Patriots, Loyalists, and Revolution in New York City, 1775-1776 / Edition 2

by Bill Offutt

Overview

A Norton original in the Reacting to the Past series, Patriots, Loyalists, and Revolution in New York City invites students to experience the chaos of the American Revolution.

In this Reacting to the Past game, the classroom is transformed into New York City in 1775, where Patriot and Loyalist forces fight for advantage among a divided populace. Confronted with issues like bribery, the loss of privacy, and collapsing economic opportunity along with ideological concerns like natural rights, the philosophical foundations of government, and differing definitions of tyranny, students witness how discontent can lead to outright revolt.

Reacting to the Past is an award-winning series of immersive role-playing games that actively engage students in their own learning. Students assume the roles of historical characters and practice critical thinking, primary source analysis, and argument, both written and spoken.

For more information about the series, visit wwnorton.com/reacting.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393938890
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	02/12/2015
Series:	Reacting to the Past
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

William Offutt is Professor of History and Faculty Advisor for the Pforzheimer Honors College at Pace University. He received his AB from Stanford University, and his J.D. from Stanford Law School. Abandoning the law, he then went to graduate school, earning a Ph.D. in Early American History at Johns Hopkins University under Professor Jack P. Greene. His first book, Of Good Laws and Good Men: Law and Society in the Delaware Valley 1680–1710, was published by Illinois University Press. His academic interests focus on the relationship between law and society, particularly the methods by which legal systems obtain and keep their legitimacy. He has taught courses on colonial America, revolutionary America, the Civil War, Constitutional history, and American women’s history. In addition to his own Reacting game, he has taught eight other Reacting games to students at Pace, and he has participated in numerous Reacting conferences as Gamemaster and/or player.

Table of Contents

Contents

Â?TOC \t "Heading 1,2,Heading 2,3,Book Heading,1" I. The Game

Introduction

Prologue: New York City, February 9, 1775

Map of New York City, 1730—70

A Walk through the City

The Historical Context

The Crisis in Great Britain’s North American Colonies, 1763—1775

Social Roots of the Revolutionary Crisis

Economic Roots of the Revolutionary Crisis

Political Roots of the Revolutionary Crisis

The (Debatable) Logic of Colonial Resistance

Key Elements of the Game

Game Situation at Start

The Cast of Characters

Role Distribution by Class Size

Class Assignments and Activities

Overview

Week One (and a Half): Setting Up

Week Two (Game Sessions 1—2): Expected Issues

Week Three (Game Sessions 3—4): Expected Issues

Week Four (Game Sessions 5—6): Expected Issues

Rules for Playing the Game

Provincial Congress Procedures

Oral Presentations

Secrecy Concerning Your Role

Private/Personal Deals

Mob Action

Assignments and Grading

Written Assignments

Grades

Game Performance points [If used–consult Gamemaster]

II. Appendices

Appendix A. Chronology of Events preceding the American Revolution

Appendix B. John Locke, Second Treatise of Government

Introduction to Locke’s Second Treatise

The Second Treatise of Government (Excerpts)

Appendix C. Documents

Two Pamphlets on the Stamp Act Debate (1765)

Samuel Johnson, pamphlet, “Taxation no Tyranny” (1775)

Samuel Seabury, Letters of a Westchester Farmer: The New York Loyalist Position (1774—75)

Thomas Paine, Common Sense (Excerpts, 1776)

James Chalmers, Plain Truth (The Loyalist Response to Common Sense, 1776)

Appendix D. Bibliographical References

Editorial Reviews

"It is one of the best ways I know of engaging students in great books and significant moments in history."

Larry Carver

"Combines the student instinct for competitive gaming with the academic values of critical thinking and persuasive speaking."

Craig Caldwell

"Reacting to the Past is the most absorbing and engaging teaching I have ever done. . . . Students engage each other with a passion I have rarely seen in a classroom."

Elizabeth Robertson

"It's the most rewarding teaching you can do, because students will take ownership of their learning."

Jeffrey Hyson