THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION – America's Commitment To Human Rights And Self-Correction
- Balance Learning Resources
- Aug 16
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 2
Grade: 9th-12th
Duration of video 1: 12 min, 40 seconds
Duration of video 2: 3 min, 12 seconds
Themes:
The Ideals vs. The Reality of the American Revolution
America’s Commitment to Human Rights and Self-Correcting System
Comparing the American Revolution with Other Revolutions
America’s Progress Over Time
Description:
In this lesson, students will explore the contradictions of the American Revolution, particularly regarding slavery and inequality, and how these flaws led to movements for abolition, women’s suffrage, and civil rights. The videos will illustrate how the Revolution's ideals of freedom and liberty clashed with the reality of slavery and the exclusion of marginalized groups. They will also highlight America’s self-correcting system, showing how constitutional amendments and social movements allowed the country to evolve, expand freedoms, and become a global leader in human rights.
Video(s):
Lesson Plan:
🎯 OBJECTIVES (SWBAT):
Students will understand the core ideals of the American Revolution (self-determination, religious freedom, democracy) and its contradictions, especially the issues of slavery and inequality.
🧰 MATERIALS:
Video 1: Who Won the American Revolution? (12:40)
Video 2: Slavery and the Constitution (3m 12s)
🔓 Introduction (15 minutes)
Discussion Prompts (displayed for students to discuss in small groups or as a class):
What does "freedom" mean in the context of the American Revolution, and whose freedom was protected?
What does the term "revolution" mean to you? Is it always a force for good? Why or why not?
What does it mean for a country to take human rights seriously? How can a nation evolve to better reflect its founding ideals? What role does self-correction play in the growth of a nation?
How do you think we should judge historical revolutions? What does it mean to "correct" a country’s mistakes? Do you think that’s possible in every system of government? Why or why not?
Turn-and-Talk (5-10 minutes):
Students will turn and talk to discuss the above prompts. After 5-10 minutes of discussion, ask a few students to share their answers with the class. Write key points on the board to highlight the central ideas, particularly around freedom and how revolutions can both create change and lead to contradictions.
Introduce video 1, “Who Won the American Revolution?” Explain that the video will help explore these ideals, while also addressing the contradictions that shaped the Revolution.
2. Video 1 Viewing/Teaching Model/Discussion (25 minutes)
Show video 1 Who Won the American Revolution? (12:40).
Introduce the core ideals of the Revolution (e.g., liberty, self-determination, religious freedom) and the contradictions (slavery, inequality).
Students will take notes on:
The ideals of the American Revolution (e.g., liberty, self-determination, religious freedom).
The contradictions of the Revolution, particularly slavery and the 3/5 Compromise, inequality for black people, women, and Indigenous peoples.
Post-Video Reflection (5 minutes) :
After watching the video, students will reflect on how their thoughts and ideas might have changed from their previous discussion.
Prompt: How did the video deepen or challenge your understanding of the American Revolution's ideals and contradictions?
3. Collaborative Work /Video 2 Viewing (25-30 Minutes)
Break students up into groups of 3 to explore the key contradictions of the American Revolution and understand how America’s system allowed for growth and self-correction.
Assign each group a piece of chart paper with one of these key points written on it:
The Ideals of the American Revolution
Contradictions of the Revolution
America’s Unique Ability to Self-Correct
Students discuss the assigned topic, recording notes on chart paper. Each group should write down thoughts, questions, and reflections. Students should refer to their notes from the video and any other resources they have used to help them reflect on the assigned point.
Prompt for Group Reflection: Why do you think the American Revolution's ideals did not initially extend to all people? Encourage students to reflect deeply on why the American Revolution’s ideals did not immediately extend to all groups. Push them to think critically about what changes would have been necessary at the time for the ideals to be fully realized for enslaved people, women, and Indigenous peoples.
Show the video 2 Slavery and The Constitution to provide historical context on how slavery was embedded in the U.S. Constitution, reinforcing the contradictions between the Revolution's ideals and its realities.
Post-Video Reflection (5-7 minutes):
After the video, ask students: How does the video help us understand the contradictions in the American Revolution’s promises of liberty for all?
Allow groups to revise and clarify their thoughts on their chart paper based on new insights from the video.
4. Museum Walk (20-25 minutes)
Hang chart papers around the room for the students to partake in a museum walk, where they will engage with each other’s ideas and reflect on how the American Revolution’s ideals and contradictions evolved over time.
Students will walk around the room viewing and analyzing one another's chart paper. Students should be leaving comments and questions on post-its about what they’ve learned and what they still need clarification on.
Teacher Scaffolding:
As students walk around, the teacher will scaffold and differentiate by asking guiding questions such as:
Why do you think the American Revolution's ideals did not initially extend to all people?
What would have needed to happen for the Revolution’s ideals to be fully realized for enslaved people and women?
How did America’s ability to self-correct lead to the abolition of slavery and the expansion of rights?
5. Independent Work- Visual Representation (15-20 minutes)
Students create a visual to synthesize the lesson’s key takeaways and understand the unique nature of America’s commitment to human rights.
Ask students to work individually to create a visual representation titled: “America’s Unique Design for Self-Reflection, Growth, and Leadership in Human Rights.”
The visual should summarize the key points of the lesson: the Revolution’s ideals, its contradictions, the system of self-correction, and America’s evolution towards greater equality.
6. Share Out/ Class Discussion (15-20 minutes)
Students will share and discuss how their visuals summarize America’s commitment to human rights and its ability to self-correct
How did the American Revolution’s goals (liberty, self-determination, religious freedom) evolve over time in the U.S.?
How did America’s ability to self-correct (through amendments and social movements) allow it to become a leader in human rights?
Why was the U.S. Constitution designed with flexibility to allow for changes, unlike other revolutionary systems that became rigid?
Assessment
Reflection Paper:
Prompt: How does the American Revolution’s system of self-correction differ from other historical revolutions? How has America’s ability to self-correct led to real progress in human rights?
Students will write a 1-2 page reflection to synthesize the key points of the lesson and critically compare America’s system with other global revolutions.
Exit Slip:
Prompt: What is the true measure of a country’s commitment to justice? Is it the absence of mistakes, or the ability to acknowledge and address them over time?
Key Takeaways:
The American Revolution was driven by the quest for freedom and self-determination, but it had flaws, particularly in excluding marginalized groups.
America’s system was designed to self-correct and expand freedoms over time through amendments and social movements, setting it apart from other revolutions that entrenched power and failed to expand freedoms.
By critically analyzing the American Revolution alongside other global revolutions, students will understand America’s role in leading human rights and evolving over time, helping them resist anti-American narratives and embrace a more nuanced view of history.
Optional Resources
The U.S. Constitution – National Archives- Constitution and its Amendments (e.g., 13th, 14th, 19th Amendments).
Article: "The American Revolution and the Evolution of Human Rights"- Provides an analysis of the American Revolution and its long-term impact on human rights.
Book: "The Radicalism of the American Revolution" by Gordon S. Wood" - A book that delves into the radical social changes initiated by the American Revolution and how it reshaped American society.
