The public discussion around freedom and liberty in the years surrounding the American Revolution led to dozens of appeals for freedom and civil rights by people of African descent before, during, and after the Revolutionary War. For this activity, divide students into small groups and provide each group with one of the petitions linked below.      

Provide each group with the handout Document Analysis: Freedom Petitions. Have each group complete the document analysis categories (point of view, purpose, audience, etc.). For the center square, students should summarize or quote persuasive language from the petition. 

Review the document analysis created by the groups chronologically through a Gallery Walk, asking students to observe similarities, differences, and continuity and change over time. Discuss: How did the petitions utilize the language of the revolution to promote freedom and the extension of civil rights?