Road to Revolution

Choose Your Own Adventure

• The city of Boston is abuzz with excitement. Last year, the American Revolution began with the fighting at Lexington and Concord. With the tremendous colonial effort at the battle of Bunker Hill, the militia has given colonists who believe in the revolution a real reason for believing they can beat the British. The time and location of the story is January 29, 1776, Boston, Massachusetts. You are a Boston shoemaker who will be faced with decisions which will reflect your opinions on Independence and your loyalty to the cause of revolution.

• Start your adventure!

• It is the morning of January 29, 1776, as you walk to your shoemaker shop in downtown Boston, you overhear two other colonists talking about a new pamphlet that is popping up around the city. Do you…

• Walk over to the men and ask about the document

• Continue walking to your shop

• You walk over to the two men and ask them what they are talking about. They look from one another then to you before one of the men finally says a new pamphlet is being distributed through the city. It is called Common Sense by Thomas Paine. The other man pulls a pamphlet from his back pocket and offers it to you. Do you…

• Say, thanks but I’m not interested. • Take one of the pamphlets to read later. • Begin reading the pamphlet with the men.

• Your refusal to read a patriotic document has peaked the interest of the other men. They quickly think of numerous insults to throw at your for your apparent lack of interest in the patriot cause. You quickly leave the men and head to your shop. Over the next six months, not a single person enters your shop, you are labeled a loyalist, your business fails, and you begin a life of poverty.

• Start Again!

• You aren’t especially interested, yet you decide to take a pamphlet to read during the boring moments of your day. In your spare time you decide to read…

• Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3

• You read chapter one to find out this pamphlet is criticizing King George III for taxes imposed on the colonists. The message is loud and clear that the colonists would be better off without British rule. Do you…

• Continue reading into chapter two• Decide you have had enough for the day and set t

he pamphlet aside.

• You decide not to finish the book, and eventually it becomes lost. As the months pass, the colonial passion for independence grows and you are left out of the loop. Most of the conversations going on in the city you cannot contribute to and soon, you are an outcast.

• Start Again!

• You continue to read chapter two which discusses the belief that the people are sovereign over the condition of their lives. This means that the people should make the laws of their government and not a king.

• Continue to read chapter three• Decide you have had enough for the day and set t

he pamphlet aside.

• Chapter 3 is a call for independence! You realize that after reading all of the pamphlet, it is time to close the store.

• Move on until the end of 1776

• You take a pamphlet from the men and begin to read the first page. The document is called Common Sense written by Thomas Paine. The first statement you read calls the colonists to declare independence from Britain. The other two men seem excited and obviously agree with the call for independence. One of the men playfully punches you in the arm and says, “I’ve been saying we should break away since those dirty Lobsterbacks opened fire on King Street back in 1770!” Do you…

• Agree with the men• Disagree with the men

• The two men take a liking to you and decide, as a shop owner, you would be a perfect resource to spread the message of independence. They give you a pile of pamphlets to distribute in your shop. You are excited to have an important role in the patriot cause.

• Start Again!

• Over the course of the next week, as the rest of the city begins to read this document, the colonists are talking about only one thing, INDEPENDENCE! You help with this effort by taking a number of pamphlets to your store to distribute to customers. You have caught the Independence fever and the only prescription is freedom from Britain! You will do anything to support the cause.

• Start Again!

• You disagree with the men and a shouting match ensues. The men do not appreciate your lack of patriotism. To demonstrate their displeasure, they carry you to the closest dock and throw you into Boston Harbor.

• Start Again!

• For the next five months, the city of Boston become a center for patriotic ideas. George Washington and the Continental Army push the British out of Boston, and soon enough, the only topic being discussed in the colonies declaring independence from Britain. One night after work, you go to a local tavern to enjoy some spirits.

• Go to the Tavern

• When you walk into the tavern you immediately notice a group of men discussing the poor condition of the Continental Army and rumors of where George Washington is leading his troops. Do you…

• Join in on the conversation• Sit close by and eavesdrop on the conversation

• Some of the other men in the tavern notice you leaning in, trying to hear the conversation. When they confront you, it is apparent they believe you are a loyalist spy trying to gather information about the Continental Army. You try to explain but a crowd soon gathers around you. Do you…

• Try to make a run for it.• Try to explain the situation.

• Your efforts to run through the crowd of angry colonists fail and before you know it, you are hanging by your feet from the Liberty Tree.

• Re-enter the Tavern

• Although you make a strong argument that you are not a British spy, the men cannot be sure and just for a little fun decide to hang out upside down from the Liberty Tree.

• Re-enter Tavern

• You share the latest gossip of Washington and his troops that you have heard in your shop. The men of the tavern can tell you are an intelligent lad and ask you whether you believe the British government has the right to rule over them.

• You are not quite sure what the man is asking and ask him to explain a bit more.

• You say the British have all the power and colonists shouldn’t be threatening the British.

• The patriots in the tavern hear your comments and decide that you do not belong. They take you outside, tar and feather you, and mock you for hours before leaving you alone in the street. Nice going…

• Re-enter Tavern

• The men explain that there was once a time BEFORE there were governments. The term for this time period is the “State of Nature”. They also explain to you that there were once two philosophers that had different opinions as to what this “State of Nature” was like. Their names were, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Do you…

• Ask what philosopher Thomas Hobbes believed.• Ask what philosopher John Locke believed.

• You ask what Locke’s opinion was and the men tell you Locke believed people were born free and equal. He also believed the “Social Contract” was a belief where people formed governments only to PROTECT the freedom and equality that ALL people have. If a government decided to violate those rights, people should be allowed to overthrow the government. Do you…

• Agree with this belief?• Want to hear Hobbes opinion on government befo

re agreeing with one or the other.

• The men explain that Hobbes believed life before government was violent and death was common because of constant fighting. Hobbes believed people formed governments to protect people from violence. The people made a “Social Contract” with governments saying they will obey the government and government’s job was to protect the people. Hobbes also believed the people had NO right to overthrow the government. Do you…

• Agree with this idea?• Disagree and ask to hear John Locke’s opinion on g

overnment.

• Congratulations! You have agreed with the ideas that many colonists believed during this time! The Declaration of Independence stated that all people have unalienable rights (rights that cannot be taken away). Also, the declaration stated King George III violated the colonists rights and colonists had the right to break away from Britain.

• Back to Beginning

• Your belief in Hobbes theory matches exactly what a loyalist would say. You believe the colonies are better off under Britain’s rule, and the colonists have no right to overthrow the government. Unfortunately, the other men do not feel the same way and you have to escape the tavern before you are beaten to a pulp. When home, you decide to move to Canada instead of living in fear for the rest of your days.

• Re-enter the Tavern

• Customers are coming in and out of your shop all day. They are all talking about this pamphlet you heard about in the morning. Your curiosity is beginning to get the better of you. Do you…

• Ask one of the customers about the pamphlet.• You assume the pamphlet is patriot propaganda a

nd yell at your customers for making treasonous comments in your store and kick them out.

• You ask one of the customers where you can get one of the pamphlets. He pulls one from his pocket and hands it to you. He says, “Don’t let any redcoats see you with that, Lad,” and walks out of the store. Do you…

• Begin to read the pamphlet.• Set it aside to read during downtime.

• The customers do not appreciate your threats. Over the next six months, the entire town has boycotted your store. Not a single person enters your shop, your business fails, and you begin a life of poverty.

• Start again!