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An Age of Revolution?

Driving Question: How revolutionary were the Atlantic revolutions?

The Age of Revolution extended beyond America and France, and many types of people participated. In this lesson, we’ll meet the women and the enslaved and colonized people who fought for or were affected by revolutions around the world.

Learning Objectives

  1. Evaluate the narrative of the Age of Revolution by examining the roles of women, enslaved people, and colonial subjects during this period.
  2. Analyze the causes and consequences of the Haitian Revolution and Pueblo Revolt.
  3. Use a graphic biography to support, extend, or challenge the overarching narratives from this period.

Vocab Terms:

  • abolish
  • colony
  • enslave
  • liberation
  • oppression
  • plantation
  • reform
  • slavery
STEP 1

Opener: An Age of Revolution?

Teaching Tools

This activity has a few more layers than a traditional opener. If you want to modify it for your classroom, check out our Differentiation Guide Locked  for support.

STEP 2

Sugar, Flame, and Broken Chains

Teaching Tools

Looking for tips on using video in an instructionally sound way? Look no further than the OER Project Video Guide.

The Haitian Revolution has been called the most revolutionary of the Atlantic revolutions. In this video and activity, you’ll explore why.

The Haitian Revolution External link

The Haitian Revolution defeated the French Empire, abolished slavery, and shook the foundations of the Atlantic slave economy. But the struggle didn’t end there.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 3

Expanding the Age of Revolutions

Teaching Tools

This blog post offers deeper insight into how to effectively teach historical comparison External link in your classroom.

Revolutionary movements erupted in many places beyond America and France. Use the materials below to evaluate whether these are part of the same narrative.

The Pueblo Revolt External link

In this video, Jerad Koepp interviews Porter Swentzell about the causes, experiences, and long-term effects of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 4

Daughters of Revolution

Teaching Tools

Read this blog post External link for some words of wisdom from an experienced teacher about using the Revolutionary Women activity.

Though revolutionary narratives are often centered on founding fathers, plenty of women played central roles in defining the Age of Revolution.

STEP 5

Closer: An Age of Revolution?

Extension Materials
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Combine what you’ve learned about revolution and causation to respond to this question: What were the most significant causes of political revolutions during the long nineteenth century (c. 1750 to 1914 CE)?