Document-Based Question Causes of the American Revolution

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Document-Based QuestionCauses of the American Revolution

Social Studies Grade 4

Name ________________________Date ________________________

Directions: Read the documents in Part A and answer the questionsafter each document. Then read the directions for Part Band write your essay.

Historical There were many causes of the American Revolution.Background: The long struggle between England and her 13 colonies

in America took place over the course of several yearsduring the middle of the 18th century. A number ofimportant events lead up to the Revolutionary War,which resulted in freedom for the colonists and the birthof the United States of America.

Task The 1760’s and 1770’s were years of dissatisfaction andrebellion for colonial America. Using the followingdocuments write a factual essay that describes the eventsthat lead up to the Revolutionary War. Includeinformation about the acts passed by British Parliament,political cartoons, newspaper articles, engravings,protests, and clashes between the colonists and theBritish.



Part AShort Answer

Directions: Look carefully at each document and read all of the informationpresented. Answer the questions that follow each document onthe lines below the question.

Document 1: Land Settlement

After the French and Indian War, England controlled all of NorthAmerica east of the Mississippi River. Many colonists wanted to moveacross the Appalachian Mountains to Ohio Country, the great westernfrontier that the French had controlled before the war. The Britishgovernment however, passed a law called the Proclamation of 1763, sayingthat these lands were to be "reserved" for the Indian Nations. By makingthis land “Indian Territory,” the British hoped to prevent any further Native



American conflicts. The law stated that colonists could not move westwardover the Appalachian Mountains. Those settlers who were already livingthere were to return to the east. By keeping colonists contained east of theAppalachians, the British could also more easily collect taxes from thecolonists.



Questions from Document 1: Land Settlement

1. What did many colonial settlers want to do after the French and IndianWar? ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

2. Give two reasons why the British passed the Proclamation of 1763.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

3. What were the eastern and western boundaries of the “IndianTerritory?”

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________



Document 2: Stamp Act: Taxed Items and Amounts

The French and Indian War had been costly for the British. In orderto help pay for the war, the British Parliament placed new taxes on theircolonies in America. Parliament passed the Stamp Act on November 1,1765. Colonists were now required to pay a tax on all forms of printedmaterials. They began to challenge England’s right to tax without colonialrepresentation in Parliament. As colonial protests grew, slogans such as, "Notaxation without representation," began to be heard.

The English money system in 1765, worked like this:

12 pence = 1 shilling 20 shillings = 1 pound or 240 pence

Table of Taxed Items and Amount of TaxCOURT DOCUMENTS

Summonses, warrants,depositions, bail ... 2 shillingsPleadings ... 3 penceDecrees, sentences, anddismissals ... 4 shillingsAppeals, writs of error, officialcopies of any court record ... 10 shillings

PUBLICATIONSPamphlets, newspapers, andpublic notices ... 1/2 pence to 1 shilling ... 6 pence per page, depending on the size of paper and number of pagesNewspaper advertisements ... 2 shillingsAlmanacs and calendars for oneyear or less ... 4 penceAlmanacs and calendars formore than one year ... 4 pence per yr.

LANDWarrants for surveying land,per 100 acres ... 6 penceGrants or deeds of land, under100 acres. ... 1 shilling& 6 penceEvery additional 100 acres ... 6 penceRegistration of any grant ordeed of land ... 3 pence

AMUSEMENTSPlaying cards, per pack ... 1 shillingDice, per pair ... 10 shillings

WILLSProbates of wills, letters ofadministration orguardianship for estatesvalued at 20 poundsor more ... 5 shillings

COMMERCE ANDTRADE

Bills of lading and clearance foritems exported from theColonies ... 4 penceIndentures, leases, contracts,bills of sale, articles ofapprenticeship ... 2 shillings & 6 pence

LICENSESLawyer’s license ... 10 poundsRetail wine license ... 4 poundsRetail liquor license ... 1 pound

ADMISSIONSRecord of registration in orcommencement fromany university, college, orseminary ... 2 pounds



Admission to public office(militia officers and judges) ... 10 shillings



Questions from Document 2:Stamp Act: Taxed Items and Amounts

1. Why did the British impose the Stamp Act? _______________________

_____________________________________________________________

2. List 3 taxable items and the cost of the tax.

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

__________________________________________

3. Which was meant by the slogan, “No taxation without representation?”

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________



Document 3: America's First Political Cartoon

Benjamin Franklin's woodcut from May 9, 1754.From: Newspaper Serial and Government Publications Division, Library of Congress

Benjamin Franklin published this print of a snake in his newspaper in 1754,during the French and Indian War. His goal at this time was to persuade thecolonists to join forces with the British Army to defend the colonies anddefeat the French. Copies were reprinted in newspapers throughout thecolonies.

We call this sketch a political cartoon. This is believed to be the firstpolitical cartoon printed in America. Political cartoons are not alwayshumorous. They are drawn to show the reader how the cartoon’s creatorfeels about a topic or issue.

In 1764, Franklin’s snake came to have a new meaning. American Patriots*used the print as a symbol for uniting the colonies to gain independence.

*Patriots - Those who wanted to break away from England and form a new country

Questions from Document 3: America's First Political Cartoon



1. Why did Patriots feel the disjoined snake would be a good symbol fortheir cause? ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________



Document 4: Quartering Act

Tun Tavern, Philadelphia

In 1765, the British sent 40,000 soldiers to the colonies to help collect taxesfrom the colonists. The Quartering Act forced colonists to provide Britishtroops with a place to live (living quarters) and to give them food andsupplies. The British Parliament told some American colonists that theymust let the soldiers live in their homes. Many colonists had strong feelingsabout this new British law and the overwhelming presence of British troops.In the colony of New York, which was the headquarters for the BritishArmy, distrust of the British soldiers grew.

Questions from Document 4: Quartering Act

1. What three things did the Quartering Act force the colonists to providefor the British soldiers?_____________________________________________________________



_____________________________________________________________2. Why were New Yorkers especially angry with the Quartering Act?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________



Document 5: John Dickinson’s Letters From a Farmer inPennsylvania to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies

John Dickinson was one of America’s champions of freedom for thecolonies. Dickinson, a prominent Pennsylvania lawyer, published severalnewspaper articles in 1767 and 1768, which came to be known as “Lettersfrom a Farmer in Pennsylvania.” He believed that many of England’s taxeswere unfair and denied the colonists their rights. He urged colonists toprotest these taxes and take action by peacefully boycotting (refusing topurchase) taxed goods.

The Boston Chronicle, Monday December 21, 1767

Transcribed below is a portion of the document.



There is another late act of parliament, which appears to me tobe unconstitutional, and as destructive to the liberty of thesecolonies, as that mentioned in my last letter; that is, the act forgranting the duties* on paper, glass, &c…



Never did the British parliament, till the period … think ofimposing duties in America, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISINGA REVENUE*.

Here then, my dear countrymen ROUSE* yourselves, andbehold the ruin hanging over your heads. If you ONCE admit,that Great-Britain may lay duties upon her exportations* to us,for the purpose of levying* money on us only, she then will havenothing to do, but to lay those duties on the articles which sheprohibits us to manufacture- and the tragedy of American libertyis finished . . . If Great-Britain can order us to come to her fornecessaries we want, and can order us to pay what taxes shepleases before we take them away, or when we land themhere, we are as abject* slaves…

* duty: a tax* revenue: money as profit or income* rouse: stir up or awaken* exportations: goods sold to other countries* levying: taxing or charging money* abject: miserable and hopeless

Questions from Document 5:John Dickinson’s Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania to

the Inhabitants of the British Colonies

1. Give the name and date of the newspaper in which this article appeared.

_____________________________________________________________

2. Name two items mentioned in the articles that were being taxed.

_____________________________________________________________



3. According to Dickinson, what was the purpose of the tax? ____________

_____________________________________________________________



Document 6: The Boston Massacre

The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street, Boston, on Mar. 5, 1770Artist: Paul Revere Date: 1770

To the colonists of Boston in 1770, British troops seemed to haveoverrun their city. Tensions between Great Britain and the Americancolonists were growing. The presence of British soldiers angered colonists,especially the young Patriots*, who at times tormented, threatened, andscuffled with the soldiers. On March 5, 1770, after a group of young menthrew rocks and snowballs at British troops, a fight erupted. In the brawl, thesoldiers killed three men and wounded eight, two later died from theirwounds. This incident became known as the "Boston Massacre".



Paul Revere, a well-known Boston Patriot, made an engravingpicturing what he called “The Bloody Massacre* Perpetrated in King Street,Boston”. Although the engraving of the event was not accurate, or true towhat really happened that night, it caused a huge outpouring of Patriotresentment and anger against England.

*patriots - Those who wanted to break away from England and form a new country*massacre – a horrendous murder, or slaughter



Questions from Document 6:The Boston Massacre

1. Describe how the soldiers in the picture are organized. Are they firing

from close range or from a distance?________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

2. Are the colonists in the crowd armed with weapons or fighting back?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

3. In the year 1770, why might a picture have a larger audience and a

greater effect than a newspaper article?______________________________

_____________________________________________________________

4. Why would this picture help to unite, or join, the Patriots together

arousing strong feelings of anger? __________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

5. Propaganda is misinformation, or a half-truth that gives only one side ofthe story. It is used for the purpose of stirring up feelings or emotions. Why could this engraving be considered colonial propaganda?

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________



Document 7: Boston Tea PartyEyewitness Account

On December 16, 1773, an incident of protest against British control andtaxation occurred in the city of Boston. It became known as the Boston TeaParty.Below is a portion of an eyewitness account from George Hewes.

The tea destroyed was contained in three ships, lying near each other at … Griffin'swharf, and were surrounded by armed ships of war… It was now evening, and I immediately dressed myself in the costume of an Indian,equipped with a small hatchet… and a club, after having painted my face and hands withcoal dust in the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin's wharf, where the ships laythat contained the tea. When I first appeared in the street after being thus disguised, I fellin with many who were dressed, equipped and painted as I was, and who fell in with meand marched in order to the place of our destination. When we arrived at the wharf, … they divided us into three parties, for the purpose ofboarding the three ships which contained the tea ... as soon as we were on board the ship… [they] ordered me to go to the captain and demand of him the keys to the hatches anda dozen candles. I made the demand accordingly, and the captain promptly replied, anddelivered the articles; but requested me at the same time to do no damage to the ship orrigging. We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out allthe chests of tea and throw them overboard, and we immediately proceeded … firstcutting and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so as thoroughly to expose them tothe effects of the water. In about three hours from the time we went on board, we had thus broken and thrownoverboard every tea chest to be found in the ship, while those in the other ships weredisposing of the tea in the same way, at the same time. We were surrounded by Britisharmed ships, but no attempt was made to resist us…-- George Hewes

Questions from Document 7: Boston Tea Party

1. What method of disguise did the protesters use? ____________________

_____________________________________________________________

2. What goods were the protesters seeking, and how were they destroyed?



_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

3. Was their any violence against the ship’s officers or damage to the ship

during the “tea party?”___________________________________________



Part BEssay Question

Task: Using the documents and answers from the questions in Part A, writea factual essay that includes an introduction, supporting details, and aconclusion.Describe the events that lead up to the American Revolutionary War.Include information about

the acts passed by British Parliamentpolitical cartoonsnewspaper articlesengravings of picturesprotests and clashes between the colonists and the British



Document-Based Question RubricPart A: Scaffolding Questions Short Answer

Document 1: Land SettlementQuestion 1

Score 1 – move across Appalachian Mts. Score 0 – Incorrect Answer (into Ohio Country)

Question 2Score 1 – prevent Native American Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

conflicts & collect taxesQuestion 3

Score 1 – Appalachian Mts. & Score 0 – Incorrect Answer Mississippi River

Document 2: Stamp Act: Taxed Items and AmountsQuestion 1

Score 1 – To help pay for the French Score 0 – Incorrect Answer and Indian War

Question 2Score 1 – Check 3 items individually Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

Question 3Score 1 – Colonists should not be taxed Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

without a representative in Parliament

Document 3: America's First Political CartoonQuestion 1

Score 1 – The colonies need to join Score 0 – Incorrect Answer together to gain independence from England

Document 4: Quartering ActQuestion 1

Score 1 – Living quarters, food, Score 0 – Incorrect Answer and supplies

Question 2Score 1 – New York was the head- Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

quarters for the British ArmyDocument 5: John Dickinson’s Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the

Inhabitants of the British ColoniesQuestion 1

Score 1 – The Boston Chronicle Score 0 – Incorrect Answer Monday December 21, 1767

Question 2



Score 1 – paper and glass Score 0 – Incorrect AnswerQuestion 3 Score 1 – Raising a revenue (money) Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

Document 6: The Boston MassacreQuestion 1

Score 1 – Orderly, in a line and Score 0 – Incorrect Answer firing from close range

Question 2



Score 1 – Not armed or fighting back Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

Question 3Score 1 – Many people couldn’t read Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

Question 4Score 1 – It shows British soldiers Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

killing unarmed colonistsQuestion 5

Score 1 – It doesn’t show what the Score 0 – Incorrect Answer colonists were doing to the soldiers

Document 7: The Boston Tea PartyQuestion 1

Score 1 – Dressed as Indian with Score 0 – Incorrect Answer hatchet & club, blackened face and hands with coal dust

Question 2Score 1 – tea; threw it overboard Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

Question 3Score 1 – No (violence or damage) Score 0 – Incorrect Answer

Document-Based Question Part B

Information taken from documents to be used in essay describingthe events that lead up to the American Revolutionary War

Document 1: Land SettlementProclamation of 1763 wouldn’t allow settlers to move west ofAppalachian Mts. (into Ohio Country) Land was given to the Native Americans instead of the colonists

Document 2: Stamp Act: Taxed Items and AmountsThe Stamp Act placed a tax on all forms of printed materials.Taxes were used to help pay for the French and Indian War



Colonists said, “No taxation without representation.”

Document 3: America's First Political CartoonPolitical cartoon of severed snake was used to show that the coloniesneeded to join together to fight against England and gain theirindependence

Document 4: Quartering Act



The Quartering Act of 1765 forced colonists to provide livingquarters, food and supplies to the British troopsMany New Yorkers were unhappy because New York was theheadquarters for the British Army

Document 5: John Dickinson’s Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania to theInhabitants of the British Colonies

John Dickinson wrote newspaper articles published in the BostonChronicle in 1767 urging colonists to protest unfair taxes, like those onpaper and glass Taxes were not fair if they were used for making a profit (raising arevenue)

Document 6: The Boston MassacreBritish soldiers killed and wounded colonists in a brawl that becameknown as the Boston MassacreAn engraving depicting the event was used to gain support against theBritishThe picture aroused feelings of anger and was an emotional propagandatool as it only showed part of the real story

Document 7: The Boston Tea PartyColonists protested British taxes by dressing up as Indians, boardingBritish ships, and dumping the cargo of tea overboardThe event became known as the Boston Tea PartyThe demonstration was not violent and no one was hurt



Grade 4GENERIC SCORING RUBRIC

4Answers all aspects of the task by using the documents and may bring in relevantoutside information related to the documentsConsistently uses accurate dataDevelops ideas fully, using such supporting evidence as examples, reasons, details,explanations, and generalizations that are relevant and appropriateDemonstrates a logical plan of organization and coherence in the development ofideasConsistently expresses ideas clearly

3Answers most aspects of the task by using the documentsGenerally uses accurate dataDevelops ideas satisfactorily with adequate supporting evidenceDevelops an answer,using a general plan of organizationGenerally expresses ideas clearly

2Answers some aspects of the tasks by using some of the documentsUses some accurate dataDemonstrates weakness in development of ideas with little supporting evidenceAttempts to organize an answer but is weak and goes off the topicAttempts to express ideas clearly

1Does not use information to support ideas or uses information which is not relevantShows limited understanding of the taskFails to use documents or only vaguely refers to the documentsLacks a plan of organizationDoes not express ideas clearly

0Uses no accurate dataFails to answer question or response is totally unrelated to topicIllegible or so many words cannot be read that no sense can be made of the response



Is incoherent; i.e., words are legible but syntax is so garbled that no sense can bemade of the responseBlank paper

Document-Based Question Causes of the American Revolution

Documents

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