The Stage is Set: Causes of the Revolutionary War Web Quest

Introduction  

You live in Boston, Massachusetts in the year 1775. You don't remember when Parliament levied the Stamp Acts but you sort of  remember the Boston Massacre since it was so shocking.  Your parents and their friends have spent much time talking about whether or not a rebellion against King George III  should take place. Although there are some Loyalists in Boston, most of the talk is from the Patriots. The Patriots and men like Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry are encouraging thoughts of rebellion.  You have heard Samuel Adams in your own city.  You have read accounts of  the speeches Patrick Henry of Virginia and pamphlets of Thomas Paine.  

Due to the events swirling around you, it has been hard for you and your sibling (brother or sister) to pay attention to your tutor as he teaches you Latin and Greek and Mathematics.  Therefore, your parents decided that your tutor should help you and your sibling learn more about the events of the past 10 years.  To be a good citizen, you need to know why Parliament has acted the way it has and how the colonists have reacted. You began your work by creating the following timeline:

Timeline:
1763 - End of the French and Indian War
1765 - Stamp Acts
1765 - The Quartering Act - colonials had to make room at their inns and other buildings for the redcoats
1767  - The Townshend Acts
1768 - British station two regiments of soldiers in Boston
1770 - March 5 - Boston Massacre/Crispus Atttucks died
1770 - Parliament  takes away some taxes but the tax on tea remained
1773 - Parliament  gives the British East India Company exclusive rights to sell tea to the colonies - this would drive up prices
1773 - December 16 - the Boston Tea Party takes place in Boston Harbor
1774 - March 24 - Coercive or Intolerable Acts 

The Task

Your tutor has assigned you and your brother or sister a research project.  You will each be given four important events or acts to study in-depth.  Choose from the following list: the Stamp Acts of 1765, The Townshend Acts of 1767, The Boston Massacre of 1770, The Boston Tea Party of 1773 and the Coercive/Intolerable Acts of 1774. You will research your topics and take notes on the appropriate notetaking graphic organizers.  You will also record your sources as you proceed.  At the end you will write a three paragraph essay for each event (described below in "The Process"). After you have finished you and your brothers and sisters should be able to identify reactions of the colonists in response to Parliament's actions (2.2).

In the Internet Lab:
Day 1:
1. Pick four of the five assigned important events or acts. 
2. You will be given a packet of notetaking graphic organizers.
3. You will be given a mini-lesson in notetaking and recording the sources you will use.
4. You will be assigned a computer and you will proceed to the "Resources" section of this Web Quest and begin to take notes on your assigned acts or events on the appropriate notetaking graphic organizer.

Day 2:
1. There will be a mini-lesson as needed.
2. You will go back to your computer and continue your notetaking.
3. You will consult with one of the teachers.

Day 3:

We will work on typing your essays.

Back in Your Classroom:

You will take your notes and write three paragraph essays:

The purpose of your essay:

    a. Paragraph One - a description of the event or act along with dates.

    b. Paragraph Two - discuss what caused  the act or event.

    c. Paragraph Three - discuss reactions to the act or event.

Resources  

If you need more copies of the 3 graphic organizers, they can be printed from here:
1. Graphic Organizer 1 (.pdf file)
2. Graphic Organizer 2 (.pdf file)
3. Graphic Organizer 3 (.pdf file)

You will be evaluated on your notetaking, productivity, attendance, and behavior. You will also receive a final grade on your finished paragraphs. You will receive more specific information in class.

Now that you know more about the events that are happening around you, it will probably be necessary for you to think about taking sides.  Your tutor will surely want to consider continuing these lessons.