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Liberal and National Revolutions

Driving Question: How did nationalism and sovereignty reshape the world in the long nineteenth century?

It might seem like nation-states—with flags and laws and borders—have been around forever. But most actually got their start almost 300 years ago. After 1750, revolutions erupted around the world and new forms of government emerged, governments that were based on new ideas about sovereignty and the freedoms people deserve. These revolutions led to the first nation-states.

Learning Objectives

  1. Learn about new ideas of sovereignty and how these ideas affected communities and nations.
  2. Evaluate how new ideas about sovereignty and individualism impacted communities in the Atlantic world.
  3. Understand the origin and effects of nationalism on human communities and political revolutions.

Vocab Terms:

  • community
  • liberal
  • nationalism
  • nation-state
  • revolution
  • sovereignty
STEP 1

Opener: Liberal and National Revolutions

Teaching Tools

Our Openers and Closers Guide will provide more information about these short-but-important activities at the beginning and end of each lesson.

As you may have guessed from its title, this unit is all about revolutions. So, what is a revolution? Look at some revolutionary song lyrics to consider the definition.

STEP 2

Looking Ahead

Teaching Tools

Get an idea of how other teachers use Unit Notebooks by checking out this conversation External link in the OER Project Teacher Community.

STEP 3

Liberal and National Revolutions

Teaching Tools

Check out our Reading Guide to learn about the Three-Step Reading approach.

Looking to differentiate, modify, or adapt this assignment? Check out our Differentiation Guide Locked .

During the long nineteenth century, political revolutions were sparked by new ideas about rights. This video and article will introduce you to some of the causes and effects of these revolutions.

Unit 2 Overview External link

Increasing global connections spread new ideas about sovereignty and rights, and this generated concepts like democracy, human rights, citizenship, and the nation-state.

Key Ideas

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

Framing Unit 2

Teaching Tools

Looking to deepen your understanding of frames? Take a look at this conversation External link in the OER Project Teacher Community.

The frames can help us understand how the world transformed from a world of kings and subjects to a world of nation-states and citizens.

Frames in Unit 2 External link

The nation-state was a new kind of government in which a group of citizens could govern themselves in a particular territory. During the long nineteenth century, this was a radical idea.

Key Ideas

As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
STEP 5

Closer: Liberal and National Revolutions

Teaching Tools

Our Openers and Closers Guide will provide more information about these short-but-important activities at the beginning and end of each lesson.

Consider prompting your English-learner (EL) students to try translanguaging as they break down the meaning of “revolution” and “evolution”—that strategy and more ways to support all learners are covered in our Differentiation Guide Locked .

Extension Materials
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Use the activity below as an opportunity to build writing skills based on the material learned in this lesson.
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Writing Prep: Revolutions

Teaching Tools

Learn more about writing in OER Project courses in the Writing Guide.