Summary:

The first story in this Unit, Making a Nation, is called "...If you lived at the time of the American Revolution".  This unit covers some of the stories, events and people of the American Revolution, and the Declaration of Independence. You can find more information about this theme in your child's Social Studies book.

This non-fiction selection explains what life was like in the colonies. It describes the causes of the American Revolution  (the American colonies wanted to be independent from England), and introduces some of the  important figures involved in the fight for independence. The basics are this: There were 2.5 million people living in the colonies on the East Coast of what is now the United States. King George III was the King of England. Not all the colonists wanted to break away from England - the people that wanted to stay under the protection of England were called the "Loyalists".  The people who wanted independence were called "Patriots".

What started it all?  The people in the Colonies paid a lot of taxes, and didn't have anyone in England to represent them in Parliament in England, so they had no way to complain. They called this "taxation without representation" and thought it was unfair. They had to pay extra taxes on newspapers, card games, college diplomas, etc. After a few years of arguing back and forth, the British took away all the taxes except the tax on tea. Still the unhappy colonists revolted, and, in protest, dumped 342 crates of tea in the Boston harbor without paying for them. This was called the Boston Tea Party. As punishment, the King then blocked the Boston Harbor and wouldn't let any ships in or out until the colonists paid for the tea they had dumped. There was more fighting and arguing, and ultimately the Revolutionary War broke out.

Ideas to focus on when you read this with your child would be:

1. Why do we pay taxes?

2. What do we get in return?

3. Why is it important to be represented in out government?

4. What did 5th graders do back then for school, and play - what did they wear?

Key Concepts:

Colonists were not in agreement about the idea of independence from England.  Some wanted to stay under the King’s rule (Loyalists), some wanted independence (Patriots) and some would not take sides.

Men, women and children contributed to the battle for independence.

Vocabulary:

• revolution (overthrow of a government and setting up a new one)
• tyranny (the unjust use of power)
• congress (an assembly of people that make laws)
• militia (a group of citizens trained to fight and help in emergencies)
• treaty (a formal agreement between 2 countries)

Spelling: plural words.

Start with: zero, zeros, trio, trios, hero, heroes, echo, echoes, potato, potatoes

Story questions:

1. What kind of businesses were there in the New England colonies? (shipbuilding, fishing, whaling, shipping goods)

2. What were the middle colonies known for? (good soil and so their ability to grow fruits, vegetables, and grains)

3. How did the Southern colonies make a living? (growing tobacco, rice, indigo plants)

4. What were the good effects of having the British around? (protected the colonists from Nat. American enemies and kept France and Spain from invading)