Robert Kennedy's United States History Class
Sam Adams, Propaganda, and the Beginning of Colonial Unity
WRITE A 6-10 PARAGRAPH essay addressing all THREE Learning Objectives.
Essay Prompt
Discuss the role of propaganda in contributing to the development of colonial unification. Also discuss Sam Adams’ contribution to unification and his manipulation of society’s mood
Learning Objective One:
Discuss the role of propaganda in contributing to the development of colonial unification. Also discuss the role of the "popular leaders'" toward unification.
Discuss how Sam Adams used the key events from the Stamp Act in 1765 until the Second Continental Congress of 1775 to manipulate society into American war for independence.
Your discussion of the key events should include the following:
- Stamp Act Riots
- Townshend Acts and the Circular Letters
- Boston Massacre
- Tea Act and the Tea Party
- Intolerable Acts (aka Coercive Acts)
- First and Second Congressional Congresses
Listen to the interview and identify at least three examples of either propaganda, war-fervor, or revolutionary leaders manipulated issues.
Why, according to Eric Burns, was the press in revolutionary and constitutional era was so "vicious"?
Then, identify a current event where you feel the press is manipulating the issue. Explain how propaganda is being used.