The Boston Plays are short, imaginative reader's theater pieces about problems the American colonists had with the British government prior to the American Revolution. To begin, first, explain that America was once ruled by England, then have students act out the Boston Plays. The plays have classroom discussion questions about unfairness depicted in the plays.
After the first play, explain that the U.S. Constitution requires that the U.S. Congress vote on every federal tax, so we no longer have taxation without representation. After the other plays, distribute the Bill of Rights (pdf) and see who can find the right that protects against the government abuse described in each play.
