The British Empire: Causes of the American War of Independence

PowerPoint (with 4 slides) and two word documents that examine the causes of the American War of Independence. Factors/events that are considered within the lesson are the Seven Years War, The Royal Proclamation of 1763 limiting westwards expansion, The Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre of 1770, the Boston Tea Party and the events at Lexington in 1775. The issue of whether the British or the American Colonists were more responsible for causing the war is also considered.

Activities include

• Starter activity that requires pupils to match groups relevant to the situation in America with the correct definitions to establish the different sides in the conflict.
• Student analysis of statistical data and a map to establish why the Thirteen Colonies were becoming culturally, economically, politically and practically difficult for Britain to control in the late 18th Century.
• Comprehension task in which pupils read about six key events in the build up to war and complete an evidence table of how the British and/or the American colonists were to blame for the deteriorating relationship in each case.
• Pupils judge which side was most to blame for each of the key events and rank their importance in causing the War of Independence.
• Using a source by James Otis as stimulus, pupils reach an overarching judgment on whether the British had acted like tyrants in the build up to the War of Independence.

Designed for teaching an academically able Key Stage 3 class covering aspects of the British Empire.
Lesson Length: 1hr depending on pace.

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