TITLE: Colonial Rules
AUTHOR: Donnalee Eisenhart, Mountain View High School
Orem, Utah 84057
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
OVERVIEW: During the mid 1700's America was experiencing a
great deal of strife and turmoil as a result of the
demanding colonial rules that England had made the Colonists
live by. Because of this oppression the colonists revolted
and the American Revolution takes place. This particular
activity was designed to show students how the colonists
felt during this oppressive period.
OBJECTIVE(s): Students will be able to:
1. Explain the colonial rules and have a sincere sense of
how the colonists felt.
2. Describe the outcome of severe oppression, which is
usually revolution.
3. Describe the feeling the Colonists had when they
experienced oppression and how it felt when they were
oppressed.
RESOURCES: Colonial Rules and Classroom Rules
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
1. At the beginning of the classroom walk into class and
indicate to the students that some very severe cuts
have been made in the school budget. Tell them about
the nation wide cuts in educational spending and that
as a result this has impacted this classroom and the
school. Tell them that you are sick about the
following cuts but you have been directed by the
principal to enforce the following rules.
2. As you begin giving the students these very oppressive
classroom and school rules most won't say anything
through the first five, but as the rules become more
oppressive and take away more classroom freedoms they
will become very vocal. Often during this time, they
will indicate that these rule can't be true. Always
look stern and let them know in no uncertain terms that
these are the rules they must follow for the year.
3. Pass out a copy of the new classroom rules, at the
bottom of the page have a place for the parents to sign
that they have seen the new rules and that they will
help to enforce them. This gives the document
credibility and makes the students think you are
serious.
4. When you have finished reading the rules the students
will want to have a discussion about the unfairness of
the rules, some will indicate that they plan to REVOLT
by calling the district office, they will voice
opinions about how their parents will feel about these
new rules. This leads to some very heated discussion.
5. After the students have become very excited and have
almost started a revolt, pass out the colonial laws.
Ask the students about how they felt, make comparisons
of the colonists and the new classroom rules. Did they
have a voice in the new rules that the teacher
presented?
6. Follow up with a quiz on the colonial laws the next
class period after you have reviewed them in class.
7. (As a spoof and as another classroom activity I
encourage them to take home the new classroom rules,
give them to their parents and watch the reaction. It
them becomes a chance for the students to present the
same lesson plan at home. Parents love it when they
find out it is a spoof)
COLONIAL RULES
1. The Navigation Act of 1651 required all goods entering
England to be carried by English ships with English
crews, or by colonial ships with English crews, or by
colonial ships and crews. All goods entering or
leaving English colonies were required to be in English
vessels.
2. The enumerated Commodities Act (1660) specified that
commodities such as tobacco sugar, cotton, indigo,
ginger and dyes could be exported from the colonies
only to England or to other English colonies
3. The Navigational Acts were to be strictly enforced with
the use of the WRITS OF ASSISTANCE. Writs of
Assistance were imposed as general search warrants,
permitting English officials to enter private buildings
and ships in search of goods smuggled into the
colonies.
4. The Proclamation of 1763 prohibited colonial settlement
west of the Appalachian Mountains.
5. The Sugar Act (1764) taxed colonial imports from the
Spanish and French West Indies.
6. The Currency Act (1764) forbade further issues of paper
money in the colonies. This hampered colonial debtors
in settling accounts.
7. The Stamp Act (1765) taxed legal documents, newspapers,
pamphlets, and all other printed matter. In 1766 this
act was repealed, but Parliament passed the Declaratory
Act which asserted its right to tax the colonies at any
time.
8. The Townshend Acts taxed colonial imports of paper,
glass, lead, tea, and other articles. Colonists
accused of smuggling to evade these taxes were denied a
jury trial. In 1770 these duties were repealed.
9. The Intolerable Acts (1774) The British replied to the
destruction of the East India Company's property by a
series of punitive measures know as the "Intolerable
Acts".
Boston Port Bill closed the port in an attempt to make
the colony pay for the destroyed tea.
The Massachusetts Government Act took away the charter
of 1691 and forbade the Boston town meeting to assemble
without the governor's permission.
The Quartering Act compelled Massachusetts colonists to
provide lodging and food for British Soldiers.
CLASSROOM RULES
1. All assignments will cost 10 cents. No assignment will
be handed out unless it is paid for. Please bring
$1.00 in advance to cover the first 10 assignments.
2. If a student losses an assignment it will cost 20 cents
to cover the cost of a lost assignment. This amount
will compensate the teacher for additional time spent.
This fee must be paid in advance.
3. Tardy Policy: 10 cents for every minute a student is
late for class.
4. Pencils and Pens: If a student borrows a pencil or pen
from the teacher he or she will pay the teacher 25
cents for the use of the pen or pencil. This fee will
cover loss of pens and pencils and any other damage
incurred by chewing on the pencil.
5. Late Assignments and Misconduct in the Classroom:
Janitorial duty will be assigned to those students who
turn in late assignments or who cause problems in the
classroom. Check with the teacher or principal for
these assignments. (Assignments will range from
cleaning the restrooms, gym area, gardening etc.)
6. Hall Pass Use: Students will be charged $1.00 each
time they need to use the hall pass, regardless of the
reason.
7. Books: If a student fails to bring a book to class
there will be a $1.00 rental charge. This must be
collected before students can rent a book.
8. Desk Use Fee: Students will be required to pay $10.00
for the use of their desk. This will only be a yearly
fee. This fee will cover the cost of removing gum and
other substances from the bottom of desks, and any
writing that may be done by students. This fee must be
paid immediately.
9. Pencil Sharpener Fee: A fee of $1.00 per year will be
charged for the use of the pencil sharpener. District
costs have skyrocketed and they can no longer provide
such services without charging.
I understand all of the above classroom rules and
regulations and will abide by them:
Students Signature ______________________________________
Parent or Guardian ______________________________________
Date ____________________________________________________
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