10.7 – Think and Apply Activity 2
Before beginning this activity, review this brief summary of the reading text for Module 10: Declaration of Independence and American Revolution.
In the 1600s and 1700s, British colonists settled in the Americas and formed 13 colonies under British rule. Tensions grew when Britain imposed taxes without giving the colonists representation in Parliament. This led to protests and eventually the American Revolution in 1775. In 1776, the colonists declared independence with the Declaration of Independence, emphasizing rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. After years of war, the U.S. won independence in 1781 and became a representative democracy. However, the new nation did not grant freedom to all, as slavery continued and many groups were still denied equal rights.
American Revolution – Causes and Effects Activity
A “cause” is a reason why something happens and an “effect” is what happens as a result of the cause. Can you think of an example of cause and effect? The video about the American Revolution that you had watched earlier mentioned the many causes of this event, and for each of those causes, there was some type of effect.
Review the American Revolution Causes and Effects Activity handout. This chart includes events that happened during the American Revolution. Some are causes (LEFT) and some are effects (RIGHT). The causes and effects are all mixed up within each column and you will need to sort them on the next page. First, identify and write a cause and then identify and write its correct effect next to it. The dates of the events will help you determine the causes and effects and the order that the events occurred. You will do one together as a class and then can complete the rest individually or in pairs/small groups.
ANSWER KEY:
| CAUSES | EFFECTS |
|---|---|
| The British put a tax on tea in 1767. | As a protest, people from Boston boarded an English ship and dumped tea into the harbor in 1773. |
| People of Boston did not like the presence of British troops in their city in 1770. | British soldiers fired into a crowd of people in Boston and killed five men in 1770. |
| Britain passes more laws against American colonists and sends more soldiers to control the people in 1775-76. | America writes its Declaration of Independence from Britain in 1776. |
| Americans win important battles against the British in 1778. | France enters the war with the Americans against the British in 1778. |
| A large part of the British army is trapped in Virginia in 1781. | After a large battle, the British army surrenders in 1781. |
| British troops begin to leave America in 1782-83. | A peace treaty is signed between the Americans and British in 1783 that officially ends the war. |
