Contextualization

Throughout the 18th century, the British colonies in America experienced various forms of resistance and insubordination against their country of origin. This process triggered a series of conflicts and movements that culminated in the Independence of English America. At the core of this independence are two key concepts to be discussed: the idea of 'Empire' and the idea of 'Independence'.

The concept of 'Empire' is central to understanding the nature of the relations between Great Britain and its colonies. Great Britain controlled the economy and politics of its colonies, exploiting their resources, taxing their products, and, in general, keeping the colonies subject to the will and interests of the metropolis. Meanwhile, the idea of 'Independence' is essential to comprehend the desires and aspirations of the colonists who challenged the British imperial system. Independence emerged as a reaction to Britain's control system, with the colonists seeking greater political, economic, and social freedom.

To deepen the study, I suggest the following resources:

1. Book 'The American Revolution: The War of Independence of the United States and the Genesis of the Modern Democratic State', by Florentino Rodao. This is an excellent book that offers a detailed view of the war of independence and the impact it had on the development of the United States.
2. Documentary 'The War of Independence - The United States of America', available on YouTube. This documentary provides an overview of the war of independence and the events that preceded it.
3. Article 'The independence of the English colonies in North America', available on the History portal. This article offers a concise view of the independence process and its geopolitical impacts.

The Independence of English America was a crucial moment in global history, marking the beginning of an era of revolutions and sociopolitical changes that would spread throughout the world. Therefore, understanding this theme is essential to comprehend the formation of the contemporary world. Furthermore, studying the Independence of English America allows reflecting on current issues, such as the relationship between colonizers and the colonized, the rights of peoples to self-determination, and the impact of imperialism on the formation of modern societies.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: 'Reviving the Independence of English America'

Project Objective:

To provide students with a deeper understanding of the political, economic, and social processes that marked the independence of English America, through research, debates, reenactments, and the production of a documentary.

Detailed Project Description:

The project will be carried out by groups of 3 to 5 students. The activity will last for one month, and each student should dedicate between five to ten hours of work per week.

Students will delve into the topics of the Independence of English America through research, discussions, reenactments, and the creation of a documentary. The project will be divided into four stages:

Stage 1: Research

Students will conduct research on the two main topics: The concept of 'Empire' and the concept of 'Independence'.

Stage 2: Debate

After the research, the group will hold an internal debate on the concepts and historical context. This debate will help consolidate understanding and prepare for the next stage.

Stage 3: Reenactment

Students will reenact one of the important battles of independence. This will allow students to experience the events of the time, providing a deeper understanding of the historical context.

Stage 4: Documentary Production

Finally, the group will produce a short documentary (approximately 15 minutes) on the Independence of English America. This documentary should include their analysis and understanding of the concepts of 'Empire' and 'Independence', along with scenes from their reenactments.

Required Materials:

• Internet access for research
• Camera for documentary recording
• Materials needed to compose the reenactment scenario (can be recyclable materials, old clothes)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Execution:

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students.
2. Each group researches the concepts of 'Empire' and 'Independence' in the context of the Independence of English America.
3. Groups gather to discuss the research conducted.
4. Plan and reenact one of the independence battles.
5. Record the documentary.
6. Review and edit the documentary, ensuring that it communicates clearly and effectively their research and understanding of the Independence of English America.

Project Delivery:

At the end of the project, each group must deliver the produced documentary and a written report containing:

1. Introduction: The student must contextualize the theme, its relevance and real-world application, as well as the objective of this project.
2. Development: The student must explain the theory behind the central themes of the project, detail the activity, indicate the methodology used, and finally present and discuss the produced documentary.
3. Conclusion: The student must conclude the work by summarizing its main points, explaining the learnings obtained, and drawing conclusions about the project.
4. Bibliography: The student must indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

The report should be written to complement the documentary and detail the activities carried out. The report should be between 10 and 20 pages long and comply with the guidelines of ABNT for academic papers.