Generation Revolution (New York 1770-1800)
An Interactive Exploration of Revolutionary NYC
Status: Live Web App Prototype (2024)
Platforms: Chromebook Web App (Desktop, Laptop Chrome Browser)
Recognition: Supported by NEH Digital Projects for the Public Grant (2022)
Overview
Generation Revolution represents an ambitious vision for a special edition of the award-winning History Adventures digital learning series. This project explores the turbulent world of New York City between 1770 and 1800, a pivotal time and place in the American story. The experience is designed to immerse learners in the era through the lives of diverse historical figures—Loyalists, Patriots, enslaved and free African Americans, Native Americans, women, and laborers—each navigating complex choices during revolutionary change.
By focusing on the contingent nature of history and the varied meanings of freedom, Generation Revolution aims to foster sophisticated historical thinking and civic understanding. The project challenges users to move beyond simplified narratives and engage directly with the difficult decisions and unpredictable outcomes faced by people from all walks of life in a city at the heart of the conflict.
Design Vision & Key Features
The design for Generation Revolution integrates cutting-edge interactive features to create a deeply engaging learning environment:
Interactive 3D Map: A dynamic map of 18th-century New York City serving as the central navigation hub, unlocking locations and stories as users progress.
Diverse Character Narratives (CYOA): Multiple "Choose Your Own Adventure" storylines featuring historically grounded composite characters (12 primary, 9 supporting developed) facing complex ethical and practical dilemmas.
Immersive 360° Panoramas: Interactive visual environments allowing exploration of key historical sites within NYC.
Engaging Mini-Games: Simulations of period-specific activities (e.g., running a tavern, navigating trade, forging documents, firefighting) designed to teach economic and social dynamics.
Interactive Primary Source Analysis: Tools enabling users to examine and interpret historical documents like Lord Dunmore's Proclamation.
"Voices from the Past" Audio: Concept featuring character voiceovers providing context and personal reflections on events.
Adaptive Assessment: Planned features for personalized learning checks integrated within the experience.
Animated Timelines & Infographics: Visualizing key events, chronology, and complex historical data.
Characters: Voices of the Revolution
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Thaddeus Browne: Loyalist Clergyman
An Anglican minister torn between loyalty to the Crown, his faith, and family ties as revolution brews.
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Mary Pickens: Refugee Wife & Mother
Fled the New Jersey battlefields; must navigate survival and moral compromise in the occupied city to protect her children.
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White Deer: Lenape Negotiator
A Lenape leader weighing risky alliances with British and American forces, seeking a future for his people amidst broken promises.
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Henry: Enslaved Man
Navigates the brutal realities of bondage while considering the perilous promise of freedom offered by joining British forces.
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John Watkins: Newspaper Editor
Struggles to run a press under occupation, balancing truth, censorship, financial survival, and shifting political tides.
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Lucinda: Free African American Woman
Works steadfastly to maintain family unity and navigate limited opportunities in a city still deeply reliant on slavery.
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Henry Maguire: Radical Young Laborer
Engages with radical democratic ideas inspired by the French Revolution, questioning the new republic's social hierarchies.
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Cato Jones: Free African American Patriot
An idealistic privateer confronting the contradictions between Revolutionary ideals of liberty and the reality of racial injustice.
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Phebe Freeman: Free African American Girl
Daughter of Henry & Lucinda, faces choices between education at the African Free School and contributing to immediate family survival.
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Peregrine Finch: Loyalist Merchant
Views the Patriot cause with disdain, fiercely protective of his trade interests and the established social hierarchy under British rule.
Web App Prototype | Gallery of User Experience & Features
A selection of screenshots from the web app prototype (genrev.historyadventures.app)showcasing the user interface, interactive map, CYOA narrative flow, 360° panoramas, and historical document analysis.
Full Prototype Walkthrough
Explore a video walkthrough of the live web app prototype, demonstrating key interactive features, including the map interface, 360° panoramas, primary source analysis, and the choice-driven narrative following Cato Jones.
Game-Based Learning for Civic Education
Generation Revolution stands as a major research and development initiative in the digital humanities, showcasing Dr. Striker's commitment to pushing the boundaries of interactive historical storytelling and civic education. The project's innovative design concepts, including an interactive 3D map hub and deeply interwoven character narratives, demonstrate advanced approaches to game-based learning and user engagement.
The project centers the experiences of underrepresented historical actors, aligning with contemporary efforts (like the NEH's American Tapestry initiative) to present a more inclusive and complex understanding of America's past. Securing a highly competitive NEH Digital Projects for the Public Discovery Grant in 2022 underscores the project's scholarly merit and innovative potential. The extensive research, character development, and prototype serve as a rich foundation for ongoing explorations into how digital media can illuminate history.
Design Documentation: Concepts & Mockups
Visuals from the project's design documentation, illustrating concepts for the interactive 3D map, CYOA narrative structure, mini-games, adaptive assessments, and overall user experience design.
Preproduction & Visual Research | Art Gallery
Explore the preproduction and visual research behind bringing New York City to life during its most transformative years.
Research, Development & Future Directions
The development of Generation Revolution's concept and prototype was supported by a 2022 NEH Digital Projects for the Public Discovery Grant. This phase involved extensive archival research, collaboration with a distinguished team of humanities scholars, museum professionals, and education advisors, and an iterative design process focused on historical accuracy and pedagogical innovation.
The rich research foundation and design concepts developed for Generation Revolution continue to inform ongoing work. Related explorations are currently under consideration through pending grant applications, including a Spencer Foundation proposal for a research study analyzing the prototype's impact on historical thinking, and an NEH Media Projects proposal to adapt the character narratives into the "Hidden Voices of Revolutionary New York" podcast series. These potential future directions highlight the enduring value and adaptability of the project's core humanities research and narrative design.
Discover More
Explore the Live Prototype
Watch the Video Walkthrough
View Project Assets:
Design Doc | Prototype Doc | Images & Links