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BenchmarksSS.7.C.1.3 Describe how English

policies and responses tocolonial concerns led to the writing of the Declaration of

Independence.

Parliament v. Patriots

A Colonial Era Showdown

When the colonists first moved to the Americas…

• They had a lot of freedom from Great Britain and were not closely watched.

• Remember, they were 3,731 miles apart…

Back in England…

• Great Britain had emerged on the world stage as a country of power….which often meant they were in wars.

• Because of the wars they were fighting, Britain wasn’t paying much attention to the colonies.

• Once their war with France was over, England needed money as wars were expensive to fight.

• England turned to the colonies as a source of income and increased taxes and started enforcing restrictions on the colonies in the form of acts…

Main Issues with the Acts

• Taxation – colonists were being taxed by the British government to solve their debt issues…

• Representation – policies were being made in British government without any colonial representation in Parliament…

• Violation of individual rights – and the colonists’ felt their rights were being violated.

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This is where you come in…

Half of you will be members of Parliament back in Great

Britain…

…and half of you will be Patriots in the colonies in

the Americas.

On your worksheet, you will need to read each policy as it comes up on a slide and form an argument for or against the policy based on your role. The side with the most convincing

argument will win the round.

You will also need to identify if the act deals with:• Taxation• Representation• Individual rights

Stamp Act, 1765

This law imposed a tax on every legal document, newspaper, pamphlet, and deck of cards coming into the colonies.

Parliament and Patriots – make your arguments!

Quartering Act, 1765

The British government moved the army from the western lands into the cities. The law required colonists who were innkeepers of public officials to house and feed the British soldiers.

Parliament and Patriots – make your arguments!

Declaratory Act, 1766

The law stated that Parliament has the right to pass laws for the colonies in “all cases whatsoever.” Its purpose was to remind the colonists that the authority of the King and Parliament was superior to colonial governments.

Parliament and Patriots – make your arguments!

Tea Act, 1773

This law gave the East India Company the sole right to sell tea to the colonies – no other companies were permitted to sell tea. The East India Company was a large and important corporation in Britain. The purpose of the law was to keep the company from going broke.

Parliament and Colonists – make your arguments!

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Boston Tea Party

Steps to Independence

1. British policies put in place that limit colonial rights.

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WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

Colonists move towards independence

No Taxation Without Representation

• The colonists believed taxes and other policies like these should only be passed by their colonial legislatures– Remember, Parliament, who was imposing the taxes,

was over 3,000 miles away

NO TAXATION WITHOUT

REPRESENTATION!

First Continental Congress

• 12 of the 13 colonies attended a general congress (meeting) to decide the best way to deal with the British government.

• The Congress decided to ban trade with Great Britain.

Steps to Independence

1. British policies limiting colonial rights; 2. Colonists demand political change;

And then…

• The British ignored the demands of the colonists and pushed back against the trade ban, causing fighting to break out.

• The fight at Lexington and Concord would become the first of the Revolutionary War.

NO TRADE

Steps to Independence

1. British policies limiting colonial rights; 2. Colonists demand political change; 3. British ignore the colonists’ concerns;

Second Continental Congress

• At the Second Continental Congress:– Congress officially decided to resist the British– Congress selected George Washington to lead the

army– After a year, Congress asked a committee of

representatives to create a document that stated why the colonists decided to fight for independence.

• This document would become the Declaration of Independence

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In summary…

Hey Colonies, we have a

bunch of acts for you...

No thank you!

Too bad – you’re getting

them.

Then we’re leaving and doing

our own thing. Bye!

Steps to Independence

1. British policies limiting colonial rights; 2. Colonists demand political change; 3. British ignore the colonists’ concerns;4. Declaration of Independence is written and

approved.

Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

“Too Late to Apologize” Music Video

Video by Soomo Publishing

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Checking for Understanding