Bell-Ringer Activity

 

Ask your students to imagine that they are living just before the start of the American Revolution, and that they have been given the job of writing slogans to help rally the colonists against the British.  They must come up with a few catchy slogans that will help motivate others to join the cause.

 

One of the most famous slogans of the time period appeared on the Gadsden Flag, named for South Carolina native Christopher Gadsden.  The slogan was, “Don’t Tread On Me.”  Discuss why this motto was so appealing to the colonists at the time (answer: it was a clear warning to the British that the colonists would not be taken advantage of or submit to unfair practices like taxation without representation). 

 

There were a number of words and slogans used to rally support in the years prior to the American Revolution.  Examples include:  “freedom”, “liberty”, “Taxation without representation”, “Don’t tread on me”, “Down with the King, “Give me liberty or give me death.”  Ask your students to list catchwords or phrases that are often used to inspire people (it might be to support a war or to buy a new car).  Why do these words and slogans work?  Why is it important to be able to recognize them?    

 

Group Discussion

 

Divide your students into several groups.  Each group represents a class of South Caronians prior to the American Revolution (i.e. backcountry residents, lowcountry elite, African Americans, Native Americans, politicians, etc.).  Have each group decide whether or not they support the upcoming war, and state reasons why.  Below are a few possible perspectives the different groups might have had:

 

Ø       Backcountry men—These men rarely dealt with the British, so they were usually impartial to the war.  These men didn’t want the war to interfere with their daily lives.

 

Ø       Lowcountry elite—This group was split.  Many resented British taxes and regulation, but there  were also many elite families with English ties.

 

Ø       African Americans—Most African slaves were primarily concerned with gaining their freedom, and they supported which ever side offered them that.

 

Ø       Native Americans—Native Americans were concerned that the American colonists were overtaking their land, and they hoped that the British would defend their interests

 

Ø       Politicians—This group was also split.  Some strongly argued for independence, regardless of the risks.  Others supported the British out of respect for the Royal Crown (and protection of their jobs).

 

 

Different Perspectives

 

When the Stamp Act was passed in 1765, the colonists immediately started to resent British rule and demand changes.  The American Revolution, however, did not begin for another ten years.  Divide your students into small groups and have each group list reasons why the colonists were unwilling to immediately resort to war.  Was there a specific turning point that made war seem like an only option, or did the frustrations build over time?

 

Reasons the Colonists Did NOT Want to Resort to War

 

·         Loyalty to the British crown

·         Many hoped that peaceful negotiations with Britain would solve the problems

·         England was the most powerful—and feared—empire in the world

·         Colonists believed that the conditions would improve over time

·         Taxes slowly increased, and Britain slowly began to abuse its power