Assignment Topic: History- Manufacturing Consent. With the conclusion of the French and Indian War, England re-centralized its authority over the American colonies and the colonist quickly exploded with a litany of complaints towards the empire. The American colonists were ripped from a relatively “free and independent” colonial existence (salutary neglect) to a more “oppressive” experience by the 1770s.

Worth: +60 points

Rubric: Introduction: +10, Body: +40, Conclusion: +10

Midterm–Manufacturing Consent

Historical Context

With the conclusion of the French and Indian War, England re-centralized its authority over the American colonies and the colonist quickly exploded with a litany of complaints towards the empire. The American colonists were ripped from a relatively “free and independent” colonial existence (salutary neglect) to a more “oppressive” experience by the 1770s. In other words, Americans at one time may have been considered the freest people on earth prior to the Revolution, but after the French and Indian War, England sought to reclaim its authority over the colonies and limited this  “freedom.” This “new” relationship threatened the American elite and they responded by declaring American Independence in 1776. However, please appreciate that the ordinary impoverished American colonist had absolutely NOTHING to gain by joining the revolutionary army! 

Very important final note: This is not an essay on how or why America became independent. Please, do not write about the Stamp Act, Coercive Act, Boston Massacre, US Constitution, etc.! 

Prompt/Question

As you engage the readings, try to identify how poor working people, who had absolutely nothing to gain by fighting the British, were convinced by the American elite to join the American Revolutionary army! Please appreciate that this is NOT an essay on the cause of the American Revolution, hence, you should NOT discuss issues like the Stamp Act, Tea Act, Intolerable Acts, etc. Your essay must revolve around the process by which the Founding Fathers convinced those who had absolutely nothing to gain to join the fight. Final point, although this is not a research paper and citations are optional, all general statements must be supported with evidence from the required readings. 

Finally, please appreciate that no specific chapter or pages are assigned to address this prompt. Students must aggressively engage in the historical inquiry/research by mastering the salient (main) points in the required readings that relate to the prompt: American Revolution Era. Please do not consult outside sources.  Once you master the material, then carefully develop a persuasive essay with terms, concepts, and/or historical figures that support your contention(s). Finally, and again, please do not consult outside sources.