Identify Reasons for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War

Essay Item 1 (Essay-1)

Objective: Identify reasons for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War.

Given: There were several eventful reasons for the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Two of those reasons consisted of the Stamp Act and

the Boston Tea Party

Question Stem: What were some of the reasons for the Declaration of Independence?

Place instructions in the space below. Be EXPLICIT about the unit of measurement required (gallons, inches, etc.), the number of decimal places required, or any other direction necessary for the candidate to know exactly how to formulate an answer.

Instructions:

A. In one paragraph for EACH of the reasons listed above, discuss the following:

1. Discuss what led to the each event -at least two.

2. Discuss what the event was -define it and give characteristics of it.

3. Discuss why the event was one of the reasons that led the colonists to write the Declaration of Independence.

Explain in general terms what type of response you expect from the examinee. Do not build a full rubric here.

Key (Answers will vary, but can include the following):

The Stamp Act:

1. Discuss what led up the event -at least two. (Two of the three must be included.)

1. The French and Indian War left the British in great national debt.

2. British victory brought new territories that required a large military force which increased British expenditures.

3. The British decided to implement the Stamp Act on colonists to pay for these expenses.

2. Discuss what the event was -define it and give characteristics of it.

The Stamp Act was the first direct tax implemented on the American colonists by the British. This put a tax on every printed paper and legal document, including newspapers.

3. Discuss why it was a reason that led the colonists to write the Declaration of Independence

The colonists strongly disapproved of the tax because they had no American representative in the British Parliament, and some colonists believed this was "taxation with representation." This disapproval was one of the reasons the colonists were led to write the Declaration of Independence.

The Boston Tea Party:

1. Discuss what led up the event -at least two (two of the three will be included):

1. The Tea Act gave a monopoly on tea sales to the East India Company which meant that American colonists could buy no tea unless it came from that company.

2. The colonist objected to the monopoly and to the tax because these meant that they had to pay tax on the tea.

3. The colonists formed a boycott against the East India tea.

2. Discuss what the event was -define it and give characteristics of it.

The Boston Tea party -

During the colonist boycott of the tea, colonists refused to unload the tea from the ships and some ships were ordered to turn back from ports.

In Boston, some colonist, who dressed as Indians, boarded three British ships and dumped 342, creates of tea into the Boston Harbor on December 16th, 1773. (Exact date not necessary.)

3. Discuss why it was a reason that led the colonists to write the Declaration of Independence.

In reaction to the act of the colonists at the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passed a series of Coercive Acts (or Intolerable Acts). The Coercive Acts (or Intolerable Acts) led the colonies to unite and support Boston by shipping supplies and food overland.

A meeting of delegates from all of the colonies met to discuss what should be done. This was the meeting of the First Continental Congress which led directly to the establishment of the Union.

Once the colonies united, it led to the Declaration of Independence because the unjust treatment from the British did not stop.

Essay Item 2 (Essay-2)

Objective: Identify the roles of the three branches of the U.S. government.

Given: The government of the U.S. is divided into three branches of government. The executive, legislative, and judicial.

Question Stem: What are the roles of the three branches of the U.S. government?

Place instructions in the space below. Be EXPLICIT about the unit of measurement required (gallons, inches, etc.), the number of decimal places required, or any other direction necessary for the candidate to know exactly how to formulate an answer.

Instructions: In one paragraph for each branch of the U.S. government discuss the following:

A. Discuss the main members of the branch, their qualifications and terms.

B. Discuss the main role (purpose or function) of the branch. For Executive branch ONLY: include two additional roles (purposes or functions).

C. Discuss the branch's check and balance powers -two for each of the other two branches. (Example: Executive branch -discuss two check and balance powers it holds for the Legislative branch and two check and balance powers it holds for the Judicial branch.)

Explain in general terms what type of response you expect from the examinee. Do not build a full rubric here.

Key One paragraph for each branch:

Executive branch:

A. Discuss the main members of the branch, their qualifications and terms.

Main members:

President:

Qualification: 35 years of age, natural born citizen, and lived in the U.S. for fourteen years.

Term: 4 years, with two full term limit

Vice