Julia

                     What Caused the Boston Tea Party    

One of the many taxes that King George tried to use on the colonists was tax on tea. The colonists loved tea, and many of them wanted to buy their tea from England. On the other hand, the colonists didn’t want to buy it from the East India Company because the tea was very expensive, but the Tea Act forced them to. The colonists didn’t want to be forced to buy their beloved tea from one company. Historians agree with the colonists that the Tea Act was unfair. So, it is no surprise that this is what started the Boston Tea Party.

                     

                         Planning a Protest

The colonists spent a long time planning their protest against England. They tried to cover every detail of the protest.  For example, they planned on dressing like Mohawk Indians to disguise their real identities. Experts think that it was a good idea for the colonists to disguise themselves because it would take longer for the British to figure out who they really were. The colonists also planned on throwing the tea into the Boston Harbor. Even though the Boston Tea Party was secretive an amazing 116 people participated in this act.

Not as Easy as it Looks

As well planned as this act was, historians think it was no walk in the park for the colonists to do. The colonists used the ship's winches to haul 90,000 pounds worth of tea chests one by one onto the deck. Historians estimate that that much tea would cost about 1 million dollars today. That much tea can fill 18.5 million cups of tea! Once on the deck, the colonists broke open the chests and poured the contents into the Boston Harbor. Before the colonists left they swept the deck clean to make sure none of the tea was remaining on the ship.

What Happened After the Party

 

Paul Revere Paul Revere was a colonist who took part in the Boston Tea Party. He rode on horseback from Boston to New York to spread the word, it was a journey of three hundred miles. The American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow even wrote a poem about Revere’s famous ride.   In the poem, Revere rode from town to town calling out in warning to everyone “the British are coming, the British are coming”. Historians say Paul Revere was a helpful person. Paul Revere also took an oath so no one would know about his participation in the Boston Tea Party. Later others revealed that Paul was, in fact, at the Tea Party.

As you might of guessed, the British government did not like what the colonists did one bit! In 1774 the British government responded by passing several harsh measures. For example, forcing the colonists to have soldiers live in their homes. These laws were known, in America, as the Intolerable Acts. Experts think this was a fair way of disciplining the colonists after the Boston Tea Party.

Were the Colonists Successful

You might think the colonists were not successful because of how the British government reacted, but actually they were.  The creation of these acts really unified the colonists against British rule. The colonists decided to join together for a meeting.  They called this meeting the First Continental Congress and it included people from 12 of the American Colonies.

The Aftermath

Even with all the protesting and punishments that the Boston Tea Party caused, researchers say it really made a big dent in history. If it was not for the Boston Tea Party there would be no Intolerable Acts, Revolutionary War, and  Declaration of Independence.  All of these events led up to the colonists gaining freedom from the British, and also our freedom. John Adams said, “The die has been cast. The people have passed the river and cut away the bridge….This [ the Boston Tea Party] is the grandest event that has yet happened since the controversy with Britain was opened. The sublimity of it charms me.”    

  

                                                    Sources

     Cornerstones of freedom

     The Boston Tea Party

    Boston Tea Party

    World Book Student

    Ducksters

    American Revolution

     Boston Tea Party

 https://vimeo.com/165

 http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=27577

http://kidsandhistory.net/paulvm/h2_hist.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winch

      Image links

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Revere

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party

http://chapinus.wikia.com/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party_(Final_Draft)

http://www.theeastindiacompany.com/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohawk_people

http://www.hamptoninstitution.org/boston-tea-party-and-baltimore.html#.WOZRG7grJEY

                               Glossary  

• Mohawk Indians: A Tribe of Indians

• East India Company:  A well known British company that mainly sold cotton, silk, indigo dye, salt, saltpetre, tea and opium.

• Tea Act: Made the colonist buy their tea from the East India Company

• Winches: A mechanical device that is used to pull heavy objects   

• Protest: A statement or action expressing disapproval

• Opposed:  Disapproving or disagreeing

• Unified: To make or become whole

• Disciplining: A punishment to correct disobedience

• Revealed: To give a previously unknown or secret information known to others

 

             

Lucas

The Jamestown colony

   

Capt. John Smith                    Pocahontas John Rolfe

Have you ever wondered how hard starting a colony is. Although Jamestown had tobacco and a great leader they had no fresh water and they still succeeded. The settlers had to be patient and face many obstacles to achieve their ultimate goal.

What Was the Ride to Jamestown Like?

The ship ride to James Town was tough for the settlers not familiar with ship life. For example, when they neared their location after crossing the Atlantic the water was very salt and muggy. This caused livestock to die, diseases and chaos among the ship. If they sailed in the 21st century then the settlement would be much easier because of the advances we have in medicine today. Here is hand written story by a young boy about to get on the ship and trying to convince his friend to come with him.

Eighteen-year-old John Dods turned from his packing to answer the door.

“I’ve come to say farewell,my freind,” said the tall,young man standing in the doorway. “I shall be hard at work when you leave tomorrow.”

“ Yes ,tomorrow I sail for virginia. When I board the Susan Constant in the morning I will begin a new and hopefully better life,” replied john,as he stuffed a pair of pants into his bag

“Won't you change your mind, John?” his friend asked.  “It's a long dangerous trip.”

“I’m not afraid. Whatever troubles the new world may hold, I can survive them. Why don't you come with me?” asked John. “England holds nothing for either of us. If you are not a member of the nobility or a merchant, what will you have when you are old and you can't work? Perhaps a little money but no land to call your own. In virginia, rich lands wait for me to claim them. Gold sits untouched in the ground. Precious gems lie on the beach just ready to get taken. Come with me and be rich, free, and happy in the new world.”

Frowning his friend replied “I wish i could believe as you do,John. I wish you good fortune, though I admit I do not believe it awaits as you. Good-bye john.”

Many people have noticed that that ship ride could have been so much worse. So many things could have gone wrong because it was 1606 when  they first set sail, and there are so many things that have improved in the past years with ships that it would be such a smoother and easier ride now than it was in 1606.

The ships Jamestown sailed on

How Did Tobacco Save Jamestown

During the starving time the colony needed money or something to support the colony.They needed this because the powhatans support was starting to slow down because Jamestown  kept constantly demanding food from the powhatans since they didn't have much. Powhatans were attacking the colony but but eventually stopped because of the discovery.This helped the colony a ton, Now the colony was very wealthy. Jamestown kept selling the tobacco to England and kept getting more money. Sometimes England traded with food and other helpful supplies for the tobacco.

Tobacco plant

Who Was John Rolfe?

John Rolfe was born in 1585. John Rolfe was one of the most important people in Jamestown for one reason…Tobacco. He was a normal person who settled in the colony, but once he discovered tobacco he was a savior. He was such an important figure because at the time he discovered tobacco the colony was getting really poor and running out of supplies. But once John discovered tobacco and sold it to England and other colonies it got Jamestown more financially stable.

John rolfe and pocahontas                                                John Rolfe

Who Was John Smith?

John Smith was born January 1580 he left for Jamestown when he was 34 in 1614. He was known for meeting the Powhatans and for being a great leader of the colony.

In 1607 John Smith got captured by the Powhatans. He was brought to their leader Powhatan. The chief ordered him to put his head between two stones. Smith thought that they were going to kill him Pocahontas put her head write on top of Johns. John thought that she had saved his life but the Powhatan said that “It was a tradition and we were not trying to kill him.” Once this event was over it created friendship between the two colonies. During the starving time John was badly burnt by an explosion of gunpowder and returned home to England.

Who Were the Powhatans?

The reason the Powhatans didn't like Jamestown is because Jamestown kept changing their lifestyle like Jamestown kept demanding food and supplies and that's why they wanted to get rid of the settlers. There was some piece here and there but the Powhatans just wanted to get rid of the settlers so they made a plan, they captured John Smith. But luckily Pocahontas the daughter of Powhatan saved him.

Afterwards this started a friendship between the two colonies. They were so friendly that they brought Pocahontas back to England to meet the king. While the were in England they treated her with much loyalty she even got to sit in the king's throne but on the trip ride back Pocahontas got ill and died in march 1617 at only 22 years old.This got the Powhatans angry and they attacked Jamestown. Although there were still at least half the settlers still alive,this still makes people today very angry because it’s not the settlers fault that she died.

What Was Good About Jamestown Succeeding

A success of Jamestown.The success of Jamestown was huge because it was the first successful English colony in North America it inspired so many other people like if they wanted religious freedom or wealth or a start over to a new life and a new world around you. Next after Jamestown many other settlements were created.

Although Jamestown had many successes the state house was burnt down in 1698 and Williamsburg became the new capital. By the 1750s, Jamestown was a place for  farming.

Some of the settlements they inspired

Researchers have noticed that the other colonies did not set sail until they knew that Jamestown succeeded.

Conclusion

Researchers think that some people now might be able to start their own colony.They think that because there is more advanced things people can use to survive and succeed. But other researchers don't because unless you come up with a great invention that will make you rich and get food and supplies you do not have much money to buy supplies and food and it will be very hard to survive and succeed.Now that you know how much planning and preparation it takes to start you own colony from scratch with no food and no water until you get it yourself do you think you can succeed and start your own new colony.

Sources that were used in this piece of writing:

Ship ride path and map from:

http:http://www.bermuda-online.org

Recreation of the ships the settlers used to sail across the atlantic ocean pic:   http://www.historyisfun.org

Fun fact/ mystery: www.washingtonpost.com

Biography of John dods: The story of jamestown “book”  

Hand written By John Dods

Information about Jamestown throughout the story: History Alive”book”,http://www.history.org,  A Short History of Jamestown “article”https://www.nps.gov.

GLOSSARY

            

         

Maya

                            The Revolutionary War

Did you know that people in present-day America were once ruled by the king of England and didn’t have freedom? Did you know that America had to fight Britain for their freedom? In this chapter you can read all about it. The book includes What Happened Before The War and Why It Started, During The War, and After The War: What Changed.

                            

What Happened Before The Revolutionary War

Before the year 1775, people lived in colonies in present-day America and were known as colonists. In colonial days, people wore different clothes, had different schools, and had different jobs. Girls and boys wore clothes like cloaks, hoods, caps, stockings, and dresses. They went to schools where they had to read off a piece of paper and then they would be done. They had jobs like a blacksmith, a whitesmith, a silversmith, or a tailor. The jobs at home everyone in the family had to do. They lived a happy life, for the most part. The Revolutionary War started because Britain was in debt and they made the colonists pay for the taxes. The colonists thought this was unfair and that they should have freedom. The colonists were also mad because they didn’t get any part in the British Parliament, also known as the law-making part of Britain.

                                       The Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War started and there were different names for different people. Tories were colonists who supported Britain and it’s king. These people fought the Patriots, who were colonists who wanted to be free. Some people didn’t like war and didn’t want to be on a side, and they were called neutralists. Nobody had to join the fighting in the war if they didn’t want to, but most people were on a side. The first shots rang out on April 19, 1775 in Lexington Massachusetts. During The Revolutionary War, about 217,000 American troops were engaged, meaning that they were in the war. The Battle of Bunker Hill is an important battle that is also known as The Boston Massacre. During this battle, an American captain William Prescott and his troops stood in front of an angry crowd of American colonists. Prescott ordered “Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes!” One of his troops said he heard incorrectly, thinking his captain said to fire their guns and started to shoot. Researchers wonder if the troop that was the first to fire really heard incorrectly. The crowd then moved closer. Soon enough, all of the troops started to fire their guns. Researchers think that The Boston Massacre was a very important battle. The Battle of Saratoga was the first great victory for America. Many people believed, and still do believe, that this was the turning point for America in the Revolutionary War. They think that The Battle of Saratoga was the reason America won the war.

                                               After The War: What Changed

In October 1781, The British surrendered, meaning they lost the war.  The Patriots got their freedom and lived in a new country America. In America, people get to pay their own taxes, not taxes from Britain.  They also weren't ruled by Britain’s king, King George III. Instead, they elected a president George Washington. Later in time, new presidents got elected, and they still do today. Also, the colonies became states. There are now 50 states in the United States of America. Some of the important people that helped the Patriots win the Revolutionary War were Thomas Jefferson, Israel Putnam, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton. Some of the people who helped the Patriots now have things named after them. For example, Israel Putnam has a park named after him called Putnam Park. Also, in New York, there is a bridge named after Alexander Hamilton. This proves that The Revolutionary War was important to the whole world because of the new country that started.    

In this book you learned all about The Revolutionary War. You learned what happened before The Revolutionary War, what happened during The Revolutionary War, and what happened after The Revolutionary War. You learned how people’s lives in colonial days were very different from people’s lives now, about how there were many battles in The Revolutionary War, and the big changes in life after the war. This was a crazy time for everyone who had to live while the war was happening. Would you want to live in colonial times?

George Washington    Thomas Jefferson     Israel Putnam   Alexander Hamilton