Teacher Resources
Philadelphia
Students explore Philadelphia's role as the political center of the Revolution, examining how Independence Hall, Carpenters' Hall, and City Tavern functioned as interconnected spaces where the founding generation debated, negotiated, and enacted independence.
Grade Range
5-8
Duration
2 class periods
Included
3 Resources
What's Included
Everything
You Need
- 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
- Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
- 3 printable handouts
Lesson Overview
Students explore Philadelphia's role as the political center of the Revolution, examining how Independence Hall, Carpenters' Hall, and City Tavern functioned as interconnected spaces where the founding generation debated, negotiated, and enacted independence.
Essential Questions
- Why does location matter in politics? How did Philadelphia's geography, population, and institutions make it the center of the Revolution?
- What is the difference between formal and informal political spaces? What happened at City Tavern that could not happen in Independence Hall?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
PRIMARY · TIER1
Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
National Archives and Records Administration
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Letters of Delegates to Congress, 1774-1789 (26 vols.)
Library of Congress (Paul H. Smith, ed.)
View SourcePRIMARY · TIER1
Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vols. 2-3
Harvard University Press (L.H. Butterfield, ed.)
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER1
Independence National Historical Park: Official Site
National Park Service
View SourceLesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Identify the sequence of key political events in Philadelphia from 1774 to 1787
- 2Explain why Philadelphia was chosen as the meeting site for the Continental Congresses
- 3Analyze how informal spaces (taverns) and formal spaces (State House) worked together in the political process
- 4Evaluate the significance of the First Continental Congress meeting at Carpenters' Hall rather than the State House
Assessment
Philadelphia in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Philadelphia significant in Revolutionary history?
multiple choice
Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
true false
Name one event that occurred in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
short answer
+ 2 more questions in the full packet
Ready to Print?
The full teacher packet includes cover page, lesson plan, all primary source worksheets, quiz, answer key, and standards alignment — formatted for classroom printing.