NewYork 7 American Revolution - - C3 Teachers · PDF fileWas the American Revolution...
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NEW YORK STATE SOCIAL STUDIES RESOURCE TOOLKIT THIS WORK IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-SHAREALIKE 4.0 INTERNATIONAL LICENSE. 1 7th Grade American Revolution Inquiry Was the American Revolution Avoidable? W. D. Cooper, engraving of the Sons of Liberty protest, Boston Tea Party, 1789. Public domain. Supporting Questions 1. How did the French and Indian War change British relations with the colonists? 2. How did British policies inflame tensions in the American colonies? 3. How did colonial responses inflame tensions? 4. What efforts were made to avoid war?
Transcript of NewYork 7 American Revolution - - C3 Teachers · PDF fileWas the American Revolution...
NEWYORKSTATE SOCIAL STUDIES RESOURCETOOLKIT
T H I S W O R K I S L I C E N S E D U N D E R A C R E A T I V E C OMMON S A T T R I B U T I O N - N O N C OMM E R C I A L - S H A R E A L I K E 4 . 0 I N T E R N A T I O N A L L I C E N S E . 1
7thGradeAmericanRevolutionInquiry
WastheAmericanRevolutionAvoidable?
W.D.Cooper,engravingoftheSonsofLibertyprotest,BostonTeaParty,1789.Publicdomain.
SupportingQuestions
1. HowdidtheFrenchandIndianWarchangeBritishrelationswiththecolonists?2. HowdidBritishpoliciesinflametensionsintheAmericancolonies?3. Howdidcolonialresponsesinflametensions?4. Whateffortsweremadetoavoidwar?
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T H I S W O R K I S L I C E N S E D U N D E R A C R E A T I V E C OMMON S A T T R I B U T I O N - N O N C OMM E R C I A L - S H A R E A L I K E 4 . 0 I N T E R N A T I O N A L L I C E N S E . 2
7thGradeAmericanRevolutionInquiry
WastheAmericanRevolutionAvoidable?
NewYorkStateSocialStudiesFrameworkKeyIdea&Practices
7.3AMERICANINDEPENDENCE:GrowingtensionsoverpoliticalpowerandeconomicissuessparkedamovementforindependencefromGreatBritain.NewYorkplayedacriticalroleinthecourseandoutcomeoftheAmericanRevolution.Gathering,Using,andInterpretingEvidence GeographicReasoning EconomicsandEconomicSystemsComparisonandContextualization
StagingtheQuestion Discusshowconflictcanbeavoided.
SupportingQuestion1 SupportingQuestion2 SupportingQuestion3 SupportingQuestion4
HowdidtheFrenchandIndianWarchangeBritishrelationswiththecolonists?
HowdidBritishpoliciesinflametensionsintheAmericancolonies?
Howdidcolonialresponsesinflametensions?
Whateffortsweremadetoavoidwar?
FormativePerformanceTask Formative
PerformanceTask FormativePerformanceTask Formative
PerformanceTask
ListreasonswhytheFrenchandIndianWarandProclamationof1763changedBritishrelationswithcolonists.
MakeaclaimabouthowconflictemergedbetweentheBritishandcolonistsgivenBritishpoliciesinthecolonies.
Revisetheclaimgiventhenewevidenceaboutcolonialresponses.
Writeasecondclaimsupportedbyevidenceforhoweffortsweremadetoavoidwar.
FeaturedSources FeaturedSources FeaturedSources FeaturedSources
SourceA:Imagebank:18th-centuryBritishdebtSourceB:MapofNorthAmericabeforeandaftertheFrenchandIndianWarSourceC:“AnAmericanLooksBackAtBritishVictoryintheFrenchandIndianWar,1763”
SourceA:Legislationbank:ExcerptsfromlawsdemonstratingBritishpoliciestowardtheAmericancolonies,1764–1774
SourceA:DeclarationofRightsfromtheStampActCongressSourceB:Imagebank:ProtestsinBoston,1770–1774SourceC:Excerptfrom”GiveMeLibertyorGiveMeDeath”
SourceA:RepealoftheStampActSourceB:OliveBranchPetitionSourceC:ExcerptfromPlainTruth
SummativePerformanceTask
ARGUMENTWastheAmericanRevolutionavoidable?Constructanargument(e.g.,detailedoutline,poster,essay)thataddressesthecompellingquestionusingspecificclaimsandrelevantevidencefromhistoricalsourceswhileacknowledgingcompetingviews.
EXTENSIONCreateamultimediapresentationthataddresseswhetherornottheAmericanRevolutionwasavoidable.
TakingInformedAction
UNDERSTANDIdentifyadisagreementatthelocalornationallevel(e.g.,zoningrequests,statetaxes,immigrationpolicies)inwhichresidentsfindthemselvesoncompetingsides.ASSESSEvaluatecompetingclaimsfromvariousperspectivesconcerningpotentialcausesandsolutions.ACTProposearesolutiontothegrowingdisagreementbyhonoringtheneedsofbothsidesandsendtheproposaltoalocalornationalelectedofficial.
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Overview
InquiryDescription
Throughoutthisinquirystudentsinvestigatethecomplexinterconnectedrolesofindividualsandgroupsaswellastheeconomic,social,andgeographicalforcesthatcontributedtotheAmericanRevolution.Studentswrestlewithissuesconcerninghistoricaldeterminismastheymovetowardanevidence-basedargumentastowhetherornotthewarwasavoidable.Thecompellingquestion“WastheAmericanRevolutionavoidable?”promptsstudentstoreflectonfactorsthatcontributedtotheoutbreakofhostilitiesbetweenAmericancolonistsandGreatBritain.Asstudentsexplorethefeaturedsourcesforthisinquiry,theycometoseehowsomeindividualsonbothsidesinflamedthetensionswhileothersworkedforreconciliation.
InadditiontotheKeyIdeaexpressedearlier,thisinquirycoversthefollowingConceptualUnderstanding:
• (7.3b)StemmingfromtheFrenchandIndianWar,theBritishgovernmentenactedandattemptedtoenforcenewpoliticalandeconomicpoliciesinthecolonies.Thesepoliciestriggeredvariedcolonialresponses,includingprotestsanddissent.
NOTE:Thisinquiryisexpectedtotakefourtosix40-minuteclassperiods.Theinquirytimeframecouldexpandifteachersthinktheirstudentsneedadditionalinstructionalexperiences(i.e.,supportingquestions,formativeperformancetasks,andfeaturedsources).Teachersareencouragedtoadapttheinquiriestomeettheneedsandinterestsoftheirparticularstudents.Resourcescanalsobemodifiedasnecessarytomeetindividualizededucationprograms(IEPs)orSection504Plansforstudentswithdisabilities.
StructureoftheInquiry
Inordertoaddressthecompellingquestion“WastheAmericanRevolutionavoidable?”—studentsworkthroughaseriesofsupportingquestions,formativeperformancetasks,andfeaturedsourcesinordertoconstructanargumentwithevidencewhileacknowledgingcompetingperspectives.
StagingtheCompellingQuestion
Thecompellingquestionmaybestagedbyhavingstudentsdiscusshowconflictcanbeavoidedinavarietyofsituations.Teachersmayfocusthediscussiononconflictsthatemergeamongfriends,inschool,orinthelargercommunity.
SupportingQuestion1
Thefirstsupportingquestion—“HowdidtheFrenchandIndianWarchangeBritishrelationswiththecolonists?”—startsstudentsthinkingaboutthechangingnatureofthecolonialrelationship.Intheformativeperformancetask,
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studentslistthereasonswhytheFrenchandIndianWarandProclamationof1763changedBritishrelationswithcolonists.ThefirstfeaturedsourceisanimagebankdetailingBritishdebt.ThesecondfeaturedsourceconsistsofmapsdepictingNorthAmericanterritorybeforeandaftertheFrenchandIndianWar.ThethirdfeaturedsourceincludesadescriptiveaccountfromanAmericanreflectingontheconsequencesoftheFrenchandIndianWarin1789.
SupportingQuestion2
Inthesecondsupportingquestion—“HowdidBritishpoliciesinflametensionsintheAmericancolonies?”—studentsexploretheroleofKingGeorgeIIIandParliamentinescalatingcolonialunrest.TheformativeperformancetaskcallsonstudentstomakeaclaimabouthowconflictemergedbetweentheBritishandcolonistsgivenBritishpoliciesinthecolonies.ThefeaturedsourceisanannotatedcompilationofvariousBritishpoliciesthatangeredmanyofthecolonists,includingtheSugarActof1764,StampActof1765,QuarteringActof1765,TownshendActof1767,TeaActof1773,andIntolerableActsof1774.
SupportingQuestion3
Thethirdsupportingquestion—“Howdidcolonialresponsesinflametensions?”—asksabouttheroleofcolonialagitatorsincontributingtotheoutbreakofwar.Intheformativeperformancetask,studentsrevisittheclaimstheycreatedinresponsetothesecondformativeperformancetaskandrevisetheminlightofthenewevidencefoundinthefeaturedsources.ThefirstsourceisthetextoftheDeclarationofRightsapprovedduringtheStampActCongress,October19,1765.ThesecondsourceincludesimagesofprotestsinBostonfrom1770to1774.ThethirdsourceisanexcerptfromPatrickHenry’s“GiveMeLibertyorGiveMeDeath”speech.
SupportingQuestion4
Thefourthsupportingquestion—“Whateffortsweremadetoavoidwar?”—turnstotheactionsofpeoplewhoworkedtoavoidwarbetweenGreatBritainandthecolonists.Theformativeperformancetaskisforstudentstowriteanadditionalclaimsupportedbyevidenceforhoweffortsweremadetoavoidwar.ThefirstfeaturedsourceisanaccountoftherepealoftheStampActinwhichtheBritishattemptedtoappeasetheAmericancolonists.ThesecondfeaturedsourceincludesanexcerptfromtheOliveBranchPetition,whichwasacolonialattempttoreconcilewithGreatBritainfollowingtheearlybattlesoftheAmericanRevolution.ThefinalfeaturedsourceisacolonialloyalistrebuttalofThomasPaine’sCommonSense.
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SummativePerformanceTask
Atthispointintheinquiry,studentshaveexaminedmultipleperspectivesandactionstakenbyvariousindividualstoworktowardoragainstwar.Theyhavealsorevisedinitialclaimsasnewevidencewasintroduced.Studentsshouldbeexpectedtodemonstratethebreadthoftheirunderstandingsandabilitiestouseevidencefrommultiplesourcestosupporttheirfinalclaims.Inthistask,studentsareaskedtoconstructanevidence-basedargumentrespondingtothecompellingquestion—“WastheAmericanRevolutionavoidable?”Itisimportanttonotethatstudents’argumentscouldtakeavarietyofforms,includingadetailedoutline,poster,oressay.
Students’argumentswilllikelyvary,butcouldincludeanyofthefollowing:
• TheactionsofBritishandcolonialleadersmadetheAmericanRevolutionunavoidable.• TheactionsofpeopleonbothsidessankeffortstofixBritishandAmericancolonialrelations,butthe
conflictcouldhavebeenavoidedifsomehadacteddifferently.• ThatpeopleworkedtoreconcileBritishandAmericancolonialrelationssuggeststheythoughtthewarwas
avoidable,eveniftheirgoalsultimatelyfailed.
StudentscouldextendtheseargumentsbycreatingamultimediapresentationthataddresseswhetherornottheAmericanRevolutionwasavoidable.
StudentshavetheopportunitytoTakeInformedActionbyconsideringtheissueofconflictavoidanceinacontemporarylocalcontext.Tounderstand,studentsinvestigateanevolvingdisagreementintheirlocalcommunity,atschool,oronthenationalstageinwhichresidentsorstudentsarebecomingincreasinglyagitatedand/orpolarized.Toassesstheproblem,studentsevaluatecompetingclaimsfromvariousperspectivesconcerningpotentialcausesandsolutionstotheissue.Andtoact,studentsdevelopaproposalthatattemptstoresolvethegrowingdisagreementbyhonoringtheneedsofbothsidesandthensendtheproposaltoalocalornationalelectedofficial.
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SupportingQuestion1FeaturedSource SourceA:Imagebank:18th-centuryBritishdebt
NOTE:GreatBritainwasinvolvedinaseriesofcostlywarsinthe18thcentury.OneofthemostcostlyofthosewarswastheSevenYears’War,whichinvolvedfightingonseveralcontinents.InNorthAmerica,theconflictwasknownastheFrenchandIndianWar.ThevictoriousBritishacquiredmostofFrance’slandsinNorthAmericaasaresultofthewar,butthatvictorycameatagreatfinancialcostfortheBritish.Theinformationinthechartandgraphbelowdescribethosecosts.
Image1:ChartdetailingthegrowthofBritain’snationaldebt,1692–1790,2015.CreatedfortheNewYorkStateK–12SocialStudiesToolkitbyAgatePublishing,Inc.,2015,basedondatafromB.R.MitchellandPhyllisDeane,AbstractofBritishHistoricalStatistics(Cambridge,1962),401–402andtheUKPublicSpendingwebsite:http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/download_multi_year_1692_1790UKm_15c1li011mcn_G0t.
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Year NationalDebt
GovernmentRevenue
GovernmentSpending
1739 46,954,623 5,820,000 5,210,000
1748 78,293,313 7,199,000 11,943,000
1755 74,571,849 6,938,000 7,119,000
1762 146,682,844 9,459,000 20,040,000
1775 135,943,051 11,112,000 10,365,000
Image2:Britain’sfinancialsituation,1739–1775,2008.FromAlvinRabushka.TaxationinColonialAmerica.Princeton,NJ:PrincetonUniversityPress,2008.AvailableattheStampActwebsite:http://www.stamp-act-history.com/british-view/.
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SupportingQuestion1FeaturedSource SourceB:Mapshowingterritorialgains,“MapofNorthAmericabeforeandaftertheFrenchandIndian
War”
MapofNorthAmericabeforeandaftertheFrenchandIndianWar
MapbyJonPlatek.LicensedundertheCreativeCommonsAttribution-ShareAlike3.0Unportedlicense.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NorthAmerica1762-83.png.
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SupportingQuestion1FeaturedSource SourceC:DavidRamsay,anaccountoftheFrenchandIndianWar,“AnAmericanLooksBackAtBritish
VictoryintheFrenchandIndianWar,1763”(excerpts),TheHistoryoftheAmericanRevolution,1789
NOTE:DavidRamsaywasanAmericanphysicianandamateurhistorianwhowroteTheHistoryoftheAmericanRevolutionin1789.
Tilltheyear1764,the[Britishcommercial]colonialregulationsseemedtohavenootherobjectbutthecommongoodofthewholeempire.Exceptionstothecontrarywerefewandhadnoappearanceofsystem.Whentheapproachofthecoloniestomanhoodmadethemmorecapableofresistingimpositions,GreatBritainchangedtheancientsystemunderwhichhercolonieshadlongflourished.Whenpolicywouldratherhavedictatedarelaxationofauthority,sheroseinherdemandsandmultipliedherrestraints.…
ItwasnaturalforGreatBritain,towishforanextensionofherauthorityoverthecolonies,andequallysoforthem,ontheirapproachtomaturity,tobemoreimpatientofsubordinationandtoresisteveryinnovationforincreasingthedegreeoftheirdependence.
Thesadstoryofcolonialoppressioncommencedintheyear1764.Great-Britain,then,adoptednewregulations,respectinghercolonies,which,afterdisturbingtheancientharmonyofthetwocountries,forabouttwelveyears,terminatedinadismembermentoftheempire.
Publicdomain.Availableatthe,NationalHumanitiesCenter’sAmericainClasswebsite:http://americainclass.org/sources/makingrevolution/crisis/text1/britainvictorious1763.pdfandtheOnlineLibraryofLiberty:http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/814#Ramsay_0015-01_217.
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SupportingQuestion2FeaturedSource SourceA:Legislationbank:ExcerptsfromlawsdemonstratingBritishpoliciestowardtheAmerican
colonies,1764–1774
TheSugarActof1764wasthefirsteffortbytheBritishtocontroleconomicactivityintheAmericancoloniesbylimitingwhatsugarproductscolonistscouldbuyandsell.
XI.Anditisherebyfurtherenactedbytheauthorityaforesaid,Thatallthemonies…shallarisebytheseveralratesanddutieshereinbeforegranted;andalsobythedutieswhich…shallberaiseduponsugarsandpaneles.
TheStampActof1765requiredcoloniststopurchasestampsforallpaperpublications,includingletters,newspapers,andmagazines.
Anactforgrantingandapplyingcertainstampduties,andotherduties,intheBritishcoloniesandplantationsinAmerica,towardsfurtherdefrayingtheexpencesofdefending,protecting,andsecuringthesame….
Forevery…sheetorpieceofpaper,onwhichshallbeingrossed,written,orprinted,anyregister,entry,orinrollementofanygrant,deed,orotherinstrumentwhatsoevernothereinbeforecharged…astampdutyoftwoshillings.Andforanduponeverypackofplayingcards,andalldice,whichshallbesoldorusedwithinthesaidcoloniesandplantations,theseveralstampdutiesfollowing(thatistosay)Foreverypackofsuchcards,thesumofoneshilling.
TheQuarteringActof1765requiredcoloniststopayforthehousingofBritishsoldiers.
Anact...forprovidingquartersforthearmy,andcarriagesonmarchesandothernecessaryoccasions,andinflictingpenaltiesonoffendersagainstthesameact...butthesamemaynotbesufficientfortheforcesthatmaybeemployedinhisMajesty’dominionsinAmerica:andwhereas,duringthecontinuanceofthesaidact,theremaybeoccasionformarchingandquarteringofregimentsandcompaniesofhisMajesty’sforcesinseveralpartsofhisMajesty’sdominionsinAmerica
TheTownshendActof1767imposedtaxesthatcolonistshadtopayontea,glass,lead,paper,andpaintproducts.
We,yourMajesty’smostdutifulandloyalsubjects,thecommonsofGreatBritain,inparliamentassembled,havethereforeresolvedtogiveandgrantuntoyourMajestytheseveralratesanddutieshereinaftermentioned.…
Foreverypoundweightavoirdupoisoftea,threepence.…
Foreveryreamofpaper,usuallycalledorknownbythenameofAtlasFine,twelveshillings.…
Andforallsilkhandkerchiefssoprinted,stained,orpainted,withinorduringthetermaforesaid,inGreatBritain,thesumofonepennyforeveryyardsquare;andinthoseproportionsforwiderornarrowersilks.
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TheTeaActof1773limitedcoloniststopurchasingteaexclusivelyfromtheBritish-ownedEastIndiaTeaCompany.
AnacttoallowadrawbackofthedutiesofcustomsontheexportationofteatoanyofhisMajesty’scoloniesorplantationsinAmerica;toincreasethedepositonboheateatobesoldattheIndiaCompany’ssales;andtoimpowerthecommissionersofthetreasurytograntlicencestotheEastIndiaCompanytoexportteaduty-free.
TheIntolerableActsof1774wereaseriesofactionsdesignedtopunishcolonistsfortheirprotests.TheactsclosedBostonHarborandlimitedcolonialtownmeetings.
AdministrationofJusticeAct(OneofIntolerableActs)
ifanyappealshallbesuedorpreferredagainstanyperson,formurder,orothercapitaloffence,intheprovinceOftheMassachuset'sBay…andifitshallalsoappear,tothesatisfactionofthesaidgovernor,orlieutenant-governorrespectively,thatanindifferenttrialcannotbehadwithinthesaidprovince,inthatcase,itshallandmaybelawfulforthegovernor,orlieutenant-governor,todirect,withtheadviceandconsentofthecouncil,thattheinquisition,indictment,orappeal,shallbetriedinsomeotherofhisMajesty'scolonies,orinGreatBritain
BostonPortAct(OneofIntolerableActs)
ANACTtodiscontinue,insuchmanner,andfororsuchtimeasarethereinmentioned,thelandinganddischarging,ladingorshipping,ofgoods,wares,andmerchandise,atthetown,andwithintheharbour,ofBoston,intheprovinceofMassachuset'sBay,inNorthAmerica.
Publicdomain.AvailableatS.MintzandS.McNeil.(2015).DigitalHistory.RetrievedAugust24,2015fromhttp://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu.Toviewthefulltextofeachact,see:http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/references/landmark.cfm.
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SupportingQuestion3FeaturedSource SourceA:StampActCongress,alistingofrights,“DeclarationoftheCongressHeldatNewYork,”
October19,1765
NOTE:In1765,theBritishParliament,inanattempttoincreaserevenuefromthecoloniestopayfortroopsandcolonialadministration,passedtheStampAct.Itrequiredcoloniststopurchasestampsformanydocumentsandprinteditems,suchaslandtitles,contracts,playingcards,books,newspapers,andadvertisements.Becauseitaffectedalmosteverycolonist,theactprovokedwidespreadhostility.ColonistsorganizedtheStampActCongressinNewYorkCityinOctober1765torespondtotheperceivedinjusticesoftheStampAct.BelowisthefulltextoftheDeclarationofRightsfromtheStampActCongressonOctober19,1765.
Themembersofthiscongress,sincerelydevoted,withthewarmestsentimentsofaffectionanddutytohismajesty'spersonandgovernment,inviolablyattachedtothepresenthappyestablishmentoftheprotestantsuccession,andwithmindsdeeplyimpressedbyasenseofthepresentandimpendingmisfortunesoftheBritishcoloniesonthiscontinent;havingconsideredasmaturelyastimewouldpermit,thecircumstancesofsaidcolonies,esteemitourindispensabledutytomakethefollowingdeclarations,ofourhumbleopinions,respectingthemostessentialrightsandlibertiesofthecolonists,andofthegrievancesunderwhichtheylabor,byreasonofseverallateactsofparliament.
1st.Thathismajesty'ssubjectsinthesecolonies,owethesameallegiancetothecrownofGreatBritainthatisowingfromhissubjectsbornwithintherealm,andallduesubordinationtothataugustbody,theparliamentofGreatBritain.
2d.Thathismajesty'sliegesubjectsinthesecoloniesareentitledtoalltheinherentrightsandprivilegesofhisnaturalbornsubjectswithinthekingdomofGreatBritain.
3d.Thatitisinseparablyessentialtothefreedomofapeople,andtheundoubtedrightsofEnglishmen,thatnotaxesshouldbeimposedonthem,butwiththeirownconsent,givenpersonally,orbytheirrepresentatives.
4th.Thatthepeopleofthesecoloniesarenot,andfromtheirlocalcircumstances,cannotberepresentedinthehouseofcommonsinGreatBritain.
5th.Thattheonlyrepresentativesofthepeopleofthesecoloniesarepersonschosentherein,bythemselves;andthatnotaxeseverhavebeen,orcanbeconstitutionallyimposedonthem,butbytheirrespectivelegislatures.
6th.Thatallsuppliestothecrown,beingfreegiftsofthepeople,itisunreasonableandinconsistentwiththeprinciplesandspiritoftheBritishconstitution,forthepeopleofGreatBritaintogranttohismajestythepropertyofthecolonists.
7th.ThattrialbyjuryistheinherentandinvaluablerightofeveryBritishsubjectinthesecolonies.
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8th.Thatthelateactofparliamententitled,anactforgrantingandapplyingcertainstampduties,andotherdutiesintheBritishcoloniesandplantationsinAmerica,&c.,byimposingtaxesontheinhabitantsofthesecolonies,andthesaidact,andseveralotheracts,byextendingthejurisdictionofthecourtsofadmiraltybeyonditsancientlimits,haveamanifesttendencytosubverttherightsandlibertiesofthecolonists.
9th.Thatthedutiesimposedbyseverallateactsofparliament,fromthepeculiarcircumstancesofthesecolonies,willbeextremelyburthensomeandgrievous,and,fromthescarcityofspecie,thepaymentofthemabsolutelyimpracticable.
10th.ThatastheprofitsofthetradeofthesecoloniesultimatelycenterinGreatBritain,topayforthemanufactureswhichtheyareobligedtotakefromthence,theyeventuallycontributeverylargelytoallsuppliesgrantedtheretothecrown.
11th.Thattherestrictionsimposedbyseverallateactsofparliament,onthetradeofthesecolonies,willrenderthemunabletopurchasethemanufacturesofGreatBritain.
12th.Thattheincrease,prosperity,andhappinessofthesecolonies,dependonthefullandfreeenjoymentoftheirrightsandliberties,andanintercourse,withGreatBritain,mutuallyaffectionateandadvantageous.
13th.ThatitistherightoftheBritishsubjectsinthesecolonies,topetitionthekingoreitherhouseofparliament.
Lastly,Thatitistheindispensabledutyofthesecoloniestothebestofsovereigns,tothemothercountry,andtothemselves,toendeavor,byaloyalanddutifuladdresstohismajesty,andhumbleapplicationtobothhousesofparliament,toprocuretherepealoftheactforgrantingandapplyingcertainstampduties,ofallclausesofanyotheractsofparliament,wherebythejurisdictionoftheadmiraltyisextendedasaforesaid,andoftheotherlateactsfortherestrictionoftheAmericancommerce.Publicdomain.AvailablefromthePreservingAmericanFreedomdigitalhistoryproject,HistoricalSocietyofPennsylvania:http://digitalhistory.hsp.org/pafrm/doc/declaration-congress-held-new-york-october-7-1765.AlsoavailablefromtheInternetArchive:https://archive.org/details/journaloffirstco00stam.
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SupportingQuestion3FeaturedSource SourceB:Imagebank:ProtestsinBoston,1770–1774
NOTE:InresponsetoBritishpolicies,somecolonistsbeganharassingBritishtaxcollectors—emissariesoftheking.Victimsoftarringandfeatheringwereoftenparadedaroundtownasanadditionalformofpublichumiliation.ThevictimpicturedherewasBostonCommissionerofCustoms,JohnMalcolm,whowastarredandfeatheredtwice.
Image1:Artistunknown(RobertSayerandJohnBennett,publishers),engravingshowingthetarringandfeatheringofaBritishtaxofficial,BostoniansPayingtheExcise-Man,orTarring&Feathering,1774.Publicdomain.AvailableattheLibraryofCongress:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004673302/.
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NOTE:ThisengravingbyPaulReveredepictstheeventthatbecameknownastheBostonMassacre,whichoccurredonMarch5,1770.Thisdepiction,althoughhighlyinaccurateandbiased,playedacrucialroleinchangingpublicopinionagainsttheBritish.
Image2:PaulRevere,engravingoftheBostonMassacre,EngravingoftheBloodyMassacre,1770.Publicdomain.AvailableattheLibraryofCongress:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.01657/.
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NOTE:TheSonsofLibertystagedaprotestagainstBritishteapoliciesonDecember16,1773,inwhichtheydisguisedthemselvesasNativeAmericansanddestroyedchestsofBritishEastIndiaCompanyteabydumpingthemintoBostonHarbor.
Image3:W.D.Cooper,engravingoftheSonsofLibertyprotest,BostonTeaParty,inTheHistoryofNorthAmerica.London:E.Newberry,1789.Publicdomain.AvailablefromWikimediaCommons:http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boston_Tea_Party_w.jpg.
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SupportingQuestion3FeaturedSource SourceC:PatrickHenry,speechinsupportofthecoloniesinrebellionagainstGreatBritain,“GiveMe
LibertyorGiveMeDeath”(excerpt),March,20,1775
NOTE:Renownedforhisoratoryskills,PatrickHenryledtheoppositionagainsttheStampActof1765.HeservedasgovernorofVirginiatwiceandlaterledanti-federalistoppositionagainsttheratificationoftheUnitedStatesConstitution,whichhelpedleadtotheadoptionoftheBillofRights.
Theytellus,sir,thatweareweak;unabletocopewithsoformidableanadversary.Butwhenshallwebestronger?Willitbethenextweek,orthenextyear?Willitbewhenwearetotallydisarmed,andwhenaBritishguardshallbestationedineveryhouse?Shallwegatherstrengthbyirresolutionandinaction?Shallweacquirethemeansofeffectualresistance,bylyingsupinelyonourbacks,andhuggingthedelusivephantomofhope,untilourenemiesshallhaveboundushandandfoot?Sir,wearenotweakifwemakeaproperuseofthosemeanswhichtheGodofnaturehathplacedinourpower.Threemillionsofpeople,armedintheholycauseofliberty,andinsuchacountryasthatwhichwepossess,areinvinciblebyanyforcewhichourenemycansendagainstus.Besides,sir,weshallnotfightourbattlesalone.ThereisajustGodwhopresidesoverthedestiniesofnations;andwhowillraiseupfriendstofightourbattlesforus.Thebattle,sir,isnottothestrongalone;itistothevigilant,theactive,thebrave.Besides,sir,wehavenoelection.Ifwewerebaseenoughtodesireit,itisnowtoolatetoretirefromthecontest.Thereisnoretreatbutinsubmissionandslavery!Ourchainsareforged!TheirclankingmaybeheardontheplainsofBoston!Thewarisinevitableandletitcome!Irepeatit,sir,letitcome.
Itisinvain,sir,toextenuatethematter.Gentlemenmaycry,Peace,Peacebutthereisnopeace.Thewarisactuallybegun!Thenextgalethatsweepsfromthenorthwillbringtoourearstheclashofresoundingarms!Ourbrethrenarealreadyinthefield!Whystandwehereidle?Whatisitthatgentlemenwish?Whatwouldtheyhave?Islifesodear,orpeacesosweet,astobepurchasedatthepriceofchainsandslavery?Forbidit,AlmightyGod!Iknownotwhatcourseothersmaytake;butasforme,givemelibertyorgivemedeath!
Publicdomain.AvailableattheColonialWilliamsburgwebsite:http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm.
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SupportingQuestion4FeaturedSource SourceA:BritishParliament,legislationtoremovetheStampAct,“AnActRepealingtheStampAct,”
March18,1766
NOTE:OnMarch18,1766,theParliamentofGreatBritainrepealedtheStampActithadpassedtheyearbefore.WhereasanActwaspassedinthelastsessionofParliamententitled,AnActforgrantingandapplyingcertainstampduties,andotherdutiesintheBritishcoloniesandplantationsinAmericatowardsfurtherdefrayingtheexpensesofdefending,protecting,andsecuringthesame;andforamendingsuchpartsoftheseveralActsofParliamentrelatingtothetradeandrevenuesofthesaidcoloniesandplantationsasdirectthemannerofdeterminingandrecoveringthepenaltiesandforfeituresthereinmentioned;andwhereasthecontinuanceofthesaidActwouldbeattendedwithmanyinconveniencies,andmaybeproductiveofconsequencesgreatlydetrimentaltothecommercialinterestsofthesekingdoms;mayitthereforepleaseyourmostexcellentMajestythatitmaybeenacted;andbeitenactedbytheking'smostexcellentMajesty,byandwiththeadviceandconsentoftheLordsSpiritualandTemporal,andCommons,inthispresentParliamentassembled,andbytheauthorityofthesame,thatfromandafterthefirstdayofMay,onethousandsevenhundredandsixty-six,theabove-mentionedAct,andtheseveralmattersandthingsthereincontained,shallbe,andisandareherebyrepealedandmadevoidtoallintentsandpurposeswhatsoever.Publicdomain.AvailablefromtheLillianGoldmanLawLibrary,YaleLawSchool:http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/repeal_stamp_act_1766.asp.
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SupportingQuestion4FeaturedSource SourceB:SecondContinentalCongress,appealtotheBritishkingtoresolvedifferenceswithoutwar,
“OliveBranchPetitiontoKingGeorgeIII,”JournalsoftheContinentalCongress-PetitiontotheKing,(excerpts),July5,1775
NOTE:TheSecondContinentalCongressadoptedtheOliveBranchPetitiononJuly5,1775,asafinalefforttoavoidafull-scalewarwiththeBritish.ThepetitioncameaftertheinitialroundoffightingbetweenBritishsoldiersandAmericancolonistsbeganonApril19,1775atLexingtonandConcord.ThepetitionwasignoredbyKingGeorgeIIIwhorepliedwiththeProclamationofRebellioninAugust23,1775,essentiallydeclaringwaragainstthecolonists.
YourMajesty’sMinisters,perseveringintheirmeasures,andproceedingtoopenhostilitiesforenforcingthem,havecompelledustoarminourowndefence,andhaveengagedusinacontroversysopeculiarlyabhorrenttotheaffectionsofyourstillfaithfulColonists,thatwhenweconsiderwhomwemustopposeinthiscontest,andifitcontinues,whatmaybetheconsequences,ourownparticularmisfortunesareaccountedbyusonlyaspartsofourdistress.
Knowingtowhatviolentresentmentsandincurableanimositiescivildiscordsareapttoexasperateandinflamethecontendingparties,wethinkourselvesrequiredbyindispensableobligationstoAlmightyGod,toyourMajesty,toourfellow-subjects,andtoourselves,immediatelytouseallthemeansinourpower,notincompatiblewithoursafety,forstoppingthefurthereffusionofblood,andforavertingtheimpendingcalamitiesthatthreatentheBritishEmpire.
ThuscalledupontoaddressyourMajestyonaffairsofsuchmomenttoAmerica,andprobablytoallyourDominions,weareearnestlydesirousofperformingthisofficewiththeutmostdeferenceforyourMajesty;andwethereforepray,thatyourMajesty’sroyalmagnanimityandbenevolencemaymakethemostfavourableconstructionsofourexpressionsonsouncommonanoccasion.Couldwerepresentintheirfullforcethesentimentsthatagitatethemindsofusyourdutifulsubjects,wearepersuadedyourMajestywouldascribeanyseemingdeviationfromreverenceinourlanguage,andeveninourconduct,nottoanyreprehensibleintention,buttotheimpossibilityofreconcilingtheusualappearancesofrespectwithajustattentiontoourownpreservationagainstthoseartfulandcruelenemieswhoabuseyourroyalconfidenceandauthority,forthepurposeofeffectingourdestruction.…
WebegleavefurthertoassureyourMajesty,thatnotwithstandingthesufferingsofyourloyalColonistsduringthecourseofthispresentcontroversy,ourbreastsretaintootenderaregardforthekingdomfromwhichwederiveourorigin,torequestsuchareconciliationasmight,inanymanner,beinconsistentwithherdignityorherwelfare.These,relatedaswearetoher,honourandduty,aswellasinclination,induceustosupportandadvance;andtheapprehensionsthatnowoppressourheartswithunspeakablegrief,beingonceremoved,yourMajestywillfindyourfaithfulsubjectsonthisContinentreadyandwillingatalltimes,astheyhaveeverbeen,withtheirlivesandfortunes,toassertandmaintaintherightsandinterestsofyourMajesty,andofourMotherCountry.
WethereforebeseechyourMajesty,thatyourroyalauthorityandinfluencemaybegraciouslyinterposedtoprocureusrelieffromourafflictingfearsandjealousies,occasionedbythesystembefore-mentioned,andtosettlepeacethrougheverypartofourDominions,withallhumilitysubmittingtoyourMajesty’swiseconsideration,whetheritmaynotbeexpedient,forfacilitatingthoseimportantpurposes,thatyourMajestybepleasedtodirectsomemode,bywhichtheunitedapplicationsofyourfaithfulColoniststotheThrone,inpursuanceoftheircommoncounsels,maybeimprovedintoahappyandpermanentreconciliation;andthat,inthemeantime,
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measuresmaybetakenforpreventingthefurtherdestructionofthelivesofyourMajesty’ssubjects;andthatsuchstatutesasmoreimmediatelydistressanyofyourMajesty’sColonies,mayberepealed.…
ThatyourMajestymayenjoyalongandprosperousreign,andthatyourdescendantsmaygovernyourDominionswithhonourtothemselvesandhappinesstotheirsubjects,isoursincereprayer.
Publicdomain.AvailablefromtheLillianGoldmanLawLibrary,YaleLawSchool:http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/contcong_07-08-75.asp.
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SupportingQuestion4FeaturedSource SourceC:JamesChalmers,aloyalistpamphletarguingthatthecoloniesshouldcontinuetheir
relationshipwithGreatBritain,PlainTruth(excerpts),1766
NOTE:JamesChalmerswasaScottish-bornBritishloyalistlivinginMarylandattheonsetoftheAmericanRevolution.HewrotePlainTruthasadefenseofBritishruleintheAmericancoloniesandinresponsetoThomasPaine’sCommonSense,whichhadbeenpublishedjustmonthsearlier.ChalmersservedasaloyalistofficerintheAmericanRevolution.Somehistorianshaveestimatedthatroughlyone-thirdofcolonistswereloyalists.CanareasonablebeingforamomentbelievethatGreatBritain,whosepoliticalexistencedependsonourconstitutionalobedience,whobutyesterdaymadesuchprodigiouseffortstosaveusfromFrance,willnotexertherselfaspowerfullytopreserveusfromourfranticschemesofindependency?Canweamomentdoubt,thattheSovereignofGreatBritainandhisministers,whosegloryaswellaspersonalsafetydependsonourobedience,willnotexerteverynerveoftheBritishpower,tosavethemselvesandusfromruin.…Untilthepresentunhappyperiod,GreatBritainhasaffordedtoallmankind,themostperfectproofofherwise,lenient,andmagnanimousgovernmentoftheColonies.…Volumeswereinsufficienttodescribethehorror,miseryanddesolation,awaitingthepeopleatlargeintheSyrenformofAmericanindependence.Inshort,IaffirmthatitwouldbemostexcellentpolicyinthosewhowishforTRUELIBERTYtosubmitbyanadvantageousreconciliationtotheauthorityofGreatBritain;“toaccomplishinthelongrun,whattheycannotdobyhypocrisy,fraudandforceintheshortone.”Publicdomain.ThetextandeducationalmaterialsdevelopedthroughtheBaltimoreCountyHistoryLabsProgram,apartnershipbetweenBaltimoreCountyPublicSchools,areavailableathttp://www.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/pdf/historylabs/Should_the_Colo_student:RS07.pdf.
