A People’s History of the United States
Howard Zinn
• Preview Question
– What are we typically taught about Christopher Columbus in
school and in the textbooks?
• Post-Reading Writing Prompt
– How does Zinn's portrayal of Columbus' 'discovery' differ from
the version you were taught in elementary and high school?
– Identify at least three quotes from the reading that you found
shocking, interesting, etc…Why did you pick these quotes?
• Choose 1 quote to write on the board and indicate what page it’s on
– NO REPEATS…MUST BE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER GROUPS…
– Do you feel it is more just to present him as a hero, or as Zinn
does in Chapter 1? Why?
We’re Coming to
America
Establishing the Colonies
Opener (Day 3):
• 1. What factors contributed/encouraged the
colonization of North America by the English and
others?
• 2. Write an Identification for the term you are
assigned:
– Class Example: French & Indian War
– Right Side: Proclamation Act of 1763
– Left Side (end of alphabet): Stamp Act
*Remember, an I.D. is a 1-2 sentence definition of the term & 2-3 sentences
explaining why that term is significant to history.
I.D.=French and Indian War
• Who: The war was fought between the British and their Native
American allies v. the French and their Native American allies.
• What: Also known as the 7 Years War, it was a conflict between the
two nations for control and dominant influence in North America
(the war was an extension of the conflict between the two on the
European continent). In the end, the British came out victorious.
• When: The war was fought from 1754-1761 and officially ended
with the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
• Where: The war was fought in the Northeastern United States and
Eastern Canada (Quebec/Montreal)
• Significance: The French and Indian War is significant because the
British victory made them the supreme power in North America
and effectively ejected the French from the region; however, the
war also left the British government with massive debts and
ultimately led to the decision to issue the Proclamation Act of 1763
as well as numerous taxes on the colonists.
I.D. = French and Indian War
• Definition: A part of the 7 Years War, the French and Indian
War was a conflict between the British and the French for
control of North America (the war was an extension of the
conflict between the two on the European continent). The
war was fought in the NE United States and Eastern Canada
from 1754-1761; it officially ended with the Treaty of Paris in
1763.
• Significance: The French and Indian War is significant because
the British victory made them the supreme power in North
America and effectively ejected the French from the region;
however, the war also left the British government with
massive debts and ultimately led to the decision to issue the
Proclamation Act of 1763 as well as numerous taxes on the
colonists.
As you return from lunch, place 1 Quarter in the
plastic bin on the front table if you brought a
back pack to class today.
While you are comparing your responses with
your neighbor, come up and place 1 quarter in
the plastic bin if you brought a back pack to
class today.
Factors Contributing to English
Colonization of N. America
• Mercantilism
• Wealth/Resources
• Competition with Spain,
Portugal, France
• Escape Religious Persecution
– Puritans, Quakers, etc.
• Others…FORCED…who?...why?
Triangular Slave Trade
I.D. = Proclamation Act of 1763
• Definition: The Proclamation Act of 1763 was a statute passed
by the British Parliament prohibiting colonists from settling
the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. The act was
intended to minimize conflict between colonists and the
Native Americans as the British could not afford another war
on the North American Continent.
• Significance: However, the Proclamation Act is significant
because it alienated many colonists who viewed the law as an
infringement on their basic, “god-given” right to settle the
territory. This became the first of a series of acts which
furthered colonists calls for independence from the British.
I.D. = The Stamp Act
• Definition: The Stamp Act, issued in 1765, was a series of
taxes imposed on legal papers, newspapers, and pamphlets.
The tax was intended to help pay debts from the French and
Indian War as well as costs of administering the colonies.
Vehement opposition by the colonies resulted in the repeal of
the act in 1766.
• Significance: The Stamp Act is significant because it was one
of the first taxes imposed upon the colonists by the British
Parliament, without “colonial consent,” inspiring the phrase,
“No taxation without representation.” The act also led to the
formation of two of the earliest resistance movements, the
Sons of Liberty and the Stamp Act Congress. (Both
organizations would continue to coordinate boycotts and
protests against “British acts of aggression.”)
Inevitable Conflict:
The French and Indian War
• Who fought the war?
Why?
• What was the outcome
of the French & Indian
War?
– Brit. Domination of N.
America, but…
– Massive Debts
– Increased Territory to
defend
Rising Tensions: British Crown v. Colonists
• Proclamation Act of
1763:
– Prohibits colonists from
settling west of the
Appalachian Mts.
– Why was is passed?
• Avoid conflict w/ Natives
• Too far b/n empires
Rising Tensions: British Crown v. Colonists
• British Acts of Aggression
– Sugar Act (1764)
• Tax on imported
sugar/molasses
– Stamp Act (1765)
• Tax on legal papers,
newspapers, and pamphlets
– Quartering Act (1767)
• Laws requiring the provision
of housing, food and drink to
British troops
– Townshend Acts (1767)
• Tax on imports including
glass, lead, paints, paper &
tea
• Colonial Response
– Boycott British Goods
– Sons of Liberty
– Stamp Act Congress
• “No Taxation W/O
Representation
– Smuggle Goods/Protest
“No Taxation Without Representation”
"...For if our Trade may be taxed, why not our Lands?
Why not the Produce of our Lands & everything we
possess or make use of?
This we apprehend annihilates our Charter Right to
govern & tax ourselves.
It strikes at our British privileges, which as we have
never forfeited them, we hold in common with
our Fellow Subjects who are Natives of Britain.
If Taxes are laid upon us in any shape without our
having a legal Representation where they are laid,
are we not reduced from the Character of free
Subjects to the miserable State of tributary Slaves?
Rising Tensions: British Crown v. Colonists
• Boston Massacre (1770)
• Comm. of Correspondence
– Org. Colonial Resistance
• Tea Act (1773)
– Law allows British E. India
Company to have Tea
Monopoly in N. America
• Intolerable/Coercive Acts
(1774)
• Boston Tea Party
• 1st Continental Congress
Rising Tensions: British Crown v.
Colonists
• Intolerable/Coercive Acts • 1st Continental Congress
(1774)
(1774)
– Shut down Boston ports
until tea paid for
– Dissolved Mass. Assembly
– Ban town meetings
– Reinstate Quartering Act
– Remove right to fair
trial/due process
– Quebec Act
– Mtg. of elected delegates
– Olive Petition to King
• 2nd Continental Congress
(1775)
– Col. Govt. during War
– Estbl. Continental Army
– Appt. George Washington
as Commander
– Issue Dec. of Indep. (1776)
Quebec Act
Revolution Begins…
• March 23, 1775
– “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”—Patrick
Henry
• April 19, 1775
– Battle of Lexington & Concord… “Shot hear round
the world”
• January 10, 1776
– Thomas Paine, Common Sense
• 1st Document to openly call for independence from the
British
D.O.I. Questions
• What similarities can you identify between Locke’s
Second Treatise & D.O.I? Specific Examples.
• Why does Jefferson focus charges on King?
• Why might Jefferson had changed “property” to
“pursuit of happiness”
• What are some abuses charged against the king?
• What was Jefferson’s goal in listing all these charges
against the King?
• What type of govt. does Jefferson envision moving
forward?
• Why did colonist come to fear unitary government?
John Locke & D.O.I.
• John Locke
– Nat’l Rts. (Life, Liberty,
Property)
– Govt. to Protect Nat’l Rts
– Equality
– Consent of Governed
– Limited Government/
Rule of Law
– Right to Revolt
• Dec. of Indep.
– Nat’l Rts. (Life, Liberty,
Pursuit of Happiness)
– Govt. Secures Rts
– Equality
– Consent of Governed
– Limited Government
– Right to Revolt
• Lists long train of abuses
Locke & U.S. Constitution
• Separation of Powers (3 Branches)
– Legislative
– Judicial
– Executive
• Known/Estbl. Laws
• Limited Government
• Civil Liberties...Natural Rights
Exit Slip
– List 3 specific actions taken by the British that
contributed to the colonists’ decision to revolt.
– Name two specific actions colonists took to resist
British authority/policies.
– What was the first document to openly call for
independence from the British?
– Which Enlightenment philosopher heavily
influenced Thomas Jefferson and his writing of the
Declaration of Independence?
Writing Prompt
• If you were responsible for writing a
constitution for the states, after the American
Revolution, what provisions would you put in
to prevent another abusive government?