Taxation without Representation

Learning Target: I can explain how British acts and colonial reactions leading to the American Revolution reflected increasing tensions between government authority and citizens’ rights by matching real historical events to modern analogies that show cause-and-effect relationships.

T3.3 Ext. “Taxation without Representation”

Part 1: Matching Activity

Directions: Work as a group to  match each analogy with the British Act/action it represents.

Parent-Child Analogy	What Historic Action does this represent?
Not So Fast Foodies: Last year you brought lunch or breakfast to school from Chick-fil-a everyday and always managed to sneak it by teachers and administrators without a problem. But this year the school district is cracking down on outside food and making kids buy the school food. They’ve gotten really strict, even searching backpacks at times and punishing students who are caught with outside food.
Treehouse Problem: You start to play in a really cool tree house near your backyard. Some kids tell you that the tree house belongs to them, but your Dad disagrees. He says that it lies within your family’s property and belongs to your family. The kids disagree and begin to pick on you every time you try to enter the tree house. One day your dad sees this and kicks everyone out of the tree house.
Treehouse Problem x2: You end up fighting your friends for control of the treehouse and win. However, your parents are angry about the fight and forbid you AND the other kids from the tree house. They tell you everyone must stay out of the tree house so as to avoid all future problems.
Safety First: There has been a series of break-ins in the neighborhood, so your parents decide you need to get a home security system. In order to pay for it, they are making everyone in your house pay a portion of the bill each month.
Solidarity Siblings: You and your siblings are not happy about having to pay for the security system each month, so you form a pact to protest, boycotting your chores and refusing to pay until they stop charging you each month. You hold meetings to discuss your demands and make sure all your siblings protest and don’t give in to your parents.
Pay to Play: Your parents agree to stop charging you for the security system, but just to show you who’s the boss, they tell you that you will have to start paying to watch TV/Netflix and use your cell phone because they consider them luxuries & privileges, not rights.

Duck No: Your parents tell you that you can watch tv or Netflix again, but you have to watch the show they choose: Duck Dynasty.
Notflix: You’re so angry about losing your ability to watch whatever shows you want that you cancel your family’s Netflix, Internet and cable services so that no one can enjoy them. The cable company is going to charge your parents hundreds of dollars in cancellation fees and they will have to pay additional fees to restart their Netflix account.
We’re Not Gonna Take It: Being locked down on house arrest is the last straw! You and your siblings call a secret meeting with your friends, who have agreed to help you. They think your punishment is unfair. You all decide to form a group to resist the new rules, but you are still hoping you can avoid moving out by negotiating with your parents.
House Arrest: When you cancel your family’s Netflix and cable/Internet services, your parents freak out. Netflixing was the one way they could relax and they needed the Internet to work. They banish you to your room and take away your allowance and cell phone and shut down all your social media accounts. You now have to follow all their rules and do whatever they ask you to do. You are no longer allowed to leave the house under any circumstances.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Before you can try to work things out, your parents discover that you have hidden a tablet and a cell phone in your closet. They heard you tapping out a text and playing a game on your tablet one night. Your sister tells you that she heard your parents whispering they are going to sneak into your room early in the morning and take your last prized possessions.
Because I Said So: Recently you’ve been complaining to your parents about a rule they have that you cannot go out on school nights. They finally decide to do away with this rule, but they also tell you that from now on they can impose any curfew on you, no questions asked, and you must follow it no matter what.
A Not So Sweet Deal: Dixon High School is sick of students sneaking in snacks and drinks to sell to their classmates. To stop this underground snack market, the school lowers the prices of its snacks, hoping students will buy them instead.
Relative Discomfort: Your parents inform you that your annoying cousins are coming to visit and that they will be sleeping in your room. You are responsible for making sure they have a nice, comfortable stay.

Activity created by Catherine Brown