The Road to Revolution

The Road to Revolution

Unit Objectives:

• I can connect the ideas of the Enlightenment and dissatisfaction with colonial rule to the writing of the Declaration of Independence and launching of the American Revolution.
• I can explain the terms of the Proclamation of 1763, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts, Quartering Act, and Quebec Act
• I can describe colonial reactions to the Proclamation of 1763, Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts, Quartering Act, and Quebec Act
• I can identify Natural Rights violated by each act of British Parliament.
• I can identify and describe the significance of key events leading to the Revolutionary War, including: Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, Committees of Correspondence, 1^st continental congress, Lexington and Concord, 2^nd Continental congress, and Olive Branch Petition.
• I can compare ideas of the Enlightenment with the Declaration of Independence using primary sources.
• I can analyze how the ideas of the Enlightenment are reflected in the Declaration of Independence.

What is the Difference? What does this suggest about a change in colonial attitudes? What do you predict was the cause of this change?

French and Indian War

Revolutionary Era

Based on the map below, what else might create conflict between England and its colonists?

The Proclamation of 1763

What was it?

An imaginary boundary across the Appalachian Mountains in which colonists were forbidden to cross.

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You shall not pass!

The Proclamation of 1763

Colonists’ Reaction

They thought it was unjust. They ignored the line and crossed the boundary to settle new territory.

Natural Rights Violated?

Property because colonists felt they had the right to settle and claim land beyond the Appalachians

The Sugar Act

What was it?

A tax imposed on

molasses/ sugar

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I’ll tax your sugar! No more smuggling! Ha!

Sugar Act

Colonists’ Reaction

They started smuggling molasses and bribed tax collectors

Natural Rights Violated?

Liberty- It imposes on their resources and way of life.

The Quartering Act

What was it?

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Forced colonists to provide housing/ bedding for British soldiers.

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My soldiers shall share your houses and food with you. And you will like it!

Quartering Act

Colonist Reaction

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They gathered outside the Boston Customs house and protested angrily.

Natural Rights Violated?

Property-

The Stamp Act

What was it?

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It taxed legal documents like newspapers, marriage papers, dice, cards, almanacs, diplomas and wills

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How about a special tax on stamps, just for you! Mooohahaha!

Stamp Act

Colonists’ Reaction

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The protested and looted the governors, rioted, Attacked tax collectors, boycotted stamped goods, and they petitioned the king for repeal.

Natural Rights Violated?

Liberty

“No Taxation without Representation”

• This was a common protest saying following the Stamp Act. It means that the American Colonists had nobody to represent their interests and needs in British Parliament. They felt that the Acts of Parliament, especially taxation, was completely unfair.

Townshend Acts

What were they?

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Tax on goods such as glass, paper, paint, tea, and lead.

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I do dare to tax the colonies!

Townshend Acts

Colonist’s Reaction

Protests and boycotts of taxed goods

Natural Rights Violated?

Liberty

Townshend Acts

British Perspective

Colonist’s Reaction

Writs of Assistance

What was it?

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Legal documents that allowed officers to search ships without a reason

(warrant)

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How about I search your ships for…illegal activity? Sorry, we’re coming aboard!

Writs of Assistance

Colonists’ Reaction

Protested once again.

Natural Rights Violated?

Property

The Bloody Massacre

Warm Up:

• Describe what is happening in the picture?

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• How does it make you feel and think about the British?

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• What was the artists purpose in making this? How accurate do you think it is?

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Bloody Massacre

Warm Up:

• What do you notice in the primary source to the right?

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• What emotions does this try to invoke?

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• What was the artists purpose in making this?

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Massacre

Definition:

• An intentional and violent killing of a large number of people.

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Synonyms:

• Slaughter
• Butchery
• Carnage
• Bloodbath
• Mass Murder

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Crispus Attucks

Who was he?

a man who had escaped slavery, is known as the first American colonist killed in the American Revolution. ... The event, which became known as the Boston Massacre, helped fuel the outrage against British rule—and spurred on the American Revolution

Boston Massacre 1770

What was it?

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• A small group of British soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists killing 5 and injuring 6 people.

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A massacre, was it? Oh, Pleeeeeze!

Boston Massacre

Colonists’ Reaction

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Used the event to instigate rebellion.

Printed many propaganda pamphlets

Natural Rights Violated?

Life

Boston Massacre

British Perspective

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Colonists’ Reaction

If you were living during this time period, would you have remained loyal to Britain? Or would you have joined the Sons or Daughters of Liberty? Explain.

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Sons and Daughters of Liberty

Who were they?

• A radical group of colonists who formed a secret society to oppose British policies at the time of the American Revolution.
• They took extreme actions, such as tarring and feathering British officials, causing riots, protesting, etc.

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Committee

Definition:

• A group of people working together toward a goal.

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Synonyms:

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• Group
• Team

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Correspondence

Definition:

• A way to communicate or spread information with other people.

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Synonyms:

• Communication
• Mail
• Letters
• Messages
• Connection

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Samuel Adams

Definition:

• Leader of the Patriots and Sons of Liberty.
• Declared an outlaw by Britain.

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Committee of Correspondence

Definition:

• A group formed by Samuel Adams that was made people from all the colonies that worked to keep each colony informed about British actions and movements.

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• They wrote letters and pamphlets to spread the alarm whenever Britain tried to enforce unpopular acts.

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Goal:

Committee of Correspondence

Effect:

• United the colonies against the British.
• Established clear and effective communication between the colonies

Tea Act

What was it?

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• A low tax on British Tea
• Forced Colonists to buy only British Tea

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How about I tax your tea!

Tea Act

Colonists’ Reaction

• Boycotted Tea
• Boston Tea Party
• Felt the Tea was a trick to make Britain wealthier (Monopoly on Tea Sales in the Colonies)

Natural Rights Violated?

Liberty because ________

Boston Tea Party

What was it?

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An act of civil disobedience in which colonists, disguised as Native Americans, threw 342 tea chests off of British ships into the Boston Harbor in protest of the Tea Act

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Really? Waste all that Tea?

Boston Tea Party

British Reaction

The Intolerable Acts were immediately passed after this event.

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Boston was put on lock down (martial law).

Colonist’s Perspective

They were angry that parliament was violating their liberty. They felt justified in their actions because nobody was hurt in the protest.

How would you have responded to the Colonists if you were King George or a member of British Parliament?

Intolerable Acts

What was it?

A series of 5 laws passed by parliament that were meant to punish colonists for their defiance of the Tea Act and Tea Party Protest.

1. Boston Port Act
2. Massachusetts Government Act
3. Administration of Justice Act
4. Quartering Act
5. Quebec Act

Picture

You colonists are the intolerable ones!

Boston Port Act

• Closed the Port of Boston. No ship could enter or leave Boston harbor until tea was paid for.

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Massachusetts Government Act

Colonists were prevented from holding town hall meetings

Public leaders now had to be selected by the king’s government rather than the citizens

Administration of Justice Act

People charged with a crime in the colonies could be tried in Britain or Canada rather than in Boston

New

Quartering Act

Colonists were forced to house British soldiers without question

Quebec Act

What was it?

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• Set up a government for Canada and gave complete religious freedom to French Catholics

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• Extended the borders of Quebec through the Ohio Valley

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How about I take the side of the French over my own people!

Quebec Act

Colonists’ Reaction

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Colonists showed anger because some of the colonies claimed these lands previously

Natural Rights Violated?

Property

Intolerable Acts

British Perspective

Colonist’s Reaction

Were the colonists “just” in their responses to the British Acts of Parliament? Why?

In what ways do the events we have discussed resemble current events?

How would you have responded to the Colonists if you were King George or a member of British Parliament?

1^st Continental Congress

Definition:

• A meeting of leaders from the 13 colonies in Philadelphia to discuss what to do about Britain.

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Demands:

• Repeal Intolerable Acts
• Colonies have a right to govern and tax themselves
• Train militias in Colonies
• Boycott British goods

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What shall we do about the British?!

1^st Continental Congress

British Reaction

• Ignore demands of congress.
• Use force to restore order in colonies.

Colonist’s Perspective

• We have to do something to support the colony of Massachusetts!

Militia

Definition:

• A group of ordinary people trained to fight in place of an army.

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Synonyms:

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• Army
• Armed force

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We might be ordinary guys, but we’re ready to fight!

Exit Ticket

1. Describe the relationship between the Committees of Correspondence and the 1st Continental Congress.

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• Explain the significance of the 1st Continental Congress

Paul Revere

Definition:

• A Son of Liberty and Patriot who took part in the Boston Tea Party.

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• He was given the job of warning the minutemen at Lexington and Concord that the “British were coming!”

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Lexington & Concord

What happened?

• Two cities near Boston that were used for the Colonial militia and storing weapons were attacked by British Soldiers. Colonial militias fought back and defeated the British.

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Significance:

• The beginning of the Revolutionary War!
• The “Shot Heard Around the World!”

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Minutemen

Definition:

• Militia soldiers who could be ready to fight at a minute’s notice!

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At this point, can war between Britain and its colonies be avoided? Can peace be attained? How so? OR Why not?

2^nd Continental Congress

Definition:

• A meeting of leaders from the 13 colonies which took place in Philadelphia at Independence Hall

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Actions:

• Chose George Washington to lead a continental army.
• Created paper money to pay for army
• Olive Branch Petition

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We must send an olive branch to make peace!

No! We must have an army and fight!

2^nd Continental Congress

British Reaction

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• Refused Peace
• Declared colonists rebels
• Accused members of congress guilty of treason.
• Sent 20,000 soldiers to colonies to stop rebellion

Colonist’s Perspective

• We have to do something about the British!

George Washington

Definition:

• Former British soldier and chosen leader of the new Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

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• Later became the first president of the United States of America.

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It is my duty to lead this continental army against the British!

Continental Army

Definition:

• The name given to George Washington’s army after during the Revolutionary War.

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It is my duty to lead this army against the British!

Olive Branch Petition

Definition:

• A document created by the Continental Congress that stated that the colonists were loyal to the king and asked for fighting to stop and peaceful solutions.

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• An Olive Branch is a symbol of Peace

Treason

Definition:

• The crime of betraying your own country, especially by trying to kill the king or overthrow the government.

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The King’s Response to the Olive Branch Petition…

You have committed treason and are in open rebellion against your country! You traitors shall be put to death by hanging!

• What effect did King George’s response have on the delegates at the Continental Congress?

• In your perspective, which act of parliament event, or factor had was the biggest cause of the Revolutionary War?
• Response Frame: In my perspective, _____ was the biggest cause of the Revolutionary War because ___.

Perspective Journal

Imagine you are King George and write a diary entry from his perspective reflecting on the events in the American colonies and the constitutional convention.

Dear Diary… Where do I even begin? Bullocks!

Patriot

Definition:

• Any colonist who rebelled against England and supported or fought for the cause of American Independence.

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Other Names:

• Rebels
• Revolutionaries
• Continentals

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Loyalist

Definition:

• Any American colonist who remained in support of the Monarchy of England or fought for the British.

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Other Names:

• Tory
• Royalist
• King’s Men

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Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking up Arms

Definition:

• A document by Thomas Jefferson that stated the colonies were ready to fight and “die as free men rather than to live as slaves.”

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Thomas Paine

Definition:

• A patriot , thinker, activist and author that wrote the famous work “Common Sense”.

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Men should not petition for rights, but take them!

Common Sense

Definition:

• A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine which inspired many in the colonies to separate from England and declare independence.

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• What effect did Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” have on the colonies?

Resolution

Definition:

• A statement of promise or decision to do or not to do something.

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Virginia’s Resolution

Definition:

• A statement from Virginia that declared the colonies to be free and independence states.

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Our decision is that these 13 colonies are free and independent states!

• What influence did Virginia’s resolution have on the congress and the colonies?

King’s Response Common Sense Virginia’s Resolution

• Explain which factor had the biggest influence on the colonies in their decision to declare independence and support your response with evidence from the readings and or videos.
• Response starter: In my opinion, ______ had the biggest influence on the declaration of independence because __________________________.

Separation from Britain

Describe what you just witnessed…

What was it? What does it mean?

What words or statements standout?

How does it make you feel? Why?

Thomas Jefferson

Definition:

• Enlightenment thinker, Virginia representative at the Continental Congress and American founding father who is most remembered for writing the Declaration of Independence and as the 3^rd president of the United States of America.

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Declaration of Independence

Definition:

• A document written by Thomas Jefferson which stated that the 13 colonies were now free and independent states and no longer part of England.
• It also listed a number of complaints, or grievances, against the king.
• Ideas from the Enlightenment are found directly within the document!

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July 4^th, 1776

Signing of the Declaration

Natural Rights

Definition

• Rights that belong to every human being from the time of birth.

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Examples

• All people have a right to:
• Life
• Liberty (Freedom)
• Property

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Inalienable

Definition:

• Unable to be taken away or given away.

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Synonyms:

• Unchangeable
• Indisputable
• Undeniable

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No, no, no! You can’t take my rights!

Natural Rights

Separation of Powers

Definition:

• The sharing and division of the power of government among separate branches.

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Significance:

• No one person can make and abuse the law!

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Self-Evident

Definition:

• Totally obvious! Not needing any explanation.

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DUH!

Abolish

Definition:

• To put an end to something or get rid of.

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Transient

Definition:

• Temporary or not lasting very long.

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Usurpation

Definition:

• Taking someone’s power or property by force

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Despotism/ Tyranny

Definition:

• Dictatorship, or when one abuses power and makes others suffer.

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Oppression

Definition:

• A long time of cruel treatment or control.

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Unwarrantable

Definition:

• Unjustified, not right.

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Jurisdiction

Definition:

• Area of control and power

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Disavow

Definition:

• To reject or refuse to obey.

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Consanguinity

Definition:

• Having a blood relation to someone or a group of people

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Now

• Which statements in the Declaration are directly related to Ideas from the Enlightenment?

• What are the three most significant grievances listed in the Declaration?

• Which statements specifically declare separation from Britain?

• What if the Enlightenment had never happened? How might the history of the United States be different? Why?

• To which group of people did these ideas NOT apply?

• According to the article, why was this passage omitted?

• How might life in America be different had this passage been included?

• Do you believe America holds true to the ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence today? What makes you say this?

• How might life in America be different had they applied to slaves in the colonies?