Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What factors contributed to the conflict between the colonists and the British that caused the Revolutionary War? Why might colonists have felt as though they were mistreated by the British government?

Teaching Suggestion: Adam Cooper and his family live in Lexington, Massachusetts, just before the Battle of Lexington and Concord officially kicks off the Revolutionary War. Consider discussing the events that led up to the Revolutionary War and the colonists’ feelings toward Great Britain. The resources below may help students understand the American Revolution and delve into specific events that caused unrest in colonial America.

• This article describes the events that led up to the Revolutionary War.
• This 10-minute video provides a brief overview of the American Revolution.

2. What is a militia? Why might colonial Americans have felt the need to maintain the right to a militia? What are the possible reasons for the right to a militia that are stated in the Second Amendment?

Teaching Suggestion: When the townspeople of Lexington are forewarned of the invasion of British troops, Adam and his father, Moses, enlist in the local militia to protect their land and their freedom.