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Deconstructed DBQ Assignment Sheet and Document Set – Unit 2

How did British and colonial perspectives on taxation, representation, and self-governance compare in the decades leading up to the American Revolution?

Instructions

Read and analyze each document in the set. Use the vocabulary to support your understanding and take notes on a piece of paper  as you read. Then, use the grouping sources organizer to plan your response to the prompt.

In your response you should:

  • Respond to the prompt with a defensible thesis that establishes a line of reasoning.
  • Group the sources (documents) based on similarities or connections.

DBQ Question:

How did British and colonial perspectives on taxation, representation, and self-governance compare in the decades leading up to the American Revolution?

Documents

Document A: Declaratory Act (1766)

“…That the said colonies and plantations in America have been, are, and of right ought to be, subordinate unto, and dependent upon the imperial crown and parliament of Great Britain; and that the King’s majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords … of right ought to have, full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of America, subjects of the crown of Great Britain, in all cases whatsoever…”

 

  

 

subordinate– lower in rank or position

 

 

 

 

 

Document B: The Patriot- Samuel Johnson (1774)

“…To suppose, that by sending out a colony, the nation established an independent power; that when, by indulgence and favour, emigrants are become rich, they shall not contribute to their own defence, but at their own pleasure; and that they shall not be included, like millions of their fellow-subjects, in the general system of representation; involves such an accumulation of absurdity, as nothing but the show of patriotism could palliate. He that accepts protection, stipulates obedience. We have always protected the Americans; we may, therefore, subject them to government…”  

 

 

 

 

 

 

absurdity-unreasonableness or ridiculousness

 

palliate– make less severe

 

Document C: Common Sense – Thomas Paine (1776)

“…But Britain is the parent country, say some. Then the more shame upon her conduct. Even brutes do not devour their young, nor savages make war upon their families… This new world hath been the asylum for the persecuted lovers of civil and religious liberty from every part of Europe. Hither have they fled, not from the tender embraces of the mother, but from the cruelty of the monster…”  

 

 

hath– has

asylum-protection granted

 

 

Document D: Declaration of Independence (1776)

“…For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever…”		  

 

depriving-denying or withholding

 

 

abolishing-ending

 

Arbitrary: unrestrained and tyrannical