Historians studying the English colonies in North America and the path to war and independence from Britain paired up to present a “poem for two voices.” These poems are written and performed as a dialogue in which two people share their individual perspectives on events while either agreeing or disagreeing with each other.
Seventh graders got creative with their presentations as they stepped into the shoes and minds of 18th century colonials and hashed out the necessity of the American Revolution, said teacher Emma Simmons.
“If our students went back in time and asked a Patriot, Loyalist, British citizen or King George himself his thoughts on the Boston Tea Party, they would each have a different narrative about that event and others in the decades leading up to 1776."
The Opposites Argument: Samuel Adams vs King George III
By Coco and Ilsa
By royal decree, I , the King will
Control the colonies
By patrolling the streets and taxing us
Until our tea sinks
What do you mean? The taxes make
our pockets clink
That’s just the problem, we want to be free
of this tyranny
The Stamp act
Is an annoyance to all,
As we simply can’t buy paper
Without a big brawl.
You have taxed us on all our fine paper,
Now were shaking with anger
'Tis a heroic declaration that makes
The Patriots scream
from across the sea
“No taxation without representation”
Is our motto for freedom
Just let us run our country
We will leave alone your kingdom
Why the frustration,
You're paying for troops that will
Protect your wee nation
You don’t have the right
We will push back with all of our might
The Boston Massacre was a mere mistake
as the colonists made my
soldiers alarmed
But my people were harmed
Don’t cover it up with your royal charm
We both know it was wrong
It’s not a mystery
But the damages were something of misery
The colonists were acting out of sorts,
And we both heard a cry of fire
This all happened because
we were angry
At what Sam
I just don't understand
Why people are mad,
I’m protecting the colonies,
Don't be such a drag
The Boston Tea Party
I wanted my company to thrive off of colonies,
So I gave them tea for practically no money,
And what did they do in return?
They dumped in the sea,
Trying to make us learn
It just isn’t fair,
You are doing this to protect your own heir
The businesses from our side of the ocean
Are shutting down from the commotion
I knew I was right
I just wanted my tea companies to thrive
Why the fuss, I was helping you all
Making tea cheaper
Without me,
your economy would fall
For your mission did not succeed,
All of the tea companies here in the colonies
Plunged under your decree
You colonists need order
So my army will border
And control your towns
As well as making you clean your tea mounds
Therefore I have passed
The Intolerable Acts
When will the oppression end
We don’t need more soldiers to enforce the laws
We don’t want to pay for the lost tea
We don’t get fair representation from trials in England
We don’t need British control
Well I am the king,
And you have to listen to me.
So stop the complaining
Or else there will be maiming
We just need more power
So let's start a war