Your Mission
America created revolutionary ideas about freedom and government. The story of America is the ongoing struggle to make those ideals real for more and more people. Your mission: Create a visual project answering two essential questions about America's founding ideals and the fight to claim them.
Two Essential Questions
Your capstone project must answer both of these questions using evidence from all four units:
Question 1: Revolutionary Ideals
What revolutionary ideas about freedom and government did America create at its founding, and why were these ideals worth fighting for?
Think about:
What made America's ideas different from other countries? Why did people around the world see these ideas as important?
Examples to Consider:
- Declaration of Independence
- Constitution and Bill of Rights
- Checks and balances
- "Government by the people"
Question 2: The Struggle for Inclusion
In 1787, who had access to these freedoms and who did not? How did excluded groups fight to claim these American ideals for themselves?
Think about:
Who could participate in democracy? Who couldn't? How did excluded people use American ideals to demand inclusion?
Examples to Consider:
- Enslaved people using the Declaration to fight slavery
- Women demanding representation
- Indigenous peoples asserting sovereignty
- Use of American documents to demand rights
Project Requirements
Your project must meet these requirements for each question:
- Identify 3-4 revolutionary ideas from founding documents
- Explain WHY these ideals were important (not just what they were)
- Use evidence from at least 3 units
- Include quotes from founding documents
- Use 5+ vocabulary terms correctly
- Identify who had access in 1787 (white, property-owning men)
- Discuss at least 3 excluded groups (enslaved people, women, Indigenous peoples)
- Use evidence from all 4 units
- Explain how excluded groups fought to claim American ideals
- Make 2-3 predictions about how this struggle shaped America's future
- Visually organized and attractive
- Accurate information from class
- Clear writing with good grammar
- Professional appearance
- Shows effort and creativity
Evidence Sources
Review all four unit pages to gather evidence for your capstone:
The 13 Colonies
Early self-government examples, who was excluded
The Triangle Trade
Economic contradictions, who benefited vs. suffered
Revolutionary Voices
Declaration, natural rights, excluded groups fighting
The Constitution
Bill of Rights, 3/5 Compromise, who "We the People" included
Tips for Success
For Question 1 (Revolutionary Ideals):
Look for: "All men are created equal", natural rights, Bill of Rights, checks and balances, representative government
Explain WHY: Compare to monarchies - these ideas inspired people worldwide because they said government should serve the people, not the other way around
For Question 2 (Struggle for Inclusion):
Who was included: White, property-owning men only
Who was excluded:
- Enslaved Africans (used Declaration to fight for freedom)
- Women (demanded representation - "Remember the Ladies")
- Indigenous peoples (asserted sovereignty)
Choose Your Format
Choose ONE of these four formats for your capstone project:
How You'll Be Graded
Your capstone will be evaluated using this rubric (100 points total):
Historical Accuracy & Evidence
40 points
- Both questions answered thoroughly
- Accurate information from class
- Specific evidence from all 4 units
- Vocabulary terms used correctly
Critical Thinking & Analysis
30 points
- Explains WHY, not just WHAT
- Makes connections between units
- Shows understanding of impact
- Multiple perspectives included
Visual Design & Communication
20 points
- Well-organized and clear
- Engaging visuals
- Professional appearance
- Proper grammar and spelling
Completeness & Effort
10 points
- All requirements met
- Sufficient detail and depth
- Creativity and effort shown
- Submitted on time
Final Tips
- Review all four unit pages on this website before starting - each unit has evidence for both questions
- Use your class notes, handouts, and activities as evidence
- Plan your project before you start creating it
- Make sure you answer BOTH questions thoroughly with specific evidence
- Use specific examples - don't just say "people were excluded," say WHO, WHY, and HOW they fought back
- Remember the key message: Excluded groups fought FOR American ideals, not against them
- Check your work for spelling, grammar, and historical accuracy
- Ask questions if you're unsure about anything!
Ready to Start?
Visit each unit page to gather evidence for your capstone. Each unit includes a "Capstone Connection" section showing how that unit helps answer both questions!