Colonist Booklet - Due 9/2/08
 

Imagine you are living in the American colonies in 1774.  The following is your situation:

• The colonies, which are now referred to as “America” in Great Britain and other parts of the world, have been in existence since the early 1600’s.  Boston, Philadelphia, and New York are all thriving cities.  Boston boasts the largest shipbuilding business in the British Empire, outside London.  Tobacco, sugar, and cotton plantations are thriving in Virginia and Pennsylvania is exporting grain in huge numbers to drought-stricken European countries.

• The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1763, ending the French and Indian War.  The continent has been in relative peace since France’s claims ended in North America as a result of this treaty.  The colonists, who fought in large numbers for the British in the past war, (the colonists are, after all, part of the British Empire) feel patriotic and victorious, and proud of the effort that was made in the colonies to be rid of the hated French.  The Protestant religions have been victorious over the Catholic French!  The Pope would never have a say in colonial life in America!

• However, there are problems.  Parliament made the decision to leave 10,000 Redcoats on the continent at the close of the French and Indian War.  Parliament has established the Quartering Act of 1765 which requires colonists to provide living quarters and supplies to the Redcoats, most of whom are uneducated, unrefined, and feel that they are able to take anything (and anybody) freely.  Harsh economic policies are passed to prevent smuggling and increase profits for the British Empire – the Sugar Act and the Stamp Act, which require that tax stamps be purchased and placed on all legal documents, liquor, diplomas, letters, cards, dice, newspapers, and almanacs.

• There have recently been mob riots in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York.  The Stamp Act Congress was organized, and assemblymen from nine of the thirteen colonies then met to protest the inequalities of the Parliamentary Acts.  Parliament finally repealed the law in 1766.

• This victory, however, is short-lived.  A new colonial minister decided to show the colonists that they must obey the acts of Parliament.  In 1767, Charles Townshend set up a series of acts that forced the colonists to pay for everything they import, -- tea, paper, glass, and paint. The Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of the Revolution are formed and spurred to action.  They are urging the boycott of British goods, asking everyone to spin their own thread, and even make their own brew of tea out of birch or rosemary.
  

• British customs commissioners have been sent in to enforce the laws.  Mobs of colonists have been threatening the commissioners, who are begging Parliament to send in more troops to protect British officials.  Rumors of new troops arriving in Boston run through the colonies, and sure enough, thousands more Redcoats began to appear. In March, 1770, a mob argued with a small group of Redcoats, who, after being taunted and hit with snowballs and stones, fired into the crowd, killing five colonists. Samuel Adams immediately turned this incident into a great piece of propaganda,
  calling this incident the “Boston Massacre”.

• In 1773, the colonists became angry when they were forced to buy all tea from the British East India Company.  Several colonists, in anger, dressed up like Indians, boarded the boats carrying tea in the Boston Harbor, and flung fifteen thousand pounds of tea into the harbor.  This is known as the “Boston Tea Party”. Have the rebels gone to far?  Many of your fellow colonists believe so, and furious  King George III and indignant members of Parliament retaliate by passing a series ofacts which the colonists refer to as the “Intolerable Acts”.  These acts include:

• Closing the Boston Harbor until the tea is paid for.
• Establishing a new Quartering Act.
• Establishing martial law in Massachusetts under General Gage.
• Taking capital crimes (murder, treason, rape, robbery) out of the jurisdiction ofthe colonial courts.  Colonists charged with these crimes would be sent to England for trial.

Your Assignment:

Imagine you are a colonist living in America during the colonial period.  Create a booklet that is a minimum 9 pages long using the information and underlined words on this handout.  You will write in first person, “I”, and use your perspective to create the tone.  (“I came to America to be free but now my life has become horrible with all of the Intolerable Acts.”)  All vocabulary words used need to be underlined in your booklet. Do not just copy this worksheet and add pictures.  You will get an F!

Your booklet must include:

• A title page and illustrations throughout
• Use all vocabulary words as you summarize information
• Have a conclusion:  Do you rebel against the king or stay loyal to the king?  Why or why not?
• Here is a sample from Donovan Dsouza
  
  
  Would you rather use a computer...
• If you really want to blow everyone away create a google presentation of your document?.
• Go to and set up a google account and get started!
• This option will earn extra credit based on the amount of effort you put in (up to 15 points).