Local History Webquest

Morristown, NJ and the American Revolution

"These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the

sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their county; but he that stands it now, deserves the love

and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny like hell is not easily conquered yet we

have this consolation with us, the harder the conflict, the more glorious the

triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only

that gives everything its value." – Thomas Paine

TeachersThis webquest was designed as an educational resource for high school students studying the American Revolution. In an effort to engage

students in key historical concepts and events, this webquest will focus on the local history of

Morristown, NJ. This small town and the surrounding areas twice became the winter encampments of the Continental Army. This webquest can be used while

studying the American Revolution. In addition to this project, a class trip to the local areas that serve as living testimonies to the events of the past could

help students make an even deeper connection.

IntroductionAs students and residents of Morristown, NJ, you

are almost certainly aware that the town has deep roots that can be traced back to the time period of the American Revolution. However, many might be surprised to discover just how important of a role this small town nestled in the hills of northern New Jersey played in the American Revolution. The goal of this project

is to not only learn about the American Revolution, but to also develop an

appreciation of Morristown’s rich history.

TaskYour task for this project is to create a newspaper

that will connect the role of Morristown, NJ with the major events of the American Revolution. You will be

writing this newspaper from the viewpoint of the average colonial resident living in Morristown during

the American Revolution. As you compile the newspaper, you will take on various journalistic roles. The information that you will use in this project will all come in the form of primary sources that will include videos, documents, pictures, and cartoons. Along the way will be various assignments to help you practice

analyzing and incorporating primary sources into your final product.

Process• Students will work in groups of 3 or 4 students. • The final product can be assembled in any fashion that is pre-approved

by the teacher. • You will be given time in class as well as the school library and computer

lab to complete the project. It is important that this time is used wisely. • The following must be included in the newspaper:

1. Revolutionary War battle story 2. Interview with Continental Soldier living at winter encampment at Morristown or Jockey Hollow3. 2 political cartoons / propaganda poster4. Letter to the editor 5. At least 3 images to supplement articles in newspaper6. A song review7. Interview with an important person from the American Revolution that also has a connection to New Jersey / Morristown8. At least two other articles of your choice

Resources

Battle Story • The war battle story must be battle

that occurred within the colony of New Jersey

• Suggested battles: Monmouth, Trenton, Princeton

• Suggested resources to use:1.Trenton2.Princeton

Interview with Important Person

• Suggested people: George Washington, Thomas Paine

• Suggested Resources 1.Molly Pitcher 2.George Washington 3.Thomas Paine

Interview with Continental Soldier

• This interview will be a personal look at the role of the soldiers in this war as well as the conditions that the soldiers faced while wintering in Morristown and Jockey Hollow

• Suggested resources 1.The Hardships of a Continental Soldier2.Cabins3.Jockey Hollow4.Jockey Hollow #25.Surgeon Notes

Political Cartoon / Propaganda Poster

• Your newspaper should include at least two original student created political cartoons or propaganda posters. The cartoons / posters should hit on a key issue of the time period.

• Use the resources below to see examples of political cartoons and propaganda posters from the time period.

• Suggested resources:1.Boston Massacre 2.Join, or Die3.Recruitment Poster

Song Review• For your song review, you will select a

song from one of the links provided below. You will analyze the lyrics and discuss the impact of the song on American morale. The songs are either for or against the patriot cause.

1.American Revolution music 2.American Revolution Songs #2

Images Your images must pertain to the people or events that are part of your articles. Be sure to include subtitles for each image used. Be sure to use at least 3!

Letter to the Editor• This is your chance to pick a viewpoint of a

person living in the Morristown area during the war and share your true feelings. This letter can be about any topic related to the war in New Jersey. It can also be from either a patriot or loyalist viewpoint. Be creative!

• Suggested resources:1.Loyalist vs. Patriot

Two Other Articles • For the last two articles of your

newspaper, you can write any type of article you want.

Evaluation • You will be graded in two ways for this project.

Students will be individually graded on their news stories (see rubric).

• The group will also be graded on the project as a whole. This grade will be worth have of your overall grade on the project. It will be determined based on appearance and all required portions of the newspaper being present.

• To ensure that each group also has an understanding and exposure to the newspapers of other groups, each group will complete an evaluation of the other newspapers in the class.

• See attached evaluation form.

  4 3 2 1

Content Content of story is compelling. Content of story is interesting. Content is readable. Content is unreadable.

Editing Writing is free of spelling and grammar errors.

Writing contains a few spelling errors, but does not distract fluency.

Writing contains several spelling and grammar errors and distracts fluency of story.

Writing is littered with spelling and grammars that leaves the story unreadable.

Historical Accuracy Historical accuracy is unquestionable.

Some errors in historical accuracy, but not distracting to story.

Errors in historical accuracy make story unbelievable.

What time period are you writing about?

News Style Excellent use of factual language. Good use of factual language. Fair use of factual language. Poor use of factual language.

Story Lead The lead is crisp and concise and summarizes the most important details of the story.

Headline is excellent.

Name under headline.

The lead is crisp and concise and summarizes important details of the story. Headline is good.

Name under story.

The lead is readable and generally summarizes the rest of the story.

Headline is fair.

The lead is unreadable and has little to do with rest of the story.

No headline or poor quality. No name.

Fits into category Story fits extremely well into its page category.

Story fits well into its page category.

Story generally fits into its page category.

Story does not fit into its page category.

   Individual News Story

Conclusion • Congratulations, your published newspaper has

provided the colonists information about a variety of events that occurred during the American Revolution.  The events you detailed provide the highlights of a very important time in American history.  In addition, you have strengthened your research, writing, and technology skills. Remember, this war was fought for the freedom of our nation. The town you lived in played a large role in the victory that we achieved over the British over 200 years ago!

Credits • "The American Revolution." The American Revolution - (Home). Web. 26 July 2010.

<http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/music.aspx>.• "Contl.html." The Home Page of Glenn and Georgeanne Valis. Web. 26 July 2010.

<http://www.doublegv.com/ggv/battles/Contl.html>.• "The Crisis by Thomas Paine." Ushistory.org. Web. 26 July 2010. <http://www.ushistory.org/paine/crisis/index.htm>.• "Flickr Photo Download: Wick House." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Web. 26 July 2010.

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/mannequin-/603797416/sizes/l/>.• "Google Image Result for Http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/coldwinter-1.jpg." Google. Web. 26 July 2010.

<http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/coldwinter-1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/coldwinter.html&usg=__2J58S-9PsBisG2OHJ8Xlk0BuMOc=&h=228&w=246&sz=41&hl=en&start=29&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=a7vB9N2P0Sq>.

• "Join or Die - An Early Political Cartoon | Archiving Early America." Archiving Early America: Primary Source Material from 18th Century America. Web. 26 July 2010. <http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/cartoon/snake.html>.

• "Loyalist Vs Patriot." Jarodkearney.com Custom Knives. Web. 26 July 2010. <http://www.jarodkearney.com/id19.html>.• “Molly Pitcher.” American Revolution Images. Web. 26 July 2010.

http://www.archives.gov/research/american-revolution/pictures/images/revolutionary-war-045.jpg• “Recruitment Poster.” Web. 26 July 2010. http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/22/2246/85EZD00Z/recruitment-poster-for-

continental-soldiers-to-serve-in-the-american-revolution.jpg• Revere, Paul. “The Boston Massacre.” Web. 26 July 2010. http://www.historiann.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/boston-

massacre-2.jpeg• "Revolutionary War Sources." Animated Atlas of American History. Web. 26 July 2010.

<http://www.animatedatlas.com/revwar/revwarsourceframe.html>.• "Soldier Huts at Jockey Hollow." The Historical Marker Database. Web. 26 July 2010.

<http://www.hmdb.org/PhotoFullSize.asp?PhotoID=26170>.• Stand, Uniting We. "American Revolution: Songs of the Revolution." Oracle ThinkQuest Library. Web. 26 July 2010.

<http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0312848/music.htm>• Stockton, Annis Boundit. “Addressed to General Washington.” Web. 26 July 2010.

http://sites.bergen.org/ourstory/Resources/revwar/sources/warpoem.pdf• Waldo, Albigence. “Diary of a Surgeon.” Web. 26 July 2010. http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1776-1800/war/waldo.htm