Why did the British create it? Why and how should we protest?

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Prudence Hood
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1 Introduction As founding members of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty from the great colony of Massachusetts, we are meeting to create correspondence to send out to our fellow colonists. It s time to protest! Sons of Liberty A society founded by Sam Adams to protest English in the colonies. Committees of Correspondence Colonial groups that around the 13 Colonies about English. Committee Assignments Group: Poster: Create a title to protest English taxes and tyranny. 2. Decorate your poster with symbols of resistance. Individual: Explain how your assigned act proves the British are tyrants. a. Create a hidden correspondence message about your act. Choose your medium: WordArt, PhotoShop, Word, etc. Use the first person, present tense Direct your protest to the king and parliament b. Make your message a symbol of resistance It can be concealed, a symbolic shape, a code, lyrical or poetic, a song, 3-D,etc. Instructions: Individual Correspondence 1. The Sugar Act What is the Sugar Act? 3. The Quartering Act What is the Quartering Act? 2. The Stamp Act What is the Stamp Act? 4. The Townshend Acts What are the Townshend Acts?

2 Catchy Title: Salutation: Calling all...! Green: Declare! We must stop the Act! Yellow: Slow down Fact or reason Red: Stop! Use bullet points Explain the main parts of the Act: Explain why the British created the Act. Yellow: Slow down Fact or reason Red: Stop! Use bullet point Explain why the Colonists felt the Act was unfair. Make sure you include no taxation without rep. (except Quartering Act) Yellow: Slow down Fact or reason Red: Stop! Explain Use bullet points the goal of repeal, forms of protest

3 Grade: Protest Poster Name Poster Group: 10 Catchy Group Title Catchy Group Symbols Decorated Poster Poster Individual: 20 Correspondence Message: Message was Informative and detailed Had a catchy title Had clever symbols and pictures Was a clever, symbolic, interesting symbol of resistance Conveyed the idea that the Act was tyranny Message explained: What the Act said, Why the British created the Act Why colonists protested the Act How colonists protested the Act Needed more information, explanation, thought effort Grade /30,

4 Reading Like a Historian: The Stamp Act Central Question: Who had the better argument about the Stamp Act? Colonists or British? I. Historical Context: Background Britain s parliament passed the Stamp Act in 1765 to raise money in the Colonies to pay for the French and Indian War and the protection of the 13 Colonies in North America. The Stamp Act went into effect on November 1, 1765 and was a tax on printed materials like newspapers and stamps. The Stamp Act affected many people because it taxed most paper goods, and was the first direct tax on the Colonies. Colonists began to protest the Stamp Act claiming Parliament did not have a right to tax the Colonies without colonial representation. Hi-lite: Why did many Colonists protest the Stamp Act? Document A (Modified): A letter to a newspaper Boston-Gazette, October 7, 1765 My Dear Countrymen, AWAKE! Awake, my Countrymen and defeat those who want to enslave us. Do not be cowards. You were born in Britain, the Land of Light, and you were raised in America, the Land of Liberty. It is your duty to fight this tax. Future generations will bless your efforts and honor the memory of the saviors of their country. I urge you to tell your representatives that you do not support this terrible and burdensome law. Let them know what you think. They should act as guardians of the liberty of their country. I look forward to congratulating you on delivering us from the enemies of truth and liberty. Source: This letter appeared in the Boston-Gazette newspaper on October 7, Sourcing Before you read Who wrote this? (Colonist or Briton) When was it written? What city s newspaper? Who is the audience? Read article What is the author s purpose? Hi-lite how the author describes Britain and America. Why does the author call Britain enemies of liberty? Document B (Modified) Reprinted in Boston-Gazette, 27 Jan From a late London Paper. The riotous behavior of the people in Boston is remarkable. I would have been less surprised by their behavior if we had taxed their beer, because everyone drinks beer. But the Stamp Act is a tax on none of the necessities of life. It does not affect the poor. And even a poor person can afford this little amount of money. The tax on newspapers only affects the rich common Sourcing Before you read Who wrote this? (Colonist or Briton) When was it written? What city s newspaper? Who is the audience?

5 people do not purchase newspapers. Isn t it surprising, then, that the mob in Boston has begun to riot against this tax even before it has officially gone into effect? Source: This letter was written in a London newspaper and then published in the Boston Gazette Supplement two months after the Stamp Act went into effect. Read article What is the author s purpose? Why is the author surprised? Hi-lite who reads newspapers according to the author. Document C (Modified) Philadelphia January 13th My Lords (members of the British Parliament), The colonists have been insulting His Majesty, saying that the Stamp Act was unconstitutional, and oppressive. It is apparent to many people here that the Presbyterians are at the head of these riots. They are opposed to Kings and some cry out No King but King Jesus. The leaders fill every newspaper with inflammatory pieces, so that the minds of the common people are kept in a continual ferment... No one dares write anything that would calm the people down. Doing so would put the writer s life and fortune in danger. I am convinced the Presbyterians intend nothing less than the throwing off their allegiance and obedience to his Majesty, and forming a Republican Empire, in America, and being Lords and Masters themselves. I am daily threatened by verbal messages and anonymous letters, with a mob of several thousand people, from the Jerseys, New York, and New England. I conclude with praying, that the Almighty may secure the allegiance of America to the Crown of Britain, by destroying the seeds of rebellion, and by punishing the ringleaders of these riots. I am, My Lords, Your most Obedient & Most Humble Servant, John Hughes Sourcing Before you read Who wrote this? When was it written? Who wrote the letter? Job? Who is the audience? Read Hi-lite in the document evidence of who he sides with, Britain or the Colonists. What does the author conclude? Hi-lite: how has the Stamp Act affected him personally? Why was he be so concerned with the protests against the tax?

6 Vocabulary: Presbyterians: A religion that gained popularity during the Great Awakening Republican A form of self-government Inflammatory: Arousing angry or violent feelings Ferment: Agitation or excitement, typically leading to violence Allegiance: loyalty Source: The letter above was written by John Hughes, Stamp Distributor in Philadelphia. His job was to collect the tax on stamps. Do you think his concern is believable? Why or why not? 1. In a well written paragraph, explain who had the better argument about taxation and the Stamp Act in the Colonies, the Colonists or the British? Explain your answer. Back up your answer with the sources. Use quotes. (20 Points) a. Start with a T-Chart

Why did the British create it? Why and how should we protest?

Why did the British create it? Why and how should we protest? Introduction As founding members of the Sons and Daughters of Liberty from the great colony of Massachusetts, we are meeting to create correspondence to send out to our fellow colonists. It s time to protest!