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Learning Objectives
1)
2)
Understand the situations in both America and
Great Britain after the Seven Years War (a.k.a.
the French and Indian War). By 1763, America
had matured both socially and politically,
experiencing a high standard of living and freedom.
Meanwhile, Great Britain was experiencing military
success; however, war in Europe and North America
had doubled their national debt. With the threat of
Native American uprisings on the frontier, King
George III signed the Proclamation of 1763,
prohibiting English settlement west of the
Appalachians. Also, a British army would be
maintained in America to protect the colonies. The
British government looked to the colonies to offset
war debts and the cost of running the colonies.
3)
Know the reasons for the growing tension
between Great Britain and Colonial America. In
1764, Parliament began implementing taxes on the
colonists to pay off their debts by passing the Sugar
Act. This act increased the duties on imported sugar
and several other items, doubled the duties on
foreign goods reshipped from England, and forbade
the import of foreign rum and wines. Following the
Sugar Act, the Stamp Act was passed, taxing all
printed materials. In opposition to the Stamp Act,
the Sons of Liberty was formed to force tax
collectors to resign and to boycott British goods
through violence and intimidation. To avoid further
conflict, King George III repealed the Stamp Act in
1766; however, on the same day, the Declaratory Act
was passed, stating Britain’s complete legislative
control over the colonies. To increase revenue from
the colonies, the Townshend Revenue Acts were
passed in 1767. As a reaction, Samuel Adams wrote
the Circular Letter opposing “taxation without
representation” and urging the colonists to unite
against British government. In response to colonial
agitation, British troops arrived in Boston to keep
the peace. On March 5, 1770 an angry mob harassed
several British soldiers, who responded with gunfire,
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TEACHER’S GUIDE
killing five colonists. This incident, the Boston
Massacre, was exaggerated, increasing hatred for
British rule. The Townshend Acts were repealed that
same year with the exception of the tea tax.
Suggested Activities
Observe how the actions of both the British and
the colonists led to war. Although the colonies
were experiencing a three-year period of prosperity,
Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, and other agitators
continued to attack the British government through
propaganda. As the colonies began to organize,
Committees of Correspondence were formed to
communicate with other colonies. Protests
continued to be organized and on December 16,
1773, about 800 Bostonians dressed like Indians
dumped boxes of tea into the harbor. This event, the
Boston Tea Party, was a reaction to the tea taxes and
the monopoly of the East India Company. In
response to the protest, Parliament passed the
Coercive Acts, known as the Intolerable Acts in the
colonies. Among the acts was the Boston Port Bill,
which ordered the port of Boston closed until the
East India Company was paid in full. The
Administration of Justice Act stated that all British
officials indicted for criminal acts could be taken to
Great Britain or another country for trial. The
Quartering Act allowed British Troops to be
quartered anywhere in Massachusetts including
homes. Furthermore, the Quebec Act limited
colonial expansion west, angering the colonists. In
September of 1774, the First Continental Congress
met in Philadelphia to promote opposition to the
Coercive Acts and organize the rebellion. Less than a
year later, a provincial assembly was held to begin
preparations for war. In April of 1775,
Massachusetts Governor Gage ordered several
hundred British soldiers to Concord to destroy the
colonists’ weapons depot. After being alerted to the
mobilization, the colonial militia assembled and met
the British face to face on Lexington Green.
Seven Years War, Proclamation of 1763, Sugar Act,
Stamp Act, Sons of Liberty Formed, Repeal of Stamp
Act, Declaratory Act, Townshend Revenue Acts, Circular
Letter, Boston Massacre, Committees of Correspondence
Formed, Tea Act, Boston Tea Party, Coercive/Intolerable
Acts, Quebec Act, First Continental Congress, Face-off at
Lexington Green,
1)
Human Timeline: Write the following events on
separate index cards:
Then shuffle the cards and distribute them to the
students. Next ask the students to organize
themselves chronologically according to the cards.
They should be in the preceding order.
2)
Perspective Chart: Have the students prepare a
chart that explains the actions of either the British or
the colonists. There should be three columns: Action,
Reason, and Repercussion. The students are to choose
either the British or Colonists and present through
that point of view, their actions, the reason for those
actions, and the repercussions of the actions.
Vocabulary
Tory — an American who supported the British
side during the American Revolution
Effigy — a crude figure or dummy representing
a hated person or group
Duty — a government tax usually placed on
imports and exports
Militia — an army composed of ordinary
citizens rather than professional soldiers
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