Engage

Overview

In this experience, students evaluate the different methods colonists used to protest and organize against British policies. First, they consider ways people can protest or show disagreement when they think something is unfair, and predict how colonists might act. Next, students identify the different methods American colonists used to express their disagreements and anger regarding British policies and predict how they think Britain might have responded. Then, students evaluate how Britain responded to colonial activism, and they discuss which forms they think were most effective for fighting British rule. Finally, the elaborate scene invites students to take a deeper look at the Sons of Liberty and the Daughters of Liberty and compare and contrast methods of aggressive and violent activism to non-violent actions.

Estimated Duration: 45–60 minutes

Vocabulary:

activism: actions like protests, boycotts, petitions, or other actions used to bring about political or social change
boycott: to refuse to buy or use certain goods or services as a form of activism
committee: a group of people chosen to work together on a specific task or goal
correspondence: written communication, like letters, shared between a group
Daughters of Liberty: a group of colonial women who supported boycotts by making goods at home
declaration: a formal public statement
formal: something that is official and follows set rules or traditions
independence: freedom from being ruled by another person or country
petition: a formal written request asking for a change, signed by many people
protest: a public gathering where people show strong disagreement with a rule or decision, often using images, signs, or speech to express their views
repeal: to officially cancel a law so it no longer exists
resistance: efforts to fight against or refuse to accept something, like unfair rules or control
Sons of Liberty: a group of colonial men who organized protests against British rule

Objectives:

Identify how colonists showed resistance to British Rule
Describe the impacts of colonial activism and resistance

This experience includes several key terms that are essential for understanding the reading and participating in discussions. Consider previewing the vocabulary with students before beginning the lesson to support comprehension and ensure all learners can engage with the content. Reviewing these words in advance will help students better understand how colonial resistance developed and how different actions connected to larger political ideas.

The image is a postage stamp featuring a black and white illustration of a man posting a document on a wall as a crowd of colonists watches. Below the illustration, in red text, are the words "Rise of the Spirit of Independence," and the stamp's value of "8 U.S. ¢" is in the top right corner.

1965 U.S. postage stamp depicting colonial opposition to British laws

Throughout history, people have found ways to express their disagreements with their governments and other organizations. This has played an important role in bringing attention to unfair treatment and creating change in societies around the world.

Consider the different ways people can communicate their frustrations and disagreements with their governments or powerful organizations. Then, answer the discussion question to share your ideas.

What are some ways people can protest or show disagreement when they think something is unfair?

Post your answer

After reviewing answers to the discussion wall, guide students in a discussion to generate predictions about how the colonists responded to British laws for the colonies. Encourage them to use their ideas from the discussion prompt to consider what actions people might take when they feel a government is treating them unfairly. Do not feel the need to correct misconceptions at this point in the experience. Students will uncover more in the coming scenes.

Consider recording student predictions and revisiting them after Scene 2 to compare with the actual methods of resistance described in the text. This will help students connect the idea of colonial disagreement with British policies with the specific actions taken to challenge British control.

In this lesson, you will learn how colonists showed resistance to British rule through actions like protests, petitions, and boycotts. You will also explore the effects of these actions on the colonies, the British government, and the growing conflict between them.

Objectives: