In order to demonstrate the colonists’ frustration in regards to the British government’s taxes we set up a little simulation. Several students from each class were selected to play the role of tax collectors, parliament, and one king. Everyone else in the audience played the role of colonist.
Colonists received 10 Hershey kisses to serve as currency, and then each round the king and parliament passed laws to tax the colonists. Laws included such transgressions as “any student wearing sweatpants today” or “any students wearing jewelry of any kind.”
The tax collectors then went around to collect their tax and deposit it into the “royal treasury” at the front of the room. Naturally, the colonists frustration grew as they saw their “king’s” candy bowl grow while their cups were depleted.
Soon students were refusing to pay the tax and being sent to our “prison” for not following the king’s orders. The classes closed out the lesson with a discussion about why the real colonists would be frustrated in having taxes without representation. It was a great way to introduce the eighth grade History American Revolution Unit and the students really got into it!