Week 5: The Tipping Point


How frustrating was it to watch your candy be unjustly taken away, then handed off to someone else, and there was nothing you could do about it? Hopefully, you got a little taste of how the colonists felt when the British were coming down so hard on them with taxes and all kinds of restrictions on their ability govern themselves. 

This week we learned that the American colonists and British didn't just suddenly start shooting at each other; the Revolution was actually the result of "a long train of abuses and usurpations...design[ed] to reduce [the colonists] under absolute Despotism... ." It kinda all started with that darn Proclamation of 1763, that said no white people could settle west of the Appalachian mountains, and anyone who was already there had to leave. After that it was a tax here and a tax there, until finally the British told the colonists they couldn't buy their tea from anyone but them, and oh, by the way, they had to pay a tax on that, too. That was just more than some colonists could handle, so a few rebellious ones dumped about $1,000,000 worth of British tea into Boston Harbor. When they refused to pay for the damage, Britain decided to really let 'em have it, so they completely closed off Boston, and then they took over all the courts and public meetings so the people in Massachusetts couldn't do anything without the British knowing about it. Finally, the colonists said, "Enough!" and on April 19th, 1775, in a little country town called Lexington, the British found themselves under attack. If you want to know more, watch the movie April Morning (here is a link for the full movie on YouTube):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IQkkmGiTxQ

For those who missed class, (or if you just want to review what we talked about) please watch the following three short videos:

https://youtu.be/uImdEeuLNG8

https://youtu.be/Tl9unTDt92I

https://youtu.be/qEd9XU52Vhw


ASSIGNMENTS:


  • Writing: When is it right to defend your liberty with guns? Explain and use examples. As you write this paper, use the suggestions given on previous papers to help improve your organization and use of the writing process.
  • Reading: Read John Adams: Reluctant Patriot of the Revolution by Leonard Falkner. Highlight, underline, take notes so you will have questions and comments to share for the book discussion on November 18th.
  • Declaration of Independence Journal (pg. 67 in your binder) - work on this a little each week to help you understand the document. There will be a special reward at the end of the semester for everyone who completes this!
  • Presentations: Well-done, Noah, on teaching us all about the Boston Tea Party! Great info, and good tea! Next week, Morgan will fill us in on what went down at the battle of Lexington and Concord, and Emily will explain the First and Second Continental Congress.
  • Devotional: Sister Hellyer

 

***CANDY TRIVIA***

  Name 3 of the 4 Intolerable Acts.

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