Welcome!
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A
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D
AMERICA
-The game will progress through two phases: Preparing and building.
-You will keep track of two variables: Population and Relations with Britain.
-If your population drops to zero at any point in the game you’re out.
-Your relations with Britain will range from -2 to +2 and will affect various events in the game.
-2 -1 0 1 2
How to Play
Britain is considering military action against you.
Britain has no interest in helping you with anything.
Britain is neither supportive nor against you.
Britain will protect you in most cases.
Britain is very willing to help you with most things.
Poor relations
Neutral relations
Good relations
-The colony with the highest population at the end of the game is the winner.
Phase 1: Preparing for Settlement
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B
C
D
1. This Phase will take places across a number of seasons Each season you will perform 1 action. Your options each season are:
2. At the end of each season a random event will take place. How this event effects you will depend on what laws you have passed, your current population and your current relations with Britain.
3. Each winter allows your group to create any law you think would be helpful to your colony.
Phase 2: Building the Colony
1623 A.D.
Spring, 1623
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
A ship arrives from Holland carrying a bunch of poor Europeans. The captain says they have agreed to work as indentured servants (essentially slaves) for 7 years if they may live in your colony. Will you agree to this arrangement?
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
The increased labor allows your colony to produce more food.
+10 Population
The king is pleased that you have rejected these non-British settlers.
+1 British Relations
Summer, 1623
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
A group of Puritans has been chased out of their colony. They come to you and ask if you will allow religious tolerance in your colony or if you will insist that all citizens follow the Anglican Church of the King.
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
Your allowance of freedom encourages other Puritans to come and join too. The king doesn’t much approve though.
+10 Population
-2 Relations
Well, they seem sad but they weren’t welcome anywhere else so what are they going to do?
No change.
Fall, 1623
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
events
A new way of growing tobacco has been introduced that will allow you to raise a great deal of money for the king. Will you replace your farms growing food with those growing tobacco?
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
The increased income makes Britain very happy. The lost food makes your people sad. Some leave as a result.
-10 Population
+1 Relations
When the king learns that you could be sending him more money, he becomes upset.
-1 British Relations
Winter, 1624
Colonial Council
events
A hurricane has struck the south-east!
Sometimes no amount of preparation can protect you. This hurricane is devastating to the South-east. Entire settlements are wiped out and many people are seriously injured. Let’s see how you fared.
*If you have a hospital only lose half the stated population.
If you settled in Location A lose 20 population.
If you settled in Location B lose 10 population.
If you settled in Locations C or D no change.
50 years later…
Population + 20
Relations + 1
With great effort and sacrifice you’ve managed to establish your colony. In the North manufacturing is starting to grow. In the South agriculture is progressing like no one had imagined. There is, however, some concern that slavery has rapidly grown in some of the colonies.
Still, the king is happy. Things are looking up!
1674 A.D.
Spring, 1674
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
A religious revival has broken out in the colonies. Reading the Bible is now expected of all good Christians. Have you provided for an education in your colony?
If you have built a school…
If you have not built a school…
People flock to your colony to learn to read so they can read the Bible.
+10 Population
Some of your people move to other colonies to get an education and be closer to God.
-10 Population
Summer, 1674
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
Rumors of a wild beast roaming the forest near your settlement have persisted for months. The king is very interested in these reports. In the last couple days the reports have increased in frequency. One night you hear a loud rustling in the tree line just outside of your settlement. Will you fire into the trees or just ignore it?
If you decided to shoot into the trees…
If you decided to ignore it…
You killed Crazy Earl, one of your own settlers.
You monster.
-1 Population
The king is disappointed you didn’t find the wild beast.
-1 British Relations
Fall, 1674
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
A group of natives is massing an army at your border. Are you prepared to fight?�
If you have your own army, a fort, walls or good relations…
If you have no army or protection and less than good Relations…
You hold back the attack and receive some of the natives’ land as a peace offering.
+5 Population
The native attack is unpleasant. They see you are defenseless and decide it is time to take back their land.
-30 Population
Winter, 1675
Colonial Council
events
Britain has imposed a tax on paper goods to help pay for the support they provide for your colony. Will you enforce the tax on your citizens?
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
The increased tax causes some people to leave your colony but your support pleases the king.
-10 Population
+1 Relations
The King is furious. He immediately orders all British troops out of your colony to leave you defenseless.
-2 British Relations
50 years later…
Location A: +20 Population, +1 Relations
Location B: +30 Population, +2 Relations
Location C: + 40 Population
Location D: +40 Population
Your colony has continued to grow very rapidly. It is becoming clear that the Northern colonies have more cities and greater populations. The Southern colonies, on the other hand, have large farms that are providing great wealth to Britain. Some colonists are starting to question why Britain has so much control over them.
1725 A.D.
Spring, 1725
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
events
A group of women in your colony are insisting that women should have the same rights as men. Will you give into their demands?
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
The King laughs at your feeble attempts to encourage liberty.
-1 Relations
The women are angry and decide to try their luck at equality in another colony.
-10 Population
Summer, 1725
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
A small group of settlers is arguing that Britain has no right to rule over them. They are advocating for violent response if needed. Will you support their freedom to speak out or stop them from threatening violence?
If you decided to support them…
If you decided to stop them …
Your strong support of freedom encourages many to join your colony.
+20 Population
-1 Relations
The King greatly appreciates your support.
+2 British Relations
Thanks bro!
Fall, 1725
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
disease
A mystery sickness has affected a few of your colonists. This doesn’t look good. There appears to be nothing you can do to stop it. If you have a hospital at least you can contain it.
If you have a hospital…
If you do not have a hospital…
You are able to mostly contain the sickness and save many people.
-5 Population
With no way to keep the sick away from the colony the sickness spreads very quickly and many die.
-30 Population
Winter, 1726
Colonial Council
An anti-British pamphlet has been printed in your colony. Britain has ordered the arrest of the author. Will you arrest him?
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
The King is very pleased with your willingness to turn over this traitor.
+2 Relations
The King sees your refusal as an act of treason against him. He really, really doesn’t like that.
-3 Relations
50 years later…
Location A: +20 Population, +1 Relations
Location B: +30 Population
Location C: +30 Population, -1 Relations
Location D: +30 Population, -1 Relations
Growth continues but a clear frustration with Britain has taken hold, especially in the cities which are found mostly in the North. A very important decision awaits.
1776 A.D.
Spring, 1776
Build a farm
+10 Population
Send an envoy
+1 Relations
Build a special building
No change
You’ve been told some of your citizens are gathering a secret supply of weapons and ammo. Will you report them to the king?
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
The men are arrested and executed. The king seems to enjoy it.
Population: -5
Relations: +1
If you can’t see it, you can’t report it, right? Hopefully, the king doesn’t find out.
No change
Summer, 1776
The Continental Congress
A group of representatives from the other colonies have written a document declaring their right to be free from Britain and the king. Will you sign it?
If you decided yes…
If you decided no…
There’s no turning back now. Your push for freedom excites your people but ends all relations with the British.
Population: +30
Relations: -5
The King is impressed with your courage to stand alone. He sends soldiers to protect you from any aggression from the other colonies.
Population: +10
+3 Relations
Final counts
If you have poor relations with Britain: War breaks out leading to many deaths. You battle on for freedom but at a great cost. -100 Population +10 Freedom
If you have good relations: While other British colonies fight for freedom you experience a period of peace. People fleeing war settle in your colony. You ask yourself if these gains are worth sacrificing your freedom. +50 Population, -10 Freedom
Final counts
Reflection Questions: