Harper's Academy U.S. History and American Literature

If you missed class last week, or you want to review, check out this Crash Course Video. :)

This video is only a couple of minutes long, but check it out and learn about "The Shot Heard Round the World!"

Class, Today we discussed the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War, and its role leading toward the Revolution. Remember, the debt incurred led to the taxes. England wasn't just levying taxes against the colonies for their own personal gain. However, these taxes were decided without any representation from the colonists themselves, something British subjects in England enjoyed and expected. This week I want you to consider some of these taxes, like the Stamp Act, the Sugar Act, the Tea Act, and the Intolerable (or Coercive) Acts and consider if these were justified or "tyranny." What did you learn about the relationships between the British soldiers and the colonists? What factors do you see at play? I'd like you to take a stand here, deciding whether the colonists or the English were more justified. In other words, how much "tyranny" were the colonists experiencing before their rebellious Boston Tea Party? Remember to make a claim and

As we start progressing towards independence, we can begin to claim some American artists. One of the most prominent in early colonial America is John Singleton Copley, who painted many historical figures. He is most famous for integrating personal accessories into his paintings, giving the subject matter a bit more personality. You can read more about him here . But I'll put up a few of his most interesting pieces, at least in my opinion. :)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Self Portrait   The Boy with the Squirrel (1765)                                                                     Watson and the Shark (1778)       Samuel Adams (1772)