Unit 2 Introduction
Unit 2 moves forward in time to the 18th century while also narrowing the focus to Britain's North American colonies. We'll look at how the colonies developed as separate entities with little sense of being part of anything other than the British Empire, which most colonists loved being a part of.
The unit requires a bit of imagination on our part because we know something vital that people living in the 18th century didn't know, namely, that the American Revolution was coming. In 1776, 13 of Britain's colonies would declare independence and in 1783, that independence would be achieved through a long, violent war. It's crucial, however, to remember that in, say, 1750, no one saw that coming. So, when reading the text chapters or watching the documentary, put yourself in the shoes of someone in that time and place.
Looking back, we can see that one important turning point was the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the subject of a documentary we're watching this unit. The war pitted the British, their colonists, and Indian allies against the French, their colonists, and Indian allies, with control over territory in North America the goal. The war merged with a larger conflict called the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) that was fought by European powers across the globe. Britain was on the winning side and gained vast lands in North America, but the expense of the war and of defending their wins proved crippling and led to a worsening relationship with the colonies.
In addition to the documentary, we're reading an article about what might seem like an odd form of protest among colonists: tar and feathering. As the name suggests, this involved dousing someone with a sticky substance like tar, dumping feathers on them, and then parading them through town in humiliation.
***Historic Fiction Review Essay***
Within this Unit, I've published the instructions page for the course's Historic Fiction Review Essay. The essay is only introduced here in Unit 2. It is not a part of or due during Unit 2. The essay is due by 11:59 pm on November 7. Be advised, there is extra credit available for early essay submission. All the details regarding the essay can be found on the Historic Fiction Review Essay assignment page. Click here to go directly to the instructions page.
***Now back to our regularly scheduled Unit 2 content***
Unit 2 Overview
-Course Materials
In order to post a strong discussion and earn a high quiz score, please read the following textbook chapters. Once you've completed the readings, watch this week's documentary.
- 3 Rule Britania The English Empire.pdf Download 3 Rule Britania The English Empire.pdf
- 4 Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests.pdf
Download 4 Imperial Reforms and Colonial Protests.pdf
- Selection from Benjamin H. Irvin, “ Tar, Feathers, and the Enemies of American Liberties, 1768–1776,” The New England Quarterly, pages 197–217. These pages only. Not the whole article.
Watch:
"The War That Made America" documentary episode.
-Assessments
After you've completed the readings and watched the documentary, post a discussion and take the Unit 2 quiz.
Post:
Choose ONE of the following discussion prompts to respond to. The discussion is worth 7 points. Your discussion must be posted by 11:59 pm on 9/19.
Extra Credit: You have two opportunities to receive extra credit on your discussion post.
- If you post your discussion by 11:59 pm on 9/12, you will receive a half-point (.5) point bonus.
- If you offer a substantial response to a fellow classmate's post by 11:59 pm on 9/19, you will receive a half-point (.5) point bonus.
Discussion Post Options:
Quiz:
The Unit 2 Quiz is 20 questions and worth 20 points. Complete the Unit 2 quiz by 11:59 pm on 9/19. Click here to access the Unit 2 Quiz.