Hist 1 UNIT 2 Written Assignment
Critical Thinking and The Declaration of Independence
DUE: 2/07/2022 by 11:59 pm
*12-point font *Standard Font (nothing fancy; black only) *Maximum of 1-inch margins *Minimum of 700
words (approximately 2-3 pages) – I will use word count to determine the final length of the paper. Paper
must be either a Word document or PDF submitted through the Blackboard Assignment Tool.
This assignment will ask you to consider the ability to critically think about events in U.S. History.
Critical Thinking: a habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of issue, ideas, artifacts, and
events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.
Before beginning your paper, read your textbook regarding problems and conflict between the American
colonists and the British Empire between 1763 and 1776. These events led some colonists to support declaring
independence from Great Britain. I also encourage you to seek other sources for your understanding of this time
period. This is not a formal research paper, so you do not need a bibliography or citations. (but, do not
plagiarize)
Assignment Title with Name: Centered at top of first page: Example:
Critical Thinking and the Declaration of Independence
By Kevin Wooten
Paragraph 1: Think about the relationship between the colonists and the British Empire. This includes the
actions of the colonists and the actions of the British. Focus on two specific issues that divided the two factions.
(You aren’t required to use it, but taxation is one possible issue) Describe the point of view of each side. Make
an argument for each side.
Paragraph 2: Describe the debate in the Continental Congresses over how to best confront these issues. One
faction wishes to stay in the British Empire and work out the issues. The other faction believes the problems are
irreparable and wish to declare independence. What are the arguments for and against actually declaring
independence?
Paragraph 3: The colonists eventually declared independence and won victory. In simple terms, there were two
potential historical alternatives: 1. The colonist decided not to declare independence and stay within the British
Empire, or 2. The colonists declare independence but lost the Revolutionary War.
Choose one of these alternative histories and describe what happened after the respective decision. In other
words, what happened to the American colonies as they continued to stay part of the empire. Were the
underlying problems solved? (remember the fundamental disagreements between the two) Or, what became of
the relationship between the two if the war was actually fought and the colonists were defeated? Give specific
examples of how the British may have punished the rebels and/or how they governed after defeating the
colonists. Would they enact harsh retaliation or would they attempt to move on peacefully in order to prevent
future uprisings?
This is a “what if” assignment, but I want you to put yourself in the minds of the colonists and the British
government. Base your “what if” on how the colonists and British acted historically when confronting problems
with each other. Critically think to produce a valid and reasonable result of one of the alternative histories.
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