Step One
You will be assigned
to a group of three. Once you are assigned to this group, you and the other
members are transported through time back to Boston, 1773. When you arrive
in Boston, you and your friends realize that not only your clothing, but
your lifestyles have changed as well! Each friend has been transformed
into one of the following roles. Each of you must explore the perspective
of your new identities, so that all three identities are understood. This
will entail reading books and searching the Internet to learn as much as
you can about what life was like from your perspective in 1773. Here are
some things to think about for each role:
Step Two
As each member of your group is exploring his/her role, he/she should keep a journal to keep track of information that will later be shared with the group. Record the information you find on the daily life of your role, including how your character might have felt and reacted to events that occurred. Conclude your research only when you feel that you have found enough that you can accurately inform your group members about how you felt during certain events you found in your research and how you would most likely feel about other events that occurred.
The Roles
Merchant
You make your daily living by being the middleman between Britain and the colonies when goods are imported and exported.
Here are some questions to consider:
How have the imposed
taxes affected your business?
How have the taxes
affected your family?
Has your lifestyle
been affected by the new taxes?
The following links may be helpful in your quest:
Merchant Reactions to British Acts
Wealthy Citizen
You were lucky enough to inherit a great deal of money. In your spare time, you enjoy dabbling in politics and are an active member in your community.
Here are some questions to consider:
How has Britain's
authority affected your rights as a colonist?
How have the new
taxes affected life in your community?
The following links may be helpful in your quest:
Woman
You are not allowed
to partake in political affairs, but you may still be greatly affected
by the taxes.
Here are some questions to consider:
In what ways could
you prevent these taxes from affecting you?
How might you prevent
the taxes from affecting your family?
The following links may be helpful in your quest:
Biographies of the American Revolutionary War
Step Three
Once your group has finished exploring their roles, you and your group members need to use your journals and go over the events that have recently occurred in Boston. These events include the Townshend Act, Stamp Act, and overall attitudes of the British towards the American colonists. Express how each group member might feel about them. How does it affect your life? What can you do about it? Are you fed up with this treatment or can you live with it?
Step Four
When you have finished going over your reactions to the recent events, you and your friends will work together to come up with a proposal to present to Samuel Adams, leader of the Sons of Liberty. In this proposal, your group will write a step-by-step plan of action for rebellion against Britain. As a group, you need to decide what would be the best way for the citizens of Boston to react to Britain's unfair governing in order to get them to stop. When drafting the proposal, take into consideration the perspectives of each of your group members, what resources are available to you at the time, and what the consequences of your actions will be.
Step Five
Congratulations! Since you have done such a wonderful job with your proposal, Sam Adams has requested that you present it in a town meeting where the citizens of Boston will listen to several proposals and vote on the best one. This means that you and your group have to create a skit in which you demonstrate the actions that you feel must be taken by colonists in order to make Britain understand that the Colonies will no longer tolerate their unjust treatment. The more realistic you can make your presentation, the better your audience will be able to understand it. This means that you should use props (except for real ammunition), costumes, maps, and whatever other resources are available to you.
Step Six
As a member of the
community, you must attend this town meeting to listen to the proposals
and decide what you think would be the best plan of action for the entire
community. You must consider not only what would be best for yourself and
your family, but also for your friends and other community members. At
the end of the meeting, cast your vote for the proposal that you think
will work best.
