Pre-viewing Research: HBO’s John Adams, “Independence”
Standard Assessed - SS5 (Research to Build Knowledge)
Conducting short and sustained research projects to answer teacher-generated inquiries, to answer a
research question, or to solve a problem.
SS5.1 Students are able to gather and assess evidence from multiple authoritative print and digital sources to answer teachergenerated inquiries (i.e. research activities).
SS5.2 Students are able to avoid plagiarism and follow a standard format for citation. For this assignment, just copy-and-paste
the website that you used to find the information. If you are using a library database, simply write the name of the
database (i.e. American History Online).
This research will factor into your summative assessment, which you will complete next Wednesday or
Thursday after you are done viewing the movie.
Part I. Introduction Questions
*Answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
1. What was the First Continental Congress? What was its purpose, and why was it formed? What important decisions did this
Congress make regarding the decision to declare/not declare independence?
2. What was the Olive Branch Petition? What was the goal of the petition, and how was it received by King George III?
Part II. Graphic Organizer
(See next page.)
Historical Figure (and
character in the
movie)
John Adams
George Washington
John Dickinson
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
Edward Rutledge
What colony did this
person represent?
How many people lived in
that colony at that time
(approximately 1760-70s)?
What was this person’s position on declaring
independence? Provide SPECIFIC EVIDENCE to
support your answer.