American History Opposing Viewpoints Project Part I I 105804

American History Opposing Viewpoints Project Part I Instructions

American History Opposing Viewpoints Project: Part I Instructions

Statement of Purpose or “Why Am I Doing This?” The ability to perform solid research is a key to success in academics and professional life. Historical websites are a popular method of introducing individuals to the past in a way that is interesting and visually appealing. It is also important to view historical events from opposing perspectives. When studying historical events and the related research, examining any differing points of view can either sharpen one’s own argument or soften it.

Completing This Assignment: Locate the American History Opposing Viewpoints Project: American Events Reading Sites within the Module 2 Course content link. The topics and their respective websites include...

• The American War for Independence: Treason or Justified Rebellion
• The Boston Tea Party: Destruction of Private Property or Justified Act of Defiance
• The Trial of Anne Hutchinson: Heretical Teacher or Guardian of Religious Liberty
• Bacon’s Rebellion: Treason or Justified Rebellion
• The Boston Massacre: Provoked Self Defense or Justified Riot Met with Bloodshed
• The Stamp Act: The Right of Parliament or Justified Resistance

Identify and choose a single topic and adjoining websites from among the options most appealing to you and provide a two paragraph written review via the following paragraph model below:

• Topic Headline: The topic headline will be taken from the above listed link titles.

• Paragraph 1: Summary of the main points covered in each of the websites. Be sure to be concise in covering your thoughts. Too much detail will make your paragraph very long, however, it must be clear that you have reviewed each of the resources carefully in your summary.

• Paragraph 2: Conclusion, including how your perception or knowledge of the material may have changed. In this paragraph, you should also include how/if your thinking about the event has changed.

A key purpose for this assignment is to display and determine what the individual student learned and gleaned from the provided sources. Thus, a clear majority of the body-content of the paper should be written solely in the words of the student. Information for the paper can be BASED from the provided sources, but, again, the body-content should dominantly come from the student’s personal thoughts and presented in their own words. Outside source content may be incorporated within the paper, but should NOT dominate (in verbatim form) a large portion of the write-up. Any borrowed statements from these sources must be placed within quotation marks, properly cited in Turabian format, and these sources must be included (in correct Turabian format) within the required closing bibliography page.

• You must use the template for the assignment provided below.

• When you are finished, your assignment must be: in a Microsoft Word (or compatible) document, formatted with 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins.

• The work should be written and proofread carefully to ensure standards of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style expected at this academic level. First person pronouns are permitted for this assignment. No citations are necessary unless direct quotes are used from the topics/websites. A Turabian Quick Guide is available in the Course Content site to aid students in completing citations as accurately as possible.

Paper For Above instruction

The Boston Tea Party: Destruction of Private Property or Justified Act of Defiance

In exploring the perspectives surrounding the Boston Tea Party, the primary sources present contrasting viewpoints. The first website emphasizes the act as a protest against taxation without representation, portraying it as a justified act of defiance against oppressive British policies. It highlights how American colonists believed their rights were infringed upon and sought to assert their independence through direct action. The second website, however, frames the event as an unjustifiable destruction of private property, portraying the colonists' actions as reckless and harmful. It argues that their protest was disruptive and set a dangerous precedent, undermining law and order. Both sources, therefore, depict the event through different lenses: one as a necessary resistance to tyranny, and the other as vandalism that hindered social order.

Reviewing these perspectives has deepened my understanding of the Boston Tea Party’s complex historical significance. Originally, I viewed it largely as a patriotic act of rebellion; however, upon examining the opposing viewpoint, I now appreciate that such protests can also have negative consequences and that the event's portrayal depends on the interpretive lens. My perception has shifted from seeing it solely as a heroic act of resistance to recognizing the nuanced debate about civil disobedience versus lawfulness. This exercise demonstrates how opposing perspectives can enrich our understanding of historical events and remind us to consider multiple sides before forming judgments.

References

• Ellis, J. J. (2000). Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation. Alfred A. Knopf.
• Gordon, M. (2012). The Boston Tea Party: The Destruction of Private Property. Boston Historical Society.
• Heidler, D. S., & Heidler, J. T. (2010). Liberty and Power: The Politics of Jacksonian America. Rowman & Littlefield.
• Kenny, C. (2019). The American Revolution: A History. Yale University Press.
• Middlekauff, R. (2005). The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789. Oxford University Press.
• Onuf, P. S. (1993). Statehood and Union: A History of the Northwest Ordinance. University of Michigan Press.
• Padover, S. K. (1997). The American Revolution. HarperPerennial.
• Wood, G. S. (1992). The Radicalism of the American Revolution. Vintage Books.
• Maier, P. (2012). From Resistance to Revolution: Colonial Leaders and the American Revolution. Harvard University Press.
• Maier, P. (2012). American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. Vintage.