WebQuest Activity Handout: Slavery and the American Revolution Unit

Exhibit Team Research Guide

Use the following list to help you research the historical figure your team has chosen. Although your teacher has given you a copy of this form, you also should copy it on notebook paper, because you will be gathering much information. In fact, you likely will have several pages of research information.

Remember: your goal is to develop an exhibit that describes in detail your historical figure. Take careful notes based on the websites you visit. Answer as many of the questions as you can, based on evidence. (Note: some questions will not apply to your figure. Other questions will require you to make an inference--a logical guess based on the evidence, because the evidence does not directly answer the question.)

Name of your historical figure: _____________________________________

List details about him/her before the Revolutionary War.

Identify his/her status at the time of Revolutionary War (slave, free black, Caucasian, Military or government position).

Describe his/her views on slavery.

Describe his/her role during the Revolutionary War--Give Details. For instance, if he/she joined the military, which side? What were his/her military experiences, daily life, duties, notable achievements, contribution to the war effort etc.? If he or she was a civilian (a non-military person), explain what he/she did during the Revolutionary War period, what were his/her notable decisions/actions related to his/her beliefs on slavery, and what did he/she contribute to the war effort?

Explain his decision to join the military, if he is a black soldier.

If your historical figure was a slave who joined the military, describe his status after the Revolutionary War (awards, freedom, etc.) and how the War affected him.

Describe his/her attempt(s) to end or continue slavery

Describe his/her opinion about colonial governments and their laws.

If your historical figure was a military leader, describe how his decision(s) affected slaves/free blacks and his view on slavery. Did his decisions reflect this view or not? Explain why you think he made the decisions he did.

If he/she left the United States to settle elsewhere or started new settlements for runaway slaves, describe the settlement and the results of his/her relocation.

What do you think he/she would most want people in the 21st Century to understand about him/her?

List the artifacts you have found to use in your exhibit and the exact URL (Internet Address). Save these on your floppy disk.

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