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5th grade · Social Studies · Unit 4 of 8

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.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 5.4.18.2; 5.4.19.2 · the American Revolution and what it meant for different groups

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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 8 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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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

    Which country became an important ally of the Americans in the Revolution?

    • Russia
    • China
    • France
    • Britain

  2. Question 2

    According to the Declaration, governments get their power from…

    • The consent of the governed
    • The king alone
    • Other countries
    • The army

  3. Question 3

    Bunker Hill (1775) showed that…

    • France had joined
    • Colonial soldiers could stand up to the British army
    • The war was over
    • The Americans had a navy

  4. Question 4

    Benjamin Franklin helped the Revolution by…

    • Ruling as king
    • Convincing France to become an ally
    • Leading the British army
    • Writing Common Sense

  5. Question 5

    The Declaration says people have unalienable rights, including…

    • Taxes, soldiers and stamps
    • Free land, free tea and free ships
    • A king, a queen and a castle
    • Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

  6. Question 6

    The Declaration of Independence was adopted on…

    • July 4, 1776
    • December 25, 1776
    • July 4, 1787
    • January 1, 1800

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