Contextualization

The independence of English America, one of the most outstanding events in World History, is an extremely relevant topic for understanding global politics and the formation of new nations. During the 18th century, the Thirteen English Colonies in North America, dissatisfied with British rule, promoted a revolutionist movement that ended with the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. The revolution, marked by battles and political strategies, defined the United States as a new nation: the first country to become independent from a European metropolis.

Studying this period is fundamental to comprehending the formation of the United States of America and many of the principles that govern its politics and society nowadays. The reasons for the American Revolution, the development of the independence war, and the formation of the new country are themes that we will approach in this project. With this study, you will be able to better understand the reality of the United States and how its independence has influenced other independence movements around the world.

Introduction

Let's start our study by analyzing the reasons that led to the American Revolution. These reasons are mainly economic and political. The British mercantilist policy, which levied heavy taxes and restrictions on the economic activities of the colonies, was one of the main factors that sparked the desire for independence among the American colonists. Besides this, the lack of political representation in the decisions taken by the metropolis also played an important role in fueling the revolutionist feelings.

During the course of the revolutionist movement, the American colonists developed a series of strategies, both military and diplomatic, to achieve their goals. The guerrilla warfare, the international diplomacy, and the declaration of independence were all tools for the process that resulted in the creation of a new nation. Understanding these strategies will help us comprehend how the American Revolution was successful.

Finally, the formation of the United States after independence is a crucial topic for understanding the influence of this revolution in other independence movements and in the geopolitical configuration of the world. The creation of a democratic republic, the territorial expansion, and the consolidation as a new world power are aspects that deserve our attention.

It is important to point out that, by browsing this topic, you can use reliable sources to dig deeper and increase your comprehension. Here are some suggested materials that may help you:

• The book "The Age of Revolution: 1789-1848" by Eric Hobsbawm
• The documentary "The American Revolution", available on Netflix
• The website "History Channel Brazil", which has several articles and videos about the topic

We will discuss all of this content together in a dynamic and collaborative environment where everyone will actively participate in this learning process.

Hands-on activity

Activity Title: Reliving the Independence of English America

Project Goal

The project aims to offer students a deeper understanding of the Independence of English America through a fun and collaborative approach. The students will create a play that portrays the most outstanding events of the revolution, starting with the initial conflicts until the declaration of independence.

Detailed description of the Project

The groups - composed of 3 to 5 students - will develop a play that they will have to present to the rest of the class in a week. The goal is to encourage students to immerse themselves in the context of the Independence, comprehending it in a more natural and meaningful way.

Each group will be responsible for one segment of the events of the Independence of English America, which will allow for a broader and more complete vision of the whole process.

Required Material

To perform the activity, you will need the following:

• Books and/or online research material about the Independence of English America
• Materials to make costumes and scenery (cardboard, fabrics, paint, etc.) that can be reused
• A camera to record the play (it can be the cell phone of one of the members).

Step-by-step detailed instructions to perform the Activity

1. Research: After being informed about the segment of the Independence that they will represent, each group should start researching the main facts, characters, and historical contexts related to their segment.

2. Script: After the research, the group will develop the script for the play. This script must include the characters' dialogues, the description of the scenes, and the sequence of events.

3. Making Costumes and Scenery: Once the script is ready, the students should create the costumes and the scenery for the play. The goal is to create an environment that refers to the historical period studied.

4. Rehearsals and Recording: After creating the script and the scenery, the students should rehearse and record the play. It is important for all students to actively participate in the play.

5. Report Writing: While preparing the play, the students should also write a report about the project. The report must contain the Introduction, Development, Conclusion, and References used.

The report writing must follow this structure:

• Introduction: Contextualization of the topic, the relevance of the Independence of English America, and the goal of the project.

• Development: A detailed description of the project, explaining the theory behind the central topic, providing details about the activity, the methodology used, and presenting and discussing the results obtained.

• Conclusion: It resumes the main points and explains the lessons learned, and conclusions drawn from the project.

• References: It indicates the sources used to work on the project, such as books, websites, videos, etc.

Project Deliverables

At the end of the project, the students must deliver:

• The play video, which will serve as a visual representation of the events studied by them
• The script used in the play
• The report on the Independence of English America, which must complement the work developed in the play and detail the historical processes and the experience of the group during the elaboration of the project.