists:

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

Who To Support?:

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

Conflict in the Colonies: Patriots or Loyalists:

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

Loyalists vs. Patriots: Choosing Sides:

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

Who do you side with?:

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

Type: Lesson Plan

Conflict in the Colonies: When did it Happen?:

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

Loyalists vs Patriots: Who’s Who?:

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

Conflicts in the Colonies: What Happened?:

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

Loyalist vs Patriot: Who Are They?:

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

A Whole New World: Colonizing America:

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

Views of the American Revolution: Comparing Patriots and Loyalists:

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

Views of the American Revolution: Patriot or Loyalist?:

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

Views of the American Revolution: R.A.F.T. Writing Activity:

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

Loyalist vs Patriot: You Choose:

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

Let's Get those British Policies in Line!:

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

Patriots vs. Loyalists vs. Neutralists:

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

Type: Lesson Plan

THE COLONIZATION OF AMERICA:

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

The Quest for Independence: Patriots vs. Loyalists:

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

Type: Lesson Plan

The Beginning of a Revolution: Patriots versus Loyalists:

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

The Revolution: Who Am I? :

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

The Founders Gallery Walk:

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

Colonial Regions: Middle, Southern and New England Colonies:

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

Comparing Viewpoints :

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

Patriots and Loyalists: What Did They Believe?:

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

Colonists of the American Revolution (Lesson 3 of 3):

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

Original Student Tutorial

Meet the Patriots and Loyalists:

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

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Teaching Ideas

Grade 8 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1:

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

British Policies and Colonial Concerns Tic Tac Toe:

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

Silent Debate: Patriots vs. Loyalists:

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

Integrated Social Studies with Civics Original tutorials - Grades 6-12

Meet the Patriots and Loyalists:

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

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Original Student Tutorial

Meet the Patriots and Loyalists:

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

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Teaching Idea

Grade 8 Civics Family Guide: Standard 1:

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