American Government 2. 2  Uniting for Independence

Drill: Magna Carta  & Divine Right
Magna Carta – First written constitution established to limit government
Divine Right – the concept that power of a king come from God

OBJECTIVE
Students will be able to cite factors that left the colonies largely free from British interference from 1607 to 1763 by Interpreting a Political Cartoon.

I. The Colonies on Their Own 
A.  Although Britain regarded the American colonies largely as a source of economic benefits, it allowed them limited self-government.
B. The British government tightened its control over the colonies after the French and Indian wars.
C. King George III and his ministers made the colonies help pay for the war by levying new taxes on the colonists.
II. Colonial Unity 
A. Harsh British policies and taxes helped unite the colonies.
B. To protest British policies, the colonists sent petitions to the king and also organized committees of correspondence.
C. The First Continental Congress held in Philadelphia in 1774 debated what the colonies should do about their relationship with Britain.
D. Thomas Paine’s Common Sense strengthened the independence movement.
E. A committee of delegates to the Philadelphia Congress, headed by Thomas Jefferson, drafted the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Odds & Ends
A. The French and Indian War ended in defeat for the French in America
B. When the government collects money it is called revenue
C. The first direct tax on colonies was the Stamp Act
D. The Intolerable Acts closed Boston Harbor
E. An embargo is an agreement prohibiting trade 
F. The fundamental reason the colonists revolted was because they were governed without representation
G. In the eyes of the British, the American colonies existed for the economic benefit of Britain.
H. The colonists remained loyal to Britain in exchange for some self-rule and protection from the French.
I. The first president of the Second Continental Congress was John Hancock.
J. The Declaration of Independence founded government on principles of human liberty and consent of the governed

American Government 2. 2  Uniting for Independence

1. C 				6. C
2. A 				7. A
3. E				8. B
4. B 				9. D
5. D 				10. D	Identify
Revenue: money or income
Intolerable: unable to tolerate
Embargo: to block, ban, stop, or restrict	

11. John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. When he did, he wrote his name in very large letters, declaring, “There, I guess King George will be able to read that!” Even today, Americans often refer to a person’s signature as a “John Hancock.”

1. The point is that the Native Americans were well established in the New World long before the Pilgrims arrived.
2. The ship is bringing social problems along with its passengers. Nothing new can be introduced to a society without causing effects on that society. 
3. These are the types of things Americans now say about new immigrants. The Pilgrims, however, never considered how the Native Americans felt when the Mayflower arrived.
4. The Native Americans are characterized as everyday folk, taking in the view and contemplating on the ship’s inhabitants. They speculate how the Pilgrims will change Native American society. 
5. The Native Americans appear to be standing on a large rock, which is probably meant to represent Plymouth Rock. Although the legend of Plymouth Rock as the first place the pilgrims stepped on the North American continent may be a myth, the cartoonist uses this symbol in a different way. 
6. BCR:The cartoonist seems to be promoting restrictions to protect the Native Americans’ rights and history. The men raise points like increased unemployment and welfare as reasons the immigrants are not welcome. However, the cartoonist is most likely using sarcasm to point out that U.S. citizens truly in favor of immigration restrictions are hypocrites, as they or their ancestors were most likely beneficiaries of open immigration at one time themselves.
ACTIVITY 3
Summary: In today’s lesson, we cited factors that caused the colonies to declare their independence from British in 1776. Harsh British policies and unfair taxes were two of the factors that we studied.

Homework: Oppression & Correspondence
Oppression: to govern or rule harshly
Correspondence: to contact in writing.

Name _____________________________________________Date ____________Class_________ 

American Government 2.2 Uniting for Independence

Match each item in Column A with the items in Column B. Write the correct letters in the blanks. 
Column A
_____1. defeat of the French in America
_____2. government collected money
_____3. first direct tax on colonies
_____4. closed Boston Harbor
_____5. agreement prohibiting trade	Column B
A. revenue
B. Intolerable Acts
C. French and Indian War
D. embargo
E. Stamp Act	

In the blank at the left, write the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
_____6. The fundamental reason the colonists revolted was because of government
A. suppression of Locke’s writings. 			C. without representation.
B. passing the Stamp Act. 				D. oppression.
_____7. In the eyes of the British, the American colonies existed for this reason.
A. economic benefit for Britain 			C. passage to the Asian world
B. soldiers for the British Crown 			D. souls for the Church of England
_____8. The colonists remained loyal to Britain in exchange for some self-rule and
A. low taxes. 						C. protection from the Native Americans.
B. protection from the French. 			D. money for traded goods.
_____9. The first president of the Second Continental Congress was
A. Thomas Paine. 					C. Thomas Jefferson.
B. Richard Henry Lee. 				D. John Hancock.
_____10. The Declaration of Independence founded government on principles of
A. strong central government. 			C. taxation without representation.
B. arbitrary power.					D. human liberty and consent of the 
							governed.
11. Name one political group or individual that you consider important? Explain your selection.

Identify:
	Revenue: 
Intolerable: 
Embargo:

Interpreting Political Cartoons 2.2 Origins of American Government
Modern-day Americans often think that when the Pilgrims landed on the east coast of North America, they “discovered” a largely uninhabited land. Yet scholars estimate that before the Pilgrims landed in the region, 10 to 12 million Native Americans lived in North America. By 1900 their numbers had dropped to about one half million. 
Without immunity to European diseases, Native Americans died from chicken pox, measles, smallpox, and the flu. In some Native American cultures, casualty rates were as high as 90 percent; families, social and economic systems, and sometimes whole cultures were decimated.

Interpreting Political Cartoons 2.2 Origins of American Government….Continued
The colonies of Europeans grew and established government and economic systems that were largely in conflict with those of the Native Americans. Ironically, many contemporary U.S. citizens, descendants of immigrants themselves, have rallied around the slogan, “America for Americans” and have argued over the years that immigration should be restricted. 

The cartoon on this page deals with the call for restricting immigration. Study the cartoon and answer the questions that follow. Source: Don Wright. Wright Side Up. New York, 1981.

Analyzing the Cartoon
1. What point do you think the cartoonist is seeking to emphasize in this cartoon? 

2. The Mayflower in the cartoon can be taken literally as the ship that brought the Pilgrims. What is the symbolic meaning of the Mayflower in this cartoon? 

3. What is ironic about the words spoken in the cartoon? How do you know they were intended to be ironic? 

4. How would you characterize the Native Americans pictured in the cartoon? 

5. What is the significance of where the Native Americans are standing? 

6. BCR Do you think the cartoonist would be in favor of restrictions on immigration? Use evidence from the cartoon and your own logical reasoning to support your opinion. 

In your own words, summarize today’s lesson.