Independence

Independence

Open Ended

In your own words, what does it mean to be independent?

Open Ended

What are the benefits of being independent? What are the challenges of being independent?

​Context

​By 1776, tensions between the British and the colonies had reached a boiling point. The British continued to make laws that the colonists viewed as very harsh. The Proclamation Line of 1763, Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, the Tea Act, the Boston Tea Party, and Intolerable Acts had created a divide between Great Britain and its American colonies.

The British government believed that the colonists were subjects of King George III and therefore should obey any law they make. Many colonists believed that they held natural rights as people that Great Britain needed to respect. These rights included self-government and “no taxation without representation!” Each colony sent representatives to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to come up with a plan for fixing the situation.

​Option A - Show Loyalty to the King

Damn those troublemakers in Boston and Philadelphia! The actions of these fools are threatening to ruin our relationship with our beloved King George III. To try and fight against Britain would be suicidal. We can never win. They have the strongest military in the world. We will all die. These traitors have short memories. They have forgotten all that we have to thank the king and Parliament for. We have gotten so rich from being loyal members of the British empire. And now we want to shed British blood for no good reason. They have given us everything and we are threatening to end everything over a small tax. If by a miracle we were able to win independence, we would all turn on each other anyway once our fight with the king is over. Without the king, who would we be?

Open Ended

What is one supporting argument the speaker makes for their position?

​Option B - Work With the King

Look, there are many problems, but cooler heads must prevail! Certainly, both sides have good reasons to be upset. But there is nothing that cannot be fixed by just sitting down and talking with one another. I am sure both sides can reach a compromise to end the fighting. We should be working with the King, not making him angrier by beating up his tax collectors or destroying his tea. Let us all find common ground. To restore peace between the colonies and Great Britain, a British-American council should be formed with representatives from each of the thirteen colonies. Let us focus on the things that unite us, not the things that divide us.

Open Ended

What is one supporting argument the speaker makes for their position?

​Option C - Fight Against the King

Damn the king and damn Parliament! The ties that have once united us have been broken by British aggression. Now we must stand up for ourselves. Britain does not care about our interests, only its own. There is no longer a good reason to be ruled by a king across the ocean. The colonies are getting stronger and stronger. Independence will allow us to look after ourselves and our own interests. A rich and glorious future awaits us. We can build our own country founded on freedom, liberty, and economic opportunity. We can break the chains that hold us down. There is no turning back. We must strike out for freedom.

Open Ended

What is one supporting argument the speaker makes for their position?

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“We look to manhood. The day of

independent manhood is at hand. We feel our

strength.”

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“We show obedience to government because

it is in our interest to do so. Imagine the horrors

if we did not live under the protection of the King

and his mighty army.”

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“We propose a common council of men from

the thirteen colonies to represent our interests to

the king. We will even allow the king to appoint

these men to the council.”

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“A government of our own is our natural

right."

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“Are we so foolish to think we can bully the

most powerful government in the world into

giving into our petty demands? We are like a

child throwing a tantrum at a mighty grizzly

bear.”

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“Repairing this relationship at this point is

nothing more than a false dream. Every method

for peace has been rejected by the king. The

time for compromise is over.”

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“The only thing we want is to be fairly

represented. This is our only complaint. Grant

us this and peace will be had.”

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King

Multiple Choice

Identify if the speaker supports showing loyalty to the king, working with the king, or fighting the king.

“We must not let a small, angry mob destroy

all the benefits, advantages, and favors we have

enjoyed under our connection to the British

kings and Parliament.”

• Show Loyalty to the King

• Work With the King

• Fight the King