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George and Martha Washington had access to paper, ink, and education and often used letters and read newspapers to communicate.   But what about the majority of people in Colonial Times do to communicate?  Your students would likely come from families that didn’t have ready access to pen, paper, or an education.  How would they learn about the world they lived in and how it was changing?  Where would they travel to and who would they talk to learn about revolutionary ideas?

A quill pen writing activity is still great for Colonial Days, but make visible that this was only one way people communicated in the 18th century and it was available to very few.  Use the links below to explore sources and expertise on different communication methods of the18th century: written, verbal, and the use of travel to share ideas.  Don’t forget music and singing too!

 

Written Communication in the 18th Century

Verbal Communication and Music in the 18th Century

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Travel and Communication in the 18th Century

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