John Adams “Independence” Chatroom Questions
STANDARD PRACTICED
SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARD 4 (SS4) - SPEAKING & LISTENING
Students are able to initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
with diverse partners, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and
persuasively.
SS4.1 Students come to discussions prepared, having read and researched assigned materials and
are able to draw on that material in a thoughtful manner.
SS4.2 Students are able to move conversations forward, actively incorporating others into the
discussion by clarifying, verifying, or challenge ideas and conclusions.
SS4.3 Students can respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives, summarize points of agreement
and disagreement, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding
and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented.
DIRECTIONS: You will answer these formally with access to the chat
recordings when we are done with the movie. Use the chatroom itself as a
place to ask questions and to take notes.
1. Listen closely to the opening conversation between John Adams and John Dickinson right after
Lexington and Concord.
A. Which colony is each man from?
B. What is each man’s argument? (Hint: Remember the “Olive Branch” petition.)
C. Why does Adams bring Dickinson’s religion into the discussion? What religion was
Dickinson, and how might it impact his opinion?
2. Listen closely to Franklin and Adams’ conversation. Why did Ben Franklin, Adams’ good friend,
vote against Adams and for the Olive Branch petition?
3. Which colony does Franklin insist Adams must win over to declare independence? Why?
4. How does George Washington feel about the Lexington and Concord incident? Where would he
stand on the Olive Branch issue? HINT: Remember what colony he was from. How would this
factor into his opinion?
5. Even after Bunker Hill, John Dickinson wants the colonists to hold off from building an army.
John Adams does not. What is each man’s argument?
6. At what point did the British cross the line? In other words, when do you think they performed an
act of war? Lexington and Concord? Bunker Hill? Neither? Do people have to die for an act of
war to have been committed, or can it happen earlier (i.e. Stamp Act, etc.)? Although this is a
personal opinion question, please cite examples from the movie to support your answer.
7. Characterize George Washington. In other words, what characteristics might make him a good
leader?
8. Consider the stress on Abigail and her children at home—especially her lecture to her husband
about women not understanding “politics” and her smallpox decision (which will come up later).
How does she demonstrate that war does affect women and children at home?
9. Listen closely to “the proclamation by King George III” – i.e. Britain’s response to the Olive
Branch Petition. Summarize that response. At this point, would you be ready to declare
independence (i.e.war)? Why or why not?
10. Why is unity on ratifying a Declaration so important?
11. What success did the colonists have at Ft. Ticonderoga?
12. Why does Adams need the Virginians in order to ratify the Declaration of Independence (DOI)?
Name a few people in particular that he uses to win over the Virginians.
13. Who does Thomas Jefferson include in his original DOI? In other words, who,
besides the colonists, does he say deserves freedom? From what you already know about Jefferson,
what is strange about this fact?
14. To the bitter end, John Dickinson does not believe in independence (nor does the New York
faction). What are some of his arguments?