Native Americans and the American Revolution mini-unit, including text

The American Revolutionary War presented a particularly sticky problem for Native Americans east of the Mississippi. Pressured for generations by colonists on their borders and suffering constant loss of tribal land, most tribes wished to remain neutral in a conflict that they did not understand. Proximity to the War, however, was bound to drag them into the conflict, and Indians had to decide which side to support. That support, for the most part, depended on which side they felt would better protect their remaining borders and tribal integrity. Ultimately, on that question, all tribes were losers, regardless of the side they backed in the War.

In this two day mini-unit, students will learn about the unique experience of Native Americans in the Revolutionary War, for those who fought on both the American and British side. This unit will also look at the Treaty of Paris’ effect on the great Iroquois Confederation as well as the lasting effect of American promises made to their Indian allies. Students will read an informative and interesting chapter from my textbook “We Take Nothing by Conquest”, answer an inquiry based study guide to focus their attention on the main points and supporting details, and finish the unit with a primary source activity, reading and analyzing speeches made by American and Indian negotiators concerning native involvement in the War.

Materials include:

* 6 pages of informative and interesting text (the chapter Native Americans and the Revolutionary War from my textbook “We Take Nothing by Conquest”);

* an inquiry based study guide for the text to focus students on the main points and supporting details;

* an 18 slide PowerPoint with answers to the study guide for review, and including pictures and maps to stimulate discussion and enhance understanding;

* an 11 page Teacher’s Guide which provides day-by-day and step-by-step instructions how to use all of the materials;

* a primary source activity where students read and analyze several speeches made by American and Indian negotiators concerning native involvement in the War;

* a 10 multiple choice question unit quiz to assess student learning.

Answer keys for the study guide, activity and unit quiz are included in the Teacher’s Guide. All materials are provided as word documents and PDFs in one zip file.

Created by Cliff Baker - Ye Olde History Emporium