United States History Student Edition

F “Ripe for Rebellion”

Complete Your Inquiry EVALUATE SOURCES AND USE EVIDENCE Refer back to the Compelling Question and the Supporting Questions you developed at the beginning of the lesson. 1. Analyzing Points of View Which sources provide the views of American colonists on the issues with British rule? How are the attitudes expressed in those sources similar? Also describe any similarities in the sources that present British views. 2. Evaluating Which sources urge American colonists to take some sort of action? What actions are encouraged? Are those sources effective? Explain. 3. Gathering Sources Which sources helped you answer the Supporting Questions and the Compelling Question? Which sources, if any, challenged what you thought you knew when you first created your Supporting Questions? What information do you still need in order to answer your questions? What other viewpoints would you like to investigate? Where would you find that information? 4. Evaluating Sources Identify the sources that helped answer your Supporting Questions. How reliable is each source? How would you verify the reliability of each source? COMMUNICATE CONCLUSIONS 5. Collaborating With a partner, answer the following: How do the sources demonstrate the importance of citizens’ involvement in a government’s decisions? Use the graphic organizer that you created at the beginning of the lesson to help you. Share your conclusions with the class. TAKE INFORMED ACTION Sending a Proposal to a Government Official Identify a local issue that has divided residents of a community, such as state or local taxes, zoning or building requests, or public health. Research the issue and the points of view taken by differing sides. Evaluate people’s perspectives and come up with possible solutions and compromises for the issue. Write a proposal expressing a potential resolution to the disagreement and then send it to an appropriate local, state, or national government official. Be sure to use an appropriate tone in your proposal. Share any responses you receive.

In 1774, a young British citizen traveling in America presented his views on the colonists and their desire for change. PRIMARY SOURCE: DIARY “ The King is openly cursed, and his authority set at defiance. In short, everything is ripe for rebellion. The New Englanders by their canting , whining, insinuating tricks have persuaded the rest of the Colonies that the [British] Government is going to make absolute slaves of them. . . . By everything that I can understand, in the different company I have been in, Independence is what the Massachusetts people aim at, but am not in the least doubt but the Government will take such salutary and speedy measure, as will entirely frustrate their abominable intentions. I am afraid it will be some time before this hubbub is settled and there is nothing to be done now. ” — excerpt from the diary of Nicholas Cresswell, October 24, 1774 canting dishonest and insincere talking insinuating hinting or suggesting, especially dishonestly salutary designed to cause an improvement hubbub commotion EXAMINE THE SOURCE 1. Explaining Who does the writer blame for Americans’ attitudes toward Britain? Explain. 2. Drawing Conclusions Does the writer support the colonists’ desire for rebellion? Explain your answer using the writer’s words.

Cresswell, Nicholas. The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, 1774-1777, edited by Samuel Thornely. New York: The Dial Press, 1924.

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