Grade 8 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 2, Lesson 2

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
A More Perfect Union

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 2, Lesson 2: Growing Conflict with England (pp. 54-59)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Conflict Britain's attempt to raise money from the colonies through a variety of taxes provoked stronger and stronger resistance from the colonies.

Review with students the reasons why the British government was attempting to raise money from the colonies. Be sure students understand that Britain had been fighting with France in Europe as well as North America, and that the British army was guarding the frontier.

Discuss with students the colonists' responses to various tax attempts, especially the pressure of the boycott. Encourage them to come to understand how the various responses helped lead the colonists to a greater sense of unity.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Ask students to write a flow chart to explain the growing conflicts between Britain and its North American colony. Start the chart with the war between France and Britain. One outcome of this war was the British attempt to raise money, which led to the Stamp Act, an outcome of which was the Boston Massacre, etc.
Organize students into groups and assign each either the role of the British or the colonists. Have each group develop three reasons to justify the various responses of each side to the other. Have groups alternate presenting oral arguments in favor of each side.

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