Chat with a Loyalist and Patriot About Liberty | Civics in the Time of Revolution

Liberty has a vital place in our constitutional democracy, but how did it become such an important value for American citizens?

During Civic Learning Week, step back in time to the eve of the American Revolution. Join GBH Education and actors from Boston’s Freedom Trail for an interactive conversation about the principle of liberty through the eyes of two pivotal figures: Mather Byles, the witty Loyalist minister who disapproved of violence, and Henry Knox, the bookstore owner turned Patriot general, who would later become a key figure in the Revolution. Watch as they debate what liberty means to them and discuss their lives and perspectives. As the discussion unfolds, students will be able to engage directly with the reenactors, asking questions to deepen their understanding of the historical context and how our modern notion of liberty was conceived.

As students explore this enduring principle through the lens of these historical figures, they will be asked to reflect on their own experiences of liberty in the United States today, bridging the gap between past and present. This interactive session offers a unique opportunity to examine how the revolutionary spirit of liberty continues to influence our society today.

GBH Education is dedicated to fostering a brighter future for all children and their communities. Our mission involves in-depth collaboration with communities to research, develop, and distribute high-quality, media-integrated educational content. We create media resources and programs for both the formal classroom and informal learning spaces. As a key contributor to PBS LearningMedia, a digital learning service offering free, standards-aligned videos, interactives, and lesson plans across subjects for K-12 teachers and students, we are committed to advancing equitable learning and development.

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