2. Why did Franklin choose to make the head of the snake represent New England?

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Critical Period Primary Sources Directions: Evaluate each of the following primary sources and answer the questions regarding colonial sentiments in the Critical Period leading up to the

1 Critical Period Primary Sources Directions: Evaluate each of the following primary sources and answer the questions regarding colonial sentiments in the Critical Period leading up to the Revolutionary War. A. Join or Die Background Information In 1754 Benjamin Franklin represented Pennsylvania at a meeting of colonial leaders in Albany, New York. The assembly drafted a document called the Albany Plan, which advocated the unification of the colonies under a general government. The leaders at that time were concerned about the growing threat from French Canada and its Indian allies. In support of the plan, Franklin printed an editorial cartoon in his newspaper. The cartoon showed a snake geographically representing the colonies with the phrase Join or Die below it. It was the first political cartoon in America and was reprinted throughout the colonies. 1. What do each of the body parts represent? 2. Why did Franklin choose to make the head of the snake represent New England? 3. According to the artists what actions should the colonists take? Why? 4. How might this cartoon be later used in the 1770s?

B. Proclamation of 1763 At the conclusion of the French and Indian War the British and the colonists emerged victorious over the French and Native Americans.

2 B. Proclamation of 1763 At the conclusion of the French and Indian War the British and the colonists emerged victorious over the French and Native Americans. The first thing on the minds of colonists was the great western frontier that had opened to them when the French ceded that contested territory to the British. The royal proclamation of 1763 did much to dampen that celebration. The proclamation, in effect, closed off the frontier to colonial expansion. The King and his council presented the proclamation as a measure to calm the fears of the Indians, who felt that the colonists would drive them from their lands as they expanded westward. Many in the colonies felt that the object was to pen them in along the Atlantic seaboard where they would be easier to regulate. 1. What areas are designated for the colonists? What areas are prohibited to the colonists? 2. Why would the colonists have been angered by this policy? 3. How would a colonist adjust the map above? 4. How would a Native American have responded to the Proclamation of 1763?

3 C. Virginia Resolves on the Stamp Act In 1765 the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, which placed a tax on newspapers, almanacs, pamphlets and broadsides, all kinds of legal documents, insurance policies, ship's papers, licenses, dice and playing cards. This led to widespread protest in the American colonies, and to the slogan, "No taxation without representation!" Patrick Henry wrote a set of resolutions on the Stamp Act most of which were approved by the Virginia House of Burgesses. Resolved therefore, That the general assembly of the colony, together with his majesty or his substitute have in their representative capacity the only exclusive right and power to levy taxes and impositions on the inhabitants of this colony and that every attempt to vest such a power in any person or persons whatsoever other than the general assembly aforesaid is illegal, unconstitutional, and unjust, and has a manifest tendency to destroy British, as well as American freedom. 1. According to Henry who has the authority to tax the colonies? 2. To whom were the Virginia Resolves directed? 3. According to Henry how does the Stamp Act impact Virginian colonists? 4. How might Parliament respond to these resolves?

D. Boston Massacre British troops had been stationed in the colonies since the French lost control of Canada to defend the colonies against Native American threats.

4 D. Boston Massacre British troops had been stationed in the colonies since the French lost control of Canada to defend the colonies against Native American threats. It was also clear that they troops were there to maintain English power over the increasingly hostile colonists. On the evening of March 5, 1770 a group of men and boys began taunting a single soldier in Boston. About seven soldiers commanded by Captain Prescott came to his defense. The crowd grew to as many as 50 and became unruly. Sticks and clubs began to appear and were thrown along with snowballs. The soldiers were ordered to load their weapons. Reportedly states that Captain Prescott ordered them not to fire and the crowd responded with Fire! Fire! At the point a soldier was knocked to the ground and fired his gun. Fellow soldiers did the same. Three colonists were killed, including Crispus Attucks. Two more colonists died later. Paul Revere created the engraving below and sold color prints of his work he titled The Bloody Massacre on King Street it appeared widely throughout the colonies in newspapers. 1. What details do you notice specifically in the engraving? 2. Does the engraving accurately depict the events of March 5, 1770? How so? 3. Why did Revere choose to represent the riot in this manner? 4. How might other colonists have felt for citizens of Boston upon seeing this image?

5 E. Quartering Act of 1774 Under previous legislation, the colonies were required to provide soldiers with living accommodations in public facilities, such as inns and taverns or unoccupied buildings. The revised law authorized billeting soldiers in occupied facilities, including private homes. Below is an excerpt from the Act. WHEREAS DOUBTS HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINED whether troops can be quartered otherwise than in barracks, in case barracks have been provided sufficient for the quartering of all the officers and soldiers within any town, township, city, district, or place within His Majesty's dominions in North America; and whereas it may frequently happen from the situation of such barracks that, if troops should be quartered therein they would not be stationed where their presence may be necessary and required be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords... and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled According to the Quartering Act where would the soldiers be housed? 2. Who would give approval for the soldiers quartering? 3. Why would Bostonians find this unacceptable? 4. How might the colonists respond to the Quartering Act? Could any changes make it more acceptable?

F. Bostonians Paying the Excise Tax Philip Dawe created the cartoon below in 1774 to demonstrate the political climate in Boston following the Boston Tea Party. 1. How does the artist indicate the setting?

6 F. Bostonians Paying the Excise Tax Philip Dawe created the cartoon below in 1774 to demonstrate the political climate in Boston following the Boston Tea Party. 1. How does the artist indicate the setting? 2. What are the colonists doing? 3. What is the significance of the tree? 4. How would the British have responded to this cartoon?

7 G. Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death Patrick Henry was a famous Patriot from Virginia. He became involved in politics after the French and Indian war. He was quite outspoken in his beliefs that the colonies should declare their independence from Britain. He made this famous speech at the House of Burgesses in March of It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace²but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! 1. What does Henry say is coming? 2. What does Henry compare colonial status to? 3. Why does Henry invoke God in his speech? 4. How does Henry want fellow Virginians to respond?

8 H. Common Sense Thomas Paine was a colonist who wrote a famous booklet called Common Sense. In it, he argued that it was common sense for the colonies to be independent from Great Britain. Many people adopted his beliefs because his writing style was very easy to read and he wrote it similar to a sermon. Published in early 1776 the pamphlet circulated the colonies quickly and was widely read. But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families. Wherefore, the assertion, if true, turns to her reproach; but it happens not to be true, or only partly so, and the phrase PARENT OR MOTHER COUNTRY hath been jesuitically adopted by the King and his parasites, with a low papistical design of gaining an unfair bias on the credulous weakness of our minds. Europe, and not England, is the parent country of America. This new World hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from EVERY PART of Europe. 1. Why might some call Britain a parent country? 2. Why does Paine say it is incorrect to refer to Britain as a mother? 3. According to Paine who makes up the New World? 4. Which specific phrase is the most convincing for why the colonies should separate?

9 I. Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence was drafted largely by Thomas Jefferson, a Virginian who had a reputation for his eloquent speaking and dedication to the Patriot cause. It was adopted and signed at the 2 nd Continental Congress on July 4, An excerpt from the preamble is below. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness 1. What evidence do you see of John Locke s natural rights? 2. Where does government obtain its power? 3. According to Jefferson what must the people do when the social contract is broken? 4. Who would NOT have been included in the equality?

The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire.

The Sun Never Sets on the British Empire. Britain was in bad shape financially By 1763, British citizens were the most heavily taxed people in the world. Britain s empire was massive and expensive to maintain. The colonies in America were prospering.