Mirroring an in-museum resource, this interactive online map and timeline tracks statements of support for independence across the 13 American colonies in rebellion over time, while placing those colonies in larger geographic context. Throughout, it presents the voices of those who supported independence, disagreed, and hoped to avoid a war altogether. Use the accompanying classroom
Timeline of the American Revolution
Using a mixture of historical objects, artifacts, and documents drawn from the Museum’s collection, this multimedia timeline explores both key moments and surprising stories of the American Revolution. The Timeline features high-quality images and is enhanced by video explorations of select items. It encourages users to look closely, dig deeply, and even extend their experience
Perspectives
A blended learning program that distills rigorous behavioral science research into practical skills that help improve students’ communication, sense of belonging, and openness to diverse perspectives. Anyone can use the program, but we make Perspectives free to educators and their students.
Co-Creating Resilient Group Norms
This activity aids in establishing explicit standards describing what students can expect to experience in a classroom and how they’re expected to participate.
Speed-Mingling Icebreaker
Trust-building is an important foundation before engaging in deeper discussion topics. This icebreaker activity will help students feel more connected.
Silent Listening With a Partner
This activity challenges students to practice listening to understand – not simply to respond— and allows them to share without fear of interruption.
Hopes and Concerns
This activity allows students to reflect, write down, and share out their hopes and concerns around engaging in constructive dialogue about issues of importance.
Dialogue Question Design Worksheet
Good questions are foundational to any constructive dialogue. This activity helps instructors craft questions that have a higher likelihood of promoting dialogue that connects – rather than divides.
The Questions Game
In pairs, students will take turns sharing a political stance they hold, and their partner will listen and only ask questions (rather than respond) in order to learn as much as they can about their partner’s views and why they hold those views.
14th Amendment: Battles for Freedom and Equality – Module 14 in Constitution 101
The 14th Amendment wrote the Declaration of Independence’s promise of freedom and equality into the Constitution. Ratified after the Civil War, this amendment transformed the Constitution forever and is at the core of a period that many scholars refer to as our nation’s “Second Founding.” Even so, the 14th Amendment remains the focus of many of today’s most important constitutional debates (and Supreme Court cases). In many ways, the history of the modern Supreme Court is largely a history of modern-day battles over the 14th Amendment’s meaning. So many of the constitutional cases that Americans care about today turn on the 14th Amendment. Learning objectives: Explain why the 14th Amendment was added to the Constitution; identify the core principles in the 14th Amendment’s clauses; summarize how the Supreme Court has interpreted the meaning of the 14th Amendment; evaluate the effect of the 14th Amendment on liberty and equality.