Mirror Site for http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/shorgeshimer/WebPage/revolutionwebquest.html published with permission of the author.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye! Attention all citizens! The race toward democracy has begun. The people of England are engaged in a battle to replace the monarchy. The citizens for France, inspired by the English, are also engaged in their own battle for independence from a tyrant. You're help is needed! Our revolutionaries and loyalists are are in desperate need of a public relations firm to handle their campaigns. Are you up to the challenge?

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Task:

Citizens of France and England, your help is needed by many. There is fire burning within the hearts of many. Some call for revolution. Others call for an ending to the rebellion. Your countries are in a state of chaos. The battle cry has been given. The alarm has been sounded. It is up to you to help your countrymen, whether they be revolutionaries or loyalists.

Choose your countries! Choose your loyalties! Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their countries! Time is of the essence. It is time to rally the support of your country folk.

You are a member of an advertising firm that has been hired to promote the positions, grievances, and desires of these revolutionaries and loyalists.

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Process:

You have quite a job ahead! Being the Public Relations firm for either of these groups, revolutionaries or loyalists, can be dangerous. If they don't get the results they're looking for, it could result in your entire firm being throw in jail, or maybe worse! As you venture off on this difficult task, remember that your product needs to convincing, complete, and favorable to your employer's position.

Students will be divided into Public Relations firms of four or five, depending upon the size of the class. Each person shall be responsible for one timeline and one part (story, flyer, and PowerPoint slide) for the following three activities.

1.    Your client has requested that you create a newsletter for them to promote their position in either the English Civil War or the French Revolution, whichever battle they are currently engaged in. These newsletters, created in Microsoft Publisher or other like software, must include information about:

Groups of four will need to have a minimum of four articles or stories; groups of five will need to have at least five.

2.  It is also the opinion of your client that they have some sort of advertising materials that they may circulate or post in order to gain critical "name recognition" and sympathy for their cause. The newsletter may only reach those that are already involved in their cause. They need flyers to capture the attention of new members. Groups of four will need to have four flyers, while groups of five will need to create five.

3.   In order to present your information to your client (and your classmates), you will also be responsible for creating a PowerPoint, or other like software, presentation. The presentation needs to  outline the main points of your advertising campaign.

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4.   Each person in the group will be responsible for creating an individual annotated timeline for their revolution.  It must begin with the establishment of the monarchy in their country and end with the establishment of a new order there.  A minimum of 10 annotations is required.

Resources:

Your textbook is always a good resource for historical information on both the English Civil War and the French Revolution. If you click on any of these links, you will be taken out into the World Wide Web and away from this site. You will need to click on your "Back" button in order to return to this site.

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Evaluation:

Each group will be given two grades: a group grade and an individual grade.

Individual grades are based upon your portion of the newsletter, flyer, presentation, and a reflection paper. Group grades are based upon teamwork, cooperation, and overall effectiveness of the advertising campaign.

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Conclusion:

The Enlightenment writers Montesquieu, Locke and Voltaire did much to inspire change within the people of England and France. Their works would also inspire the colonists of the 13 colonies in the Americas. Understanding their influence and role in inspiring the drive for freedom is important to understanding the change of power in both countries.

The American Revolution was greatly influenced by what happened during the English Civil War. The need to free a society of people from a tyrant has not only influenced the United States, but also many other countries of the world. The American Revolution would go on to inspire the French people to fight for their own independence; however, the method of their struggle for freedom included much fear and violence. The founding fathers feared that the chaos and instability of France might also happen within the U.S. if our government continued to flounder under the Articles of Confederation.

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 Animated flags courtesy of Multimedia Palace

These materials are © copyrighted, 2000, by Ms. Sheryl Horgeshimer.
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