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In 1765, America's inhabitants still thought of themselves as British subjects, in addition to their colonial allegiance ("Virginians," for example). However, in little more than a decade, these same settlers would begin to organize themselves for active resistance against British rule, and start calling themselves “Americans.” This excellent program, part of a five-volume series entitled
The American Revolution for Students, looks at the period leading up to the American Revolution, when various laws such as the Stamp Act (among other instances of “taxation without representation”) angered the colonists to the point of revolt. Combining interviews with historians, dramatic re-creations, archival letters, and maps, the video highlights important events (such as the Boston Tea Party), while also introducing viewers to key figures like Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams. Other titles in the series include
Origins of Democracy (1688-1765), Declaring Independence (1774-1776), and
The Revolutionary War (1776-1783). Highly recommended.