Continental Congress: War Council 

This American Revolution simulation game puts students in the role of the Continental Congress, starting in June 1775—right when things are about to go very wrong. The war has begun. The army is mostly farmers. Congress has no money, no allies, and no power to tax. Britain, meanwhile, is the most powerful empire in the world and expects this rebellion to collapse quickly. Across 16 crisis scenarios, students make decisions about funding the war, building an army, managing political alliances, and surviving long enough for independence to even be possible. Every choice has positive and negative outcomes, just like in real life.  Printing money keeps soldiers paid—but fuels inflation. Chasing legitimacy might attract allies—but weaken military strength. One bad decision at the wrong time can end the revolution early. Some groups barely hold things together and limp into Yorktown. Others collapse well before that. By the end, students understand something textbooks often skip: the American Revolution was not inevitable. It was risky, and constantly on the edge of collapse. Can your students keep the revolution alive?

Grade Level: 7–12
Duration: 60 minutes
Format: Power Point (Google Slides option included)

What’s Included:
Complete American Revolution simulation game Interactive slides in PowerPoint Google Slides version included (both formats provided)
16 historically grounded Revolutionary War crisis decisions
Events not typically found in textbooks, like the role of Spain and Britain's attempt at peace. 
Printable Game Tracker
Clear student and teacher instructions
4 reflection questions Sample answers for teacher reference
Teacher guide with setup steps, lesson objectives, gameplay notes, and NCSS standards alignment

Skills Taught:
Analyzing cause and effect over time
Weighing trade-offs and unintended consequences
Strategic decision-making with limited resources Interpreting economic and political constraints
Defending claims with evidence from the game and real history
Collaborating and debating ideas productively
Connecting individual decisions to larger historical outcomes