Definition:

Colonisation takes place when groups of people move from their mother country to a colony in order to settle there.

Cause:

a) This process means that the groups settling in another country normally maintain the religion, culture and language of their mother country, so that the colony becomes an expansion of the original country.

b) The opposite can be true as well. Colonists may flee their country because they disagree with the traditions or politics in their own country. The French Huguenots fled to the Cape to be free of religious persecution.

Effect/Result:

a) Positive: Colonists can free themselves of previous oppression. The British government recognised the independence of the American colonists living in the United States of America, in 1782.

b) Negative: The native people in a colony can be exploited, even destroyed. The Red Indians in America suffered under the colonialists.

Time Span:

One of the first colonies was the island of Madeira, discovered and colonised by the Portuguese in 1418. Colonisation is an ongoing process. Hong Kong was a British colony until 1998.

Exercise:

Imagine that your parentsdecide to take care of an orphane. Think first and then write down which priviledges that you now enjoy, you are willing to share.

Which privileges would you not be willing to share.

READING 1

THE THIRTEEN COLONIES OF NORTH AMERICA

Thousands of people settled on the east coast of North America between 1607 and 1732. French Huguenots, German colonists and groups from Britain were dissatisfied with the conditions in their respective homelands. In the beginning they enjoyed freedom from political oppression, religious persecution and class distinctions.

Timber and fishing operations were started. Loggers invented their own way of felling trees during winter, high up in the mountains. Big logs were dragged into the frozen streambeds. During summer they used the melting snow to carry the logs down towards the harbours. It was the land of opportunity, where a hard worker who could use his imagination to devise his own machinery and tools could become rich. Crops like tobacco, rice, cotton and indigo were cultivated.

Hunting for pelts was a profitable job.

Questions:

1. Do you think that the freedom that the colonists enjoyed at the beginning lasted for ever? Give a reason for your answer. (2)

2. Give any example of class distinction. (2)

3. Write down more than one use for tobacco. (2)

4. What is the meaning of the word “pelts” in the last sentence?

Explain and give an example. (3)

5. What does a person do with “indigo”? (1)

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READING 2

BACKGROUND OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

In 1770 a dispute broke out between the colonists and the British soldiers quartered in Boston. Five colonists were killed in the fighting and many wounded. The incident became known as the Boson Massacre. Britain abolished all taxes except the tax on tea.

Questions:

1. The act of killing a large number of people and animals in a very cruel way. OR A complete defeat in a contest or match.

2. Lodged, or given a place to stay, especially soldiers and their families.

3. An event or activity that is often part of something larger or more important.

4. Violently attacked.

5. Taking goods, people or animals into or out of a country illegally.

[5]

The Boston Tea Party

The American colonists were not satisfied with the concessions made by the British government. They wanted freedom from taxation. You know that the indigenous people of America were called Red Indians.

SOURCE A:

One night in December 1773 a group of men from Boston disguised themselves as Indians. They stealthily boarded three British ships moored in Boston Harbour. The ships were laden with tea. They threw most of the tea into the sea, turning the water the colour of tea in the process. This incident later became known as the Boston Tea Party.

Research Assignment:

1. What information do you have on the Native Americans of North America? Write down your information. (Exchange your information with other members in your class so that you can read their information too.)

Source:

2. Find information on ANY of the indigenous peoples of South-Africa or Africa. Try to find pictures of their homes, work or art to paste on a folio page.

Reading 3:

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

British retaliation after the Boston Tea Party was harsh. The residents of Boston had to pay for the tea and the harbour was closed to all traffic. All meetings were prohibited and the legislative assembly was dissolved. Soldiers were billeted on private householders.

In September 1774 representatives of twelve of the thirteen colonies assembled in Philadelphia to plan their strategy to fight for freedom. Their document, Declaration of Rights and Grievances was sent to Britain to no avail. The first clash between the colonists and British troops took place at Lexington. At the second congress in Philadelphia, George Washington was appointed supreme commander of the colonial troops.

During the third congress in Philadelphia the famous Declaration of Independence was drawn up by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. On 4 July 1776 the Declaration of Independence was accepted by the congress. According to the declaration all men are born equal and therefore all men have inalienable rights such as the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. All governments receive their power from their subjects and for this reason it is justifiable to overthrow a tyrannical government. The declaration also criticised British policy and listed the colonists’ grievances.

In 1787 the American constitution was adopted, in which the rights, freedom and priviledges of all Americans were written down. The thirteen colonies were linked in a federation. This meant that each colony still retained a large degree of independence, e.g. each colony or state had its own legislative body which dealt with local affairs.

George Washington became the first president of the United States of America. The capital was named after the first president, namely Washington.

In 1777 the Union Jack (British flag) was replaced by the stars and stripes. The new flag consisted of thirteen horizontal red and white stripes with thirteen stars in the left-hand corner. In the course of time other states were added to the original thirteen. Today there are more than fifty stars, representing the number of states in the federation of the United States of America.

The American national anthem is called “The Star-Spangled Banner”.