Teacher Resources
Philadelphia
Inquiry Question
Why does location matter in politics? How did Philadelphia's geography, population, and institutions make it the center of the Revolution?
Primary Sources
What Teachers and Students Use
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
PRIMARY · National Archives and Records Administration
5 analysis prompts
Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789
PRIMARY · Library of Congress
5 analysis prompts
Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789 (26 vols.)
PRIMARY · Library of Congress (Paul H. Smith, ed.)
5 analysis prompts
Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vols. 2-3
PRIMARY · Harvard University Press (L.H. Butterfield, ed.)
5 analysis prompts
Independence National Historical Park: Official Site
INSTITUTIONAL · National Park Service
5 analysis prompts
Downloads
Ready to Print
Student packet, teacher guide with answer key, and quiz — each formatted for classroom printing.
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Lesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Identify the sequence of key political events in Philadelphia from 1774 to 1787
- 2Explain why Philadelphia was chosen as the meeting site for the Continental Congresses
- 3Analyze how informal spaces (taverns) and formal spaces (State House) worked together in the political process
- 4Evaluate the significance of the First Continental Congress meeting at Carpenters' Hall rather than the State House
Explore Further
Philadelphia in the Knowledge Graph
The lesson packet draws from these pages. Use them to extend the lesson or give students primary source context.
Comparative Study
Connected Towns
The corroborate prompts in the student packet point to these towns. Teachers can assign cross-town comparisons.
Assessment
Philadelphia in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history. · 5 questions · Answer key in Teacher Guide PDF
What makes Philadelphia significant in Revolutionary history?
multiple choice
Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
true false
Name one event that occurred in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
short answer
+ 2 more in the full quiz PDF
Ready to Print?
All three documents below — student packet, teacher guide, and quiz — are formatted for letter-size classroom printing.