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5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 7

The American Revolution

Independence and the war

What your child practices

The Declaration of Independence and its ideals, key battles from Lexington to Yorktown, help from France and others, and the people of many backgrounds who shaped the war.

Maine Learning Results learning standard: History 1; Civics & Government 4 · the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence and how people worked for change

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Declaration of Independence was adopted July 4, 1776. It says governments get power from the consent of the governed.
  2. George Washington led the army; Franklin won France as an ally. Bunker Hill showed colonists could stand up to the British.
  3. Women ran farms and businesses and made supplies.

Example: Where does the Declaration say governments get their power? It says the people choose to be governed. That agreement is called consent. Answer: from the consent of the governed

The American Revolution in Maine

In the Maine Learning Results, this is unit 4 of 7 in 5th grade Social Studies, after Road to Revolution and before Building a Government.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Maine Department of Education

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    How did the Revolution affect many Loyalists?

    • Nothing changed for them
    • Many left for Britain or other British lands
    • They became the new government
    • They all became generals

  2. Question 2

    Put in order: Boston Tea Party, Declaration of Independence, Battle of Yorktown. Which came first?

    • Battle of Yorktown
    • They all happened the same year
    • Boston Tea Party
    • Declaration of Independence

  3. Question 3

    Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John to…

    • Raise taxes
    • Join the British army
    • Return to England
    • "Remember the ladies" when making new laws

  4. Question 4

    The war ended officially with which agreement in 1783?

    • The Mayflower Compact
    • The Treaty of Paris
    • The Bill of Rights
    • The Stamp Act

  5. Question 5

    James Armistead Lafayette, an enslaved man, helped the Americans as…

    • A French king
    • A British general
    • The writer of the Declaration
    • A spy who passed on British plans

  6. Question 6

    Which battle in 1777 convinced France to help the Americans?

    • Bunker Hill
    • Yorktown
    • Lexington
    • Saratoga

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