Introduction

As a citizen of the Colony of Pennsylvania you are concerned about the welfare and future of your family.You have settled in the Colonies to escape the religious oppression that plagued you in England.Now you and your neighbors face a new oppression,that of undo and unjust taxation from your old homeland.The heavy burden of taxation is creating a financial crisis that means your very survival.

So unjust is this situation the cry of 'taxation without representation'is heard throughout the thirteeen colonies. The slogan 'don't tread on me' becomes a battle cry. Thomas Paine pens a pamphlet entitled 'Common Sense' which,when you read it, you realize it is a substantial thread in a fabric that could unite the colonies in a common goal. That goal is to govern themselves and to have a say in how they would be represented.

Colonial delegates representing the thirteen colonies meet in the First Continental Congress. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposes that a document be written outlinning the 'united' intentions of the Colonies to seek independence from England.Five men are selected to draft a document to be sent to King George III of England. This 'Declaration of Independence' is the reason you and your neighbors came to this New World. But,who are these five men selected to accomplish this task? What do you know of them? Will they work on your behalf or address issues that are on their own agenda?

Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams,Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston, they are just names of fellow citizens.Can you and your neighbors place your future and that of your families future in their hands?

The Quest

Your family and the families of your neighbors, in order to learn more about the character of the men selected to write a 'declaration of independence', develop four questions that, once answered, would ease your minds regarding the capabilities of the committee members.

Family #1 proposes to research the backgrounds of each committee member.Analyzing and evaluating what distinct features in their backgound have qualified them to perform the task at hand.

Family #2 decides to explore the roles each member of the committee has assumed in the preparation of the document. They will compare and contrast these roles with their chosen professions to further ascertain their expertise.

Family #3 chooses to focus their attentions on the political activity of the committee members.What has motivated these men to devote their time and energy to 'unite' the Colonies in what will surely be the road to revolution? They will synthesize and classify this information for evaluation.

Family #4 wishes to explore the reasons King George lll of England has branded these men as 'scurrilous leaders'.Is there any truth to this statement? What,if any, skeletons are hidden in their closets? Do they portray themselves as patriots while possessing other inspirations?They will evaluate and analyze their findings.

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group, you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about the Founding Fathers. Because these are real Webpages you're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can.

• Colonial American Life - At this site you will find maps,time lines, history, and bibliographies.
• Life in the 13 Colonies - At this site you will find information regarding architecture to economics, and common goals:to govern themselves and how they wished to be represented.
• Declaration of Independence - At this site you will find information on the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
• American Revolution General History - This site provides biographies,timelines,and general knowledge about the American Revolution.
• Patriots in the American Revolution - This site offers biographies of American patriots.
• Encyclopedia of the American Revolution - This site offers a general overview of events of the American Revolution.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

Family # 1

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Family # 1:

1. Each individual in the group will focus on one member of the committee.
2. Using the websites listed for general knowledge you will explore distinct characteristics of the committtee members background that qualify him for this task.(education, religious affliation, social standing, etc.)
3. Each family member will go on line to find other websites to evaluate and substantiate their conclusions.

Family #2

Use the Internet information links below to answer these questions specifically related to Family #2:

1. Each family member should chose a Founding Father to explore their professional background.
2. Using the general knowledge websites and those listed below, or any others that will help you, research the roles that these men assumed in their lives that prepared them to draft the 'Declaration of Independence.(businessmen, farmer, tradesmen, entrepreneur, statesman, etc.).
3. Compare and contrast these roles to understand why Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft.

• Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence - At this site you will find biographies, history, and the American Revolution experience
• American Revolution - This site will help you understand a time line of American Revolutionary political events.

Family #3

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Family #3:

1. Each family member will concentrate on one committee member.
2. Using the websites below and having perused the general websites, and any others that may help you, focus on the political activity of that member during the years of 1775-1776.
3. Focus on this question: Why would this man devote his time and energy to unite the Colonies on a road that was sure to lead to revolution? What were his personal aspirations?
4. Synthesize and classify this information for evaluation.

• American Revolution and the Founding Fathers - At this site you will find bibliographies, historical overviews,and time lines about the American Revolution
• American Revolution the Founding Fathers and politics - This site will supply biographical information of the Founding Fathers and political insight into the revolution.
• American Revolution and Privateers - This site will show you how political and personal interests combined during the American Revolution.
• Political history of the American Revolution - This site discusses a political history of the American Revolution.

Family #4

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Family #4:

1. Each family member will select one committee member to research.
2. Using all of the websites listed below, and those for general knowledge as well as any you can find, explore the statement by King George III that these men were 'scurrilous leaders.'
3. Look to see if there was any truth to this statement.(Are these men patriots or spies? Don't be afraid to speculate as long as you can substantiate your speculation with some evidence).
4. Evaluate and analyze your findings.

• American Revolution and Foreign Affairs - What were the motives of the movers and shakers of the revolution? Was Benjamin Franklin a patriot or spy?
• Encyclopedia of the American Revolution - This site will supply you with political informaton regarding the revolutionary period.
• American Revolution and Spies - This site provides a timeline and acknowledges that espionage existed at the time of the American Revolution.
• Espionage and Spies - This site addresses espionage and spying during the American Revolution.
• Benjamin Franklin and espionage - This site discusses Benjamin Franklin and Edward Bancroft a known spy.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of the Founding Fathers. Now you, as a member of your group/family, should gather together at the family dinner table, and over fruit, nuts, and some cold apple cider, discuss the results of your research.
I would like you to answer your particular WebQuest task in the manor posted below for each group/family. Then, as a family, begin a dialogue to reach a consensus viewpoint on your task.

Family #1- I would like you , in the form of a newspaper article, answer the who, the what, and the when regarding your Founding Father's biography. Movies, photos and time lines will help present your observations.

Family #2- I would like you, in the form of a news cast interview, tell us about the professional background of the Founding Father, that you studied, that qualifies him to be a member of the 'Declaration Committee'. Pose questions and supply answers that you think, based on your research, your Founding Father would have supplied. Use photos, and video to enhance your interview.

Family #3- I would like you to create a political campaign commercial focusing on your Founding Father's political background discovered from your research. Write the commercial telling your countrymen why they should select your Founding Father for a position on the committee to draft the 'Declaration of Independence'. Use charts, photos, and video to sell your candidate.

Family #4- I would like you to assume the role of a CIA operative. You are to submit a report of your surveillance observations of the Founding Father that you have selected. In this report you are to detail clandestine meetings, suspicious financial involvements or business ventures, and any questionable activity with colleagues or known spies. Document your findings with time lines, charts, video, photos, and copies of any personal letters you can uncover.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your group/ family have learned a lot by dividing up to study the Founding Fathers. Now's the time to put your learning into the form of questions for real world feedback.

Going to 'Ask Thomas Jefferson' at URL http://www.Monticello.org will be the beginning of this experience. You are to pose questions that have risen in your minds while conducting your research, discussing the subject at your family dinner, and finally interacting with the other groups/families.

Sample questions could be:

Was Franklin's involvement with privateering the act of a patriot or spy?

How could Thomas Jefferson write 'that all men are created equal' yet still own slaves?

Was John Adams the ultimate self sacrificing patriot?

What roles, if any, did Sherman and Livingston assume on the drafting committee?

Code 72 - Was that Franklin's British Secret Service number?

Why did the drafting committee select Thomas Jefferson to write the first draft of the 'Declaration of Independence'?

1- Each student should draft a 'real life question' followed by a paragraph with at least two reasons to support his position as to why that question should be submitted to 'Ask Thomas Jefferson'. Be specific in your support statement and document what WEB site was used for your research.

2- Each student is required to read fellow students' questions prior to submission to 'Ask Thomas Jefferson'.

3- Copies of all questions and their support statements must be submitted to the teacher.

Your Contact is: Ask Thomas Jefferson

Conclusion

Reflecting on your research what have you discovered? You have met five Founding Fathers. They were selected to draft a 'Declaration of Independence'. Were they patriots? Were they men interested in advancing their careers? Were they both? What do you think?

So is an elephant smooth, rough, soft, or hard? Well, when you're blindfolded and only looking at one part, it's easy to come up with an answer that may not be completely right.

It's the same for understanding a topic as broad and complex as 'Who are the Founding Fathers' when you only know part of the picture because, you only know part of the picture.History is a constant study of change. As more facts are uncovered history is re-written.

Now you all know a lot more.Part of this exercise was to come away with the realization that the Founding Fathers, truly remarkable men, were none the less human. They were driven by the same human frailties that exist in all of us today. They were not perfect, yet they were able to draft documents that would make allowances for these imperfections in mankind in order that future generations of these 'United States' would struggle forward.

Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of Founding Fathers could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.