OPENING ASSIGNMENT 8/6/2014 In your Opening Assignment Section of your Portfolio begin a new page with the date, copy and answer the question and complete the task. 1.What event(s) do you think started the American Revolution? 2.Write your answer on your paper then compare with at least two people sitting near you. 3.Add those peoples’ answers to your paper.

ESSENTIAL LEARNING GOAL: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS A CONFLICT OVER WHO WOULD GOVERN THE THIRTEEN BRITISH COLONIES IN NORTH AMERICA. Learning Targets: I can explain the reasons for new taxes upon the colonies and the reaction to those taxes by the colonials. I can explain the Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party. I can identify the Boston Massacre, the Intolerable Acts, the First Continental Congress, and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. I can expound the awesomeness of John Green and Crash Course US History.

THE SUGAR ACT, THE CURRENCY ACT, THE QUARTERING ACT, AND THE STAMP ACT Britain passes these Acts, to collect taxes, and protect commerce in the British Colonies. Colonists harass stamp distributors, boycott British goods, and prepare a Declaration of Rights and Grievances.

WHY ALL THESE NEW TAXES? The answer to this question is simple, the British had spent a large amount of money securing North America as their colonial possession. They battled the French and certain Native American tribes in the appropriately named French and Indian War. To recoup the money spent on the war the British government decided to levy new taxes on the American Colonies. Many of the unpopular taxes, specifically the Sugar and Stamp Acts, were repealed because of the boycott of goods and vocal opposition by colonial leaders. This period brought into question who would govern the British Colonies and what political rights would those colonists have.

1767 THE TOWNSHEND ACTS Britain taxes certain colonial imports and stations troops at major ports to protect customs officers. Colonists protest “no taxation without representation” and organize a new boycott of imported goods.

1770 THE BOSTON MASSACRE Taunted by an angry mob, British troops fire into the crowd, killing five colonists. Colonial agitators label the conflict a massacre and publish a dramatic engraving depicting the violence.

1773 THE TEA ACT Britain gives the East India Company special concessions in the colonial tea business and shuts out colonial tea merchants. Colonists in Boston rebel, dumping 18,000 pounds of East India Company tea into Boston Harbor.

1774 THE INTOLERABLE ACTS King George III tightens control over Massachusetts by closing Boston Harbor and quartering troops in peoples’ homes. Colonial leaders form the first Continental Congress and draw up a declaration of colonial rights.

1775 THE BATTLES OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD General Gage orders troops to march to Concord, Massachusetts, and seize colonial weapons. Minutemen intercept the British and engage in battle- first at Lexington and then at Concord.

VIDEO CLIP Watch the following video without taking any notes, simply watch and listen. On a piece of paper or half sheet of paper, which you will turn in at the end of class, write a summary of the topic from today. This paper will serve as your ticket out the door.