The document provides instructions for students to analyze documents related to the American Revolution and the resulting Bill of Rights. Students are asked to discuss a revolution comparison chart, analyze the Declaration of Independence by discussing important grievances, rank and discuss the importance of the amendments in the Bill of Rights, and note similarities between the English and US Bill of Rights. They will also take notes on essential unit questions about why political revolutions occur and when change becomes progress.

1. Do Now
• Please get out your Revolution Comparison
Chart.
• We will discuss the chart and begin our
group analysis of the US Bill of Rights.

2. American Revolution (1763-1789)
What was the government before the revolution?
• The American colonies were colonies of England. This meant
that they were under English law and the rule of King George
III.
• As a result of the Glorious Revolution, the government in
England was a constitutional monarchy (the king and the
parliament share power).

3. American Revolution
What was the problem?
• The high cost of the Seven Years’ War (French and Indian War in America)
led to an increase in taxes on the colonies.
• Britain began to enforce trade restrictions
• Parliament passed a series of new taxes, each of which was met with
protest and resistance from the colonists.
1764 – Sugar Act 1767 – Townshend Acts
1765 – Stamp Act 1773 – Tea Act
1766 – Declaratory Act 1774 – Intolerable Acts
• Through all of this, the colonists complained that Parliament and King
George III were violating their rights under the English Bill of Rights by
taxing them without their consent (no taxation without representation).
• As the complaints and resistance increased, King George III exercised and
abused his authority by sending British troops to try and control the
outraged colonists.

4. American Revolution
So what happened?
• Boston Massacre of 1770
• Boston Tea Party of 1773
• April 19, 1775. The first shot of the American Revolution.

5. American Revolution
Result of the Revolution
• With the Declaration of Independence and American
victory, the independence of the United States of America is
recognized by the British.
• A democratic republic is formed with the drafting of the
Constitution and the US Bill of Rights.
• The Constitution states the duties and responsibilities of
the different branches of government (executive,
legislative, judicial) and the rights of the people.

6. Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776)
• Let’s take a look at the document.
• In your groups discuss and complete the
questions about the document.
• Discuss and choose 5 grievances that your
group feels were most important in causing the
revolution. Circle the number of each grievance
you chose.
• Now out of those 5 choose 3. Put a check mark
next to the three you chose. Be ready to discuss
your reasoning to the class.

7. US Bill of Rights (1791)
• Let’s take a look at the document.
• In your groups, discuss and rank each of the
amendments by importance. The most important being
1 and the least important being 10. Number each
amendment.
• Now out of those 10 choose 3 amendments that you
think are the most important. Put a star next to each one.
• Now out of those 3 choose 1 amendment. Circle that
amendment.
• What similarities do you see in this document that you
saw in the English Bill of Rights? Write the letter “S” next
to amendments that are similar to the English Bill of
Rights articles. (You can get out your English Bill of
Rights copy if you need.)

8. Revolution Comparison Chart
• What was the American Revolution’s influence
on individual liberty and self-government?
• Americans are all held to a rule by law, and no
one is above the law.
• America is a democratic republic where people
elect representatives to represent them.
• Americans have rights that allow them to free
speech, religion, and trial by jury. (Amendment
I, VI)

9. Essential Unit Questions Notes
• Take out your Essential Unit Question Notes
• What can we put down for the following
questions based on what we just learned
from the American Revolution?
1. Why do political revolutions occur?
2. When does change become progress?