Rebellion in Colonial America

1. Rebellion in Colonial America Objective: To learn about the influence of rebellion in the colonies to better understand the actions of the Founding Fathers in writing the Declaration of Independence.

2. Before the Declaration of Independence • Rebellions • Bacon’s Rebellion, 1676

3. Bacon’s Declaration • What brought all of these people together? • Bacon’s Declaration, July 1676 • Read Bacon’s Declaration with a partner. Summarize the 8 sections in the Declaration, and what will happen if the demands are not met. • Vocabulary to help you with the reading: • Magistrate: a civil officer charged with the administration of the law, such as a minor judicial officer (Justice of the Peace) or the judge of a police court. • Countermanded: to revoke or cancel. • Confederacy: an alliance between persons, parties, states, etc., for some purpose. • Pernicious councilors: Harmful council members

4. Causes for the Rebellion • Indians • The aristocracy • Map: “America septentrionalis” by Hondius,1640.

5. What does Bacon’s Rebellion tell us about Colonial America? • The people involved • Indentured Servants • Example of a contract: “I, ___ ,of ___, do firmly oblige myself as a faithful and obedient servant in all things whatsoever, to serve and dwell with ___ according to the laws and customs and orders for servants in Carolina.” “The said ___ providing for his servant all such necessaries in the time of his/her service and at the expiration of the term as the laws oblige masters to perform to their servants.”

6. What does Bacon’s Rebellion tell us about Colonial America? • Slaves • Indians

7. Separation of the people • Racism and class • Development of the middle class

8. 1776 • “Around 1776, certain important people in the English colonies made a discovery that would prove enormously useful for the next two hundred years. They found that by creating a nation, a symbol, a legal unity called the United States, they could take over land, profits, and political power from favorites of the British Empire. In that process, they could hold back a number of potential rebellions and create a consensus of popular support for the rule of a new, privileged leadership.” • Howard Zinn, A People’s History of the United States

9. Thomas Paine & Common Sense • Released January 10, 1776. • The Revolutionary War began in April of 1775.

10. Why rebel? • With your partner, skim through Chapter 6 of your textbook and answer the following question: • What British policies and events made the colonists become fed up with British rule? • Then read the excerpts from Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Answer the corresponding questions in the packet. • Vocabulary to help you with the reading: • Reconciliation: to become friendly with again after a split. • Sycophant: a person who uses flattery to win favor from individuals wielding influence

11. Exit Ticket • Answer on a separate sheet of paper: • Compare your notes in your note catcher to your partner’s. Did he/she get certain things that you missed? What do you need to work on as a note-taker in order to succeed in a lecture environment? Is there anything I can do as your teacher to help you with your notetaking?

12. Homework • Look at the revisions made on the original Declaration of Independence by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams.