Process
After reading each document, you will answer a set of lesson questions about the document, recording your responses for each document on a separate piece of paper. This will be followed by a class discussion using the fishbowl protocol and rules for group discussion.
Taxes: Colonial Resistance Builds
Read the James Otis passage in the INTRODUCTION above.
ON A SEPARATE SHEET OF PAPER ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
- What do you think is the significance of the phrase a man’s house is his castle?
- According to Otis, what function do the courts serve?
- What basic right did the writs of assistance violate?
- Analyze Otis’ view of the courts?
Female Patriotism: Women Called to Action
- How does Gadsden feel about women?
- Based on what you know about Colonial women, what is the significance of Gadsden’s address to the South Carolina Assembly?
- Gadsden’s intent was first to convince and then to enlist women to support colonial boycotts against British policies. Predict Gadsen’s success or failure.
Poetry: A Female Poet’s Literary Resistance
- Why is Hannah Griffitts’ background significant?
- What does the speaker suggest women do to oppose the Townshend Duties?
- What is Griffitts’ opinion of Grenville, why?
- Who is the target of the women’s boycott?
- Who does the speaker think has more power, men or women? Support with evidence.
- Based on the views expressed in the poem, how would Griffitt respond to Gadsden’s address?
Spinning Bees: Public Displays of Defiance
- What is this passage describing? Cite evidence to support your answer.
- What is the political reason for the women to engage in this activity?
- Do you think that this political action would be successful? Why or why not?
Protest Songs and Poetry: Women’s call to action
Using your APPARTS (PDF) chart, analyze these two sources. In your groups, write a colonial protest song or a poem. Be sure to use historical facts and evidence from the lesson.