Meg Treiber

Causes of the American Revolution

Unit Overview
This unit is about the causes that led to the American Revolution. Students
participate in taxing activity to understand the lack of decision making that
the colonists had in regards to where their taxes went and why. Students will
discover the idea of uncertainty when studying the Boston Massacre as they
learn that not all details are recorded in history. They will analyze primary
sources to see inside the life of the Sons of Liberty to get a better picture for
how the American Revolution began and perhaps more importantly why it
began.
Unit Rationale
This unit will establish a knowledge base of important people that
contributed to the steps towards the American Revolution. It will give
students experiences to familiarize them with the concept of taxation
without representation in a personal sense. It will dive into the many causes
of the American Revolution, including the desire for religious freedom and
rights that were not granted under the British government.
This unit is important for 5th graders because it sets the stage for
learning about the civil war and race relations in our country over time. It
also helps them to understand why our government fought to exist. This will
begin to shape their appreciation for representative government and start to
guide their own process of analyzing what happens in the world in a broader
sense.
Students will work to not only understand multiple perspectives of the
American Revolution, but also practice their analytical skills of historical
sources. This will help them prepare for content testing, reading and writing.
Considering the Learners
The Era II section of 5th grade goes into great detail about the colonies
and their differences in terms of north, middle and south. The students have
been introduced to differences of economy, beliefs, lifestyle. This Era now
brings this information into context in regards to the relationship with the
Colonies as a whole and Great Britain.
Students often have the misconception that they main cause of the
American Revolution was because of unfair taxes. This is because of the
commonly known phrase no taxation without representation. Also, all of
the Acts imposed by the British can come off as a list of taxes. This does not
fully show what was truly felt by the colonists and the British.
Students might also be unfamiliar with the idea that not all colonists
were on board with separation from Great Britain. We are now Americans,

Meg Treiber
and it is hard to imagine wanting another country to rule ours. But back then,
it was scary and uncharted territory in terms of the democracy that was
being built. Many were unsure if it would work and what their lives would
look like after ties were cut with their motherland.
Enduring Understanding/Big Idea:
1.

Many people think the American Revolution was caused by No

taxation without representation, but it was much more complex. The
colonists desire to have rights, religious freedom, and a voice led to a
revolution and the creation of a unique democratic government.

Compelling Question:
Supporting Questions:
How would freedom from
How did the New Englanders, Middle
Great Britain change the
Colonies and Southern Colonies feel
lives of those living in
about freedom from Great Britain?
the Colonies?
Why was the French and Indian War
When in life is it
fought? Where was it fought?
important to be able to
What were the intolerant acts and
make our own decisions?
why were they imposed?
What did the colonists want to
achieve in separating from Great
Britain politically, socially, and
economically?
Behavioral Objectives:
Students will be able to (say I CAN):
I can describe the role of the French and Indian War, the way British
policy changed, and how the colonies responded. (5-U3.1.1)
I can describe the causes and effects of the Stamp Act, Boston Tea
Party, the Intolerable Acts, and the Boston Massacre. (5-U3.1.2)
I can compare and contrast the colonists and British views on
representative government. (5-U3.1.3)
I can describe similarities and differences between life in the colonies
and life today. (D2.His.2.3-5.)
I can explain why women, men, African Americans, and people of
different colonies had different feelings about separating from Great
Britain. I can explain why Great Britain has a different point of view,
too. (D2.His.4.3-5.)
I can write a descriptive story using details to ignite all of the senses

Meg Treiber
and organization of the order events happened to portray a real or
imagined event of the past. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.3)
I can read carefully and make claims from the text using specific
evidence from the reading. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1)

Key Concepts:
The French and Indian
war put Great Britain in
debt.
They imposed taxes on
the colonists to pay for
this debt.
The Colonists wanted
freedom from Great
Britain because they
wanted to have a voice
in their government. The
taxes made them angry.
The Colonists were not
trying to avoid paying
taxes; they wanted a
say in where their tax
money was going.
The Boston Massacre
was a turning point for
the American
Revolution. Blood was
shed, tension rose, a
war was coming.
The Boston Tea party
was to protest the
monopoly on tea. Again,
the British were trying to
save the East India
Company from running
out of money. The
Colonists did not want to
support this cause even
though this tea was
cheaper.

Important
Knowledge:
Stamp Act British Tax
on American colonies.
Every newspaper,
pamphlet, and other
public and legal
document had to have
a Stamp, or British seal,
on it.
Boston Tea Party Sons
of Liberty dressed as
Indians boarded British
ships and dumped tea
into the harbor as an
act of rebellion.
Intolerable Acts - These
laws placed new taxes
on glass, lead, paints,
paper, and tea. Colonial
reaction to these taxes
was the same as to the
Sugar Act and Stamp
Act.
Boston Massacre Shooting of five
American colonists by
British troops on March
5, 1770. Still disputed
who began the dispute,
who had weapons, etc.
French and Indian War War fought between
Great Britain and the
French and the Indians

Important Skills:
Analyzing primary
sources to determine
what happened during
a historical event
(Boston Massacre)
Written compare and
contrast the
perspectives of Great
Britain vs. the
Colonists during
events leading up to
the American
Revolution.
Read Parallel
Timelines
Read and analyze a
map and all its
problems
Analyze primary and
secondary sources.

Meg Treiber

The Sons of Liberty were

fighting for freedom and
rights for their country.
The first continental
congress met in
September of 1774 to
work on the Articles of
Confederation.

of North America. Most

of the battles were in
Canada. Great Britain
won, but was in debt.
Ally - a person or group
that gives help to
another person or
group
United - - joined
together politically, for
a common purpose, or
by common feelings
Rebellion - resistance
against something,
particularly the
government, authority
or other controlling
forces
Benjamin Franklin Statesman, publisher,
inventor, and patriot
known for writing Poor
Richard's Almanac,
keeping France on the
side of America during
the Revolutionary War,
and inventing all kinds
of useful things.
Samuel Adams - Signer
of the Declaration of
Independence who was
also a former governor
of Massachusetts and a
ringleader of the
American Revolution,
Liberty - freedom
Boycott to protest

Meg Treiber
Repeal to remove or
take back a law, tax, or
rule
Patriots colonists
fighting against Great
Britain
First Continental
Congress - Two groups
of people from all over
the 13 Colonies who
came together to
discuss liberty in secret
so that Great Britain did
not know.
Articles of
Confederation
Document detailing the
form of government
post-Revolutionary war.
It gave most powers to
the states and had
many flaws, leading to
the Constitutional
Convention.
Governor the head of
a public institution
Colonist - a settler in or
inhabitant of a colony
Territory - an area of
land under the
jurisdiction of a ruler or
state.
Treaty - a formal
agreement between
two or more states in
reference to peace,
alliance, commerce, or
other international
relations

Meg Treiber