Examine these American history events and example reactions to them.

03.01 Interpreting History

Examine these American history events and example reactions to them. Notice how one reaction

supports the event while the other shows a negative response. Think about how the perspectives differ

from each other and why people may have different responses.

03.01

Interpreting History—Young Reporter at the Boston Tea Party—Text Version

Self­Check Answers

Question One:

According to the second colonist, the participants in the Boston Tea Party were:

a.

concerned citizens

b.

Correct Answer:

criminals

Feedback: The second colonist thought the participants in the Boston Tea Party were criminals. Not all colonists were 

in favor of the Boston Tea Party. Some colonists supported Parliament's tax on tea as a way to govern the colonies.

c.

college students

Question Two:

The first citizen opposes the Alien and Sedition Acts because they:

a.

are too expensive

b.

weaken the country

c.

Correct Answer:

limit freedom

Feedback: The first citizen opposes the Alien and Sedition Acts because they limit freedom. Citizens who feared 

national security was in jeopardy supported the Alien and Seidtion Acts. Others opposed the Acts because they limited 

personal freedom.

Question Three:

According to the first citizen's reaction to the Emancipation Proclomation, freeing slaves is:

a.

too expensive

b.

bad for the slaves

c.

Correct Answer:

long overdue

Feedback: The first citizen feels freeing slaves is long overdue. The Emancipation Proclamation heightened national 

tension about slavery. While some felt it was long overdue, many others were nervous about its impact.

Question Four:

The second citizen is opposed to the Vietnam War because:

a.

Correct Answer:

soldiers are dying

Feedback: The second citizen is opposed to the Vietnam War because soldiers are dying. The Vietnam War divided the 

nation. Some felt it was justified to defend against communism, while others felt Americans were dying unnecessarily.

b.

it costs too much

c.

democracy is not important

Question Five:

The first citizen supports the new Tea Party Patriots because:

a.

national security is in jeopardy

b.

he does not like tea

c.

Correct Answer:

he wants to limit government control

Feedback: The first citizen supports the new Tea Party Patriots because he wants to limit government control. The Tea 

Party Patriots protested what they saw as too much government control. Others felt that the government support of 

business was good for everyone.

Do you see what I see?

Why are there different reactions to these events? People look at what happens around them through

their own reality or

bias

. Bias develops from our different experiences in life, such as the way our parents

raised us, our natural personalities, the ways and content in which we are educated, the interests and

hobbies we pursue, and the behaviors of friends and people we interact with daily. For example, perhaps

a person who disagreed that the colonial tax on tea was wrong recently moved to the colonies and,

therefore, had stronger loyalty to the British king.

Bias helps explain why people interpret events in different ways. When we study history, we should think

about how our experiences might affect our interpretations. Another explanation for varying interpretations

is how involved the person is with the event. In other words, was the person a participant, witness, or

outside observer? If an outside observer, when and how did the person learn of the event—from a

newspaper, from parents or friends, from a teacher 200 years later? Level of involvement also shapes our

interpretations.

Perspectives on Nationalism

You might think writing a plan for a new U.S. government was easy, especially compared to some of the

events reporter McQuill mentions. Pictures like the one here seem peaceful. The Framers did agree on

many basic ideas about government and all were loyal patriots. However, they had different perspectives

on how the new government should operate. For example, Alexander Hamilton wanted to create a very

strong central government. Thomas Jefferson, in contrast, felt the state governments should have the

most power. Their debates and experiences helped shape not only the new government, but also

American identity as a whole.

Does history repeat itself?

Because no two people are exactly alike, neither are their choices. No two situations exactly mirror each

other. However, we can learn much from choices made in the past to help inform the choices we make

now. A student of history should use care when judging the actions of people in the past.

Lesson

Americans often see the Revolutionary War as a positive event. However, it was not viewed the same

way by the British. In fact, there were a number of colonists who were happy being British citizens, didn’t

mind paying taxes, and wanted America to remain a colony of Great Britain. These Loyalists had a

different perspective on the war. Complete the interactive below to learn more about how a Patriot and a

Loyalist viewed different events of the American Revolution.

03.01

Interpreting History—The New World—Text Version

Stamp Act is Passed, 1765—British Colonies in North America

American Patriot:

First they taxed our sugar, and now they have passed a stamp tax—a tax that makes

us pay for special stamps and paper. Even the newspaper must be printed on this special paper. Any

business agreement I write up must have a stamp to be legal. And why? Because King George over in

merry old England thinks that we need to pay for his war. We didn’t ask for a war between Great Britain

and France, but we did our duty and served anyway. Now we are being taxed to pay for all of it. King

George wanted the war, not me. Let him pay for it.

British Loyalist:

I am thankful that we have finally kicked the French out of North America. I think King

George was right in fighting here. We will be able to live without the threat of the French, and the troops

that are to be stationed here will keep us safe from the Indians, too. I don’t think we have a right to ask

our families back in England to bear the burden of our protection. It is only fair that we pay taxes to help

with the cost of protecting our homes.

The Arrival of Troops to Enforce the Writs of Assistance, 1768—Boston, Massachusetts

American Patriot:

This is our colony. The British spent a long time ignoring us, and now all they

want to do is control us. They passed taxes, and we protested. Now they are sending troops here to

force us to pay and to follow all of their new laws. According to the Quartering Act, we even have to

house the troops in public areas. There are tents on the lawn in Boston Commons. It’s just not right!

British Loyalist:

This is a colony of Great Britain. Even if we are an ocean away, we are still

subjects of the King. I, for one, am glad that the King has sent troops to get this colony under control.

I worry about these Patriots. They have attacked our tax collector more than once. I fear that things

may soon become even more violent. I do not mind having troops stationed here if they can keep the

peace.

The Night of March 5, 1770—Boston, Massachusetts

American Patriot:

Those Redcoats came here to limit our rights and force us to follow laws that we

had no say in creating. Now they have killed five of those whom they were sent here to protect. They

shot innocent and unarmed civilians. I can’t believe that our own John Adams was willing to defend

them. He may have just wanted to show King George that we are willing to protect everyone’s rights,

but I think he went too far. It is time for these Redcoats to go back where they came from and for

King George to leave us alone.

British Loyalist:

They held a trial, and the King’s soldiers were cleared of any wrongdoing. It is not

like they just fired into a crowd of people walking along the street. The soldiers were being yelled at

and hit with ice, rocks, and sticks. I don’t even think the first man meant to fire. It was a terrible

accident, and I am sorry that anyone had to get hurt. But I am tired of these Sons of Liberty using the

event to sell their beliefs. I know someone who was there, and he said it didn’t look at all like Paul

Revere’s engraving. The man is just trying to stir up trouble.