This 8th grade lesson is designed to support student understanding of the key reasons why the Patriots decided to break their ties to Great Britain. Through the examination of primary sources, Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence, students will identify the meaningful passages of texts that warrant the Americans’ desire for political freedom.

This lesson is designed to support student comprehension of an excerpt from Common Sense written by Thomas Paine. This passage is included in Appendix B of the Common Core State Standards.

This 8thgrade lesson is designed to support student understandingof the key reasons why the Patriots decided to break their ties to Great Britain. Through the examination of primary sources, Common Senseand the Declaration of Independence, students will identify the meaningful passages of texts that warrant the Americans’desire for political freedom. They will particularly concentrate on the Patriots’ grievances against the monarchy.