Ashley

Economical Theme of the Causes of the American Revolution

 * Lesson Title:** The Economical Effects on the Colonists as a Result of the American Revolution


 * Student Learning Objective:** Be able to interpret the colonists reactions to the imposed taxes and explain why the colonists responded the way they did. How did this response influence other people's responses?


 * Inititation:** I would begin my lesson by handing each student a "fake" $10 bill. I would then impose 'taxes' on my students by making them pay for their desk, their books, and the paper they use daily. At the end, each hard earned $10 bill would have been spent on taxes. I would ask my students how this made them feel and explain to them the colonists had felt the same way during the American Revolution, but took actions to speak out and give themselves a voice. Their speaking out against these taxes is one cause that led to the American Revolution.

Some vocabulary terms I would use within my lesson and make sure the students were familiar with: Economy, Boycott, petition, tax, revenue


 * Lesson Development:** I would have the class in a group discussion, and we would discuss these terms, and mention how the colonists, including women, played a significant role in boycotting these laws. For example, one major example of a boycott was the Boston Tea Party. We would discuss whether or not they thought there was an importance to taxes. I would bring into context the ideas that we today, have taxes. Property taxes, car taxes, etc.

I would then model an example to the class of their assignment / task, which would be to create their own role play as if they were the colonists and taxes were imposed on them. In this role play, they would have to include the vocabulary mentioned before and explain their reasoning for why they responded the way they did to the taxes being passed and how this response affected other people's responses to these taxes?


 * Assessment:** Students would have to create a role play of a scenario in front of the class that emphasized what the actions the colonists carried out as a result of the taxes. Some of the students would be the colonists, while the other students would be other people who were effected by these taxes, like store owners, etc. For this assessment they would be placed in groups of mixed abilities to create this role play.


 * Closure:** I would bring the class back together in a group discussion to discuss why it would be important to reflect on the way the colonists felt. For example, it is important because we today have laws / legislation that is passed that we must abide by and money that must be paid towards taxes. These taxes help make revenue to keep prices of goods down. For example, in CT we pay a tax on our gas and must pay tax on every dollar we spend.

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