Which discussion prompt would best promote higher-order thinking in a social studies class on the American Revolution?

The choice that best promotes higher-order thinking is to explore how the revolution inspired the laws of the new nation. This question encourages students to analyze and evaluate the connections between historical events and legal frameworks, fostering critical thinking skills as they consider the implications of the revolution on the formation of government and societal structures.

By asking students to reflect on the influence of the American Revolution on the constitution and subsequent laws, they are required to synthesize historical knowledge, recognize causation, and draw conclusions about the impact of revolutionary principles on modern governance. This type of inquiry goes beyond mere recall of facts or figures, engaging students in deeper analysis and interpretation of how values and ideas from the revolution were integrated into new national laws, thereby promoting a comprehensive understanding of history and civics.