Have you ever been so tired of doing something that you
refused to do it? Or wanted to do something so badly that you didn't
quit asking until you got what you wanted? Over 230 years ago, people
in this country had to obey the law of England. And there were British
soldiers and officials in this country to enforce that law. People
paid taxes, had to obey laws, and were punished if they broke the
law, similar to what they do today.
With one exception. The people in this country had no say
in how much tax they paid, what laws were formed, or what punishment
should be. As the king of England increased the taxes and made punishment
more severe, people in the colonies became very angry. In response,
a group of men dressed as Indians went to the Boston Harbor and
jumped on the ships that had docked to deliver tea to the colonists.
For several hours, they threw the large, heavy boxes of tea into
the water until they were all gone. This made the British get angry.
The American Revolution began as the colonists worked together
to get rid of the British rule and become the independent country
that we are today. Often, however, because we haven't had to fight for our
freedom, we take that freedom for granted. The Voices of Freedom Project
is a way to help you think about what freedom means to you and what
kinds of examples of freedom you can find in your community. This
site is dedicated to teaching you about North Carolina's role in
the War for Independence and sharing what other kids in North Carolina
think freedom really means.
As you read through their stories, think about what freedom
means to you, in your community, in this century.
What does freedom mean to you? We want to include your story
in our Voices of Freedom Web site. E-mail us and let us know what is
special about freedom in the U.S. Or share a story about how you
think freedom is either appreciated or taken for granted.
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