About This Lesson
In the 1760s and 1770s, the British Parliament began increasing taxes on the American Colonies in an attempt to recover the deficit caused by the Seven Years War. Disturbed by the perceived change of rule from the king to Parliament, some colonists protested—leading to a series of repeals, new taxes, and political discussion. Frustrations grew, and tempers flared resulting in the event termed “the Boston Massacre” in 1770. As time passed, what had begun as an argument over the ability and right to levy taxes expanded into a conflict over the right of self-determination and freedom that would lead to the Revolutionary War and American independence.
Upon completion of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Knowledge
- Explain the types of taxation that Britain levied on the North American Colonies in the 1760s and 1770s.
- Discuss how the taxation, protests, and British and American responses fueled the path toward military conflict and eventual independence.
2. Comprehension/Application/Analysis
- Read through primary source documents and create a timeline of the clash of ideas and words which led toward the American Revolution.
3. Evaluation
- Evaluate how the taxes and conflicts in the colonies and Britian’s responses increased the tension and conflict, leading toward declaring independence.
This Lesson Plan can be used as a prepared resource by following this curriculum plan which aligns to NCSS and Common Core Standards.
This Lesson Plan's assets can also be used on their own as supplemental resources. The display format is prepared for easy access, exploring, and learning.
