Towns

MD, USA

Annapolis

Lesson plans and classroom materials.

Annapolis 1783–84: The End of the Revolution and the Birth of Republican Government

8-12 · 3 class periods

What you'll get

  • 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
  • Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
  • 3 printable handouts
Print full packet
8-123 class periodsCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.6: Compare point of view of two or more authors on the same topicCCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.1: Write arguments focused on discipline-specific contentD2.His.1.9-12: Evaluate how historical events were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place

Learning Objectives

  1. Explain the significance of Washington's resignation as a precedent for civilian control of the military
  2. Analyze the Treaty of Paris ratification as the formal conclusion of the Revolutionary War
  3. Evaluate how ceremony communicated political principles in the founding era
  4. Connect the Annapolis Convention of 1786 to the Constitutional Convention of 1787

Essential Questions

  • Why did contemporaries consider Washington's resignation more significant than his military victories?
  • What does it mean to design a political ceremony — what was the Annapolis resignation designed to communicate?
  • How did the failures of the Articles of Confederation lead to the Constitutional Convention?

Procedure

Primary Sources

General Washington's Address to Congress on Resigning His Commission, December 23, 1783

Library of Congress, George Washington Papers · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Ratification of the Treaty of Paris by the Continental Congress, January 14, 1784

National Archives, Record Group 360 · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Journals of the Continental Congress, Volume XXV (1783)

Library of Congress · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Maryland State Archives: Revolutionary War Records Collection

Maryland State Archives · PRIMARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

View source

Maryland State House: A History of the Oldest State Capitol in Continuous Use

Maryland State Archives (Edward Papenfuse) · SECONDARY · Tier 1 — Primary/Academic

Handouts & Materials

Annapolis Event Timeline

timeline

Students place key events in chronological order and add details

Primary Source Analysis

graphic organizer

Structured analysis of Revolutionary-era documents

Key Figures Profile

worksheet

Research template for Revolutionary figures

Annapolis in the American Revolution

Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.

1.

What makes Annapolis significant in Revolutionary history?

AIt was the site of important Revolutionary events
BIt had no connection to the Revolution
CIt was founded after the Revolution
DIt was a British stronghold throughout the war
2.

Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.

TTrue
FFalse
3.

Name one event that occurred in Annapolis during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.

4.

Why is it important to consider multiple perspectives when studying history?

ADifferent people experienced events differently
BIt makes history more confusing
COnly one perspective is ever correct
DPerspectives don't matter in history
5.

Describe one connection between this town and another Revolutionary-era town we discussed.