Name: _________________________________ Date: ___________________________

Do Now/Classwork (U3W13L9) Team:___________________________

The Boston Tea PartyFocus: The British still had to find a way to raise the funds to pay of their debt from the French and Indian War. Colonial protest and boycotts of previous attempts, such as the Stamp Act failed to produce sufficient revenue for England. Today we will discuss another way they attempted to tax the colonies and how the colonists responded.

Activity #1: Do Now

Directions: Read the article and answer the questions below.

Boston Tea Party Summary

1 The Tea Act was an Act of Great Britain's Parliament to impose a tax on tea and reduce the massive tea surplus of the British East India Company in London, a company in financial trouble. The Tea Act was part of a group of taxes imposed on the colonies by Britain called The Townsend Acts. When the Townsend Acts were repealed the Tea Act remained in place. North Americans were already buying illegal tea that was being smuggled into the colonies, and Great Britain wanted to curb the practice while saving the British company. The resistance to being forced to buy the more expensive tea from the British East India Company culminated in a protest referred to as the Boston Tea Party, on December 16th, 1773

2 On December 16, 1773, over one hundred American colonists dressed as Native Americans boarded three merchant ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea (valued at approximately $1.7 million in today’s currency) into the water. The tea belonged to the British East India Company, which had been granted a monopoly over tea imports into the colonies by the Tea Act of May 1773. This monopoly let the company undercut colonial merchants’ prices on untaxed tea, forcing colonists who bought the cheaper product to recognize a British tax. Three ships loaded with tea, the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver, had arrived in Boston between November 28 and December 15. Colonists initially insisted that the tea be returned to England, but the colonial governor of Massachusetts and the East India Company’s consignees—officials empowered to sell and collect taxes on the tea—refused.

3 In response, the Sons of Liberty organized a mass meeting of thousands at Boston’s Old South Meeting House. When final word came that the tea ships would not be allowed to return to England, the Sons of Liberty set in motion a secret plan to destroy the tea. A group of colonists disguised in Native American attire headed from the meeting to Griffin’s Wharf, where the tea ships were moored. Many hundreds more followed to watch the destruction of the tea.

4 When word got back to England about what the Bostonians had done, British officials punished the rebellious Massachusetts colonists by passing a series of laws that became known as the “Intolerable Acts,” further increasing tensions between Britain and the American colonists. The destruction of the tea, which came to be known as the Boston Tea Party, was a crucial turning point in the escalation of the American Revolution and became a powerful symbol of American protest and independence.

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1. ** What was the Tea Act? Why did England impose the tax?

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2. How did the colonists first attempt to respond to the Tea Act?_____________________________________________________________________________________

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Activity #2: Hook

Directions: Decide whether the images below are showing activism or vandalism, or both. Activism - the policy or action of using vigorous protest to bring about political or social change. Vandalism - action involving deliberate destruction of or damage to public or private property.

Activism Vandalism Both

Activity #3: Breaking Down the Prompt

Directions: Read, annotate and rewrite today’s inquiry prompt in your own words. Then record the historical thinking skill and annotation focus. Be sure to circle the key word that reveals the HTS.

Prompt: Assess the extent to which the Boston Tea Party was an act of activism or vandalism?

Historical Thinking Skill Annotation Focus

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** Initial Hypothesis: Was the Boston Tea Party an act of activism or vandalism? _____________________________________________________________________________________

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Activity #4: Document Analysis

Directions: Read the following 3 documents using Four Corners. Record a significance statement for each one based on the prompt. Then chart your answer to the prompt and record a thesis statement.

Prompt: Was the Boston Tea Party an act of activism or vandalism?

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Document 1

Directions: Read the two primary sources below using Four Corners. Consider today’s prompt as you read. Use the questions at the bottom of page to guide you.

Prompt: Was the Boston Tea Party an act of activism or vandalism?

Document 2

Source: Anglo Americanus, Letter addressed to George Dudley1. Enclosed in a Boston newspaper, 16th

1 George Dudley: an official and former chairman of the East India Company in London. The writer of this letter, a 4

Source: Samuel Cooper, Eyewitness account of the Boston Tea Party, 1773.

1 Excitement prevailed among the inhabitants of Boston, on account of the arrival of the ships laden with tea from England. Every effort was made to send these ships back but without success and it was soon evident that the tea would be landed unless some active measures were adopted by the citizens to prevent it. A town meeting was called on the afternoon of December 16, 1773 to devise measures for getting rid of this annoyance…

2 Immediately after a group of about 20 men disguised as Indians was seen to approach in single file by the west door of the Church. They proceeded to the wharves where the tea ships lay. Arrived at the wharves they divided into three troops each with a leader gained possession of the ships quietly and proceeded to lighten them of their cargo by hoisting out the boxes and emptying their contents into the dock. No noise was heard except the occasional clink of the hatchet in opening the boxes and the whole business was performed with so much expedition that before 10 o’clock that night the entire cargo of the three vessels were deposited in the docks.

December, 1773.

Gentlemen,1 Your tea is destroyed, which was brought in three ships, Captains Bruce, Hall, and Coffin, and the brig with tea is cast away. Every possible means has been used to send it home safe again to you, but the tea consignees2 would not send it; then, application was made to the commissioners of the customs to clear out the vessel – they would not do it, then to the Governor to grant a pass, which he refused, and finally the people [of Boston] were obliged to destroy it…or else, by an unlawful unrighteous Act, imposing a duty [tax] on this tea would have destroyed them [the people of Boston]…

Document 3

Source: Lord North, Prime Minister, Great Britain: Parliament - The Boston Port Act: March- April, 1774

Context: When news of the Boston Tea Party reached Parliament, it took swift action. $75,000 worth of British property had been destroyed. That was going too far, The colonists must be taught a lesson. Parliament decided on a very severe punishment. Boston Harbor would be closed until the Tea was Paid for, no more town meetings could be help without permission from the governor, and British officials accused of crimes while seeing to the enforcement of British laws, would stand trial in England, (far away from the colonies). A new governor was appointed to Boston and more troops were sent in .

1 WHEREAS dangerous commotions and insurrections have been fomented and raised in the town of Boston, in the province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, by ill-affected persons, and to the utter destruction of the public peace, and good order of the said town; in which commotions and insurrections certain valuable cargoes of teas, being the property of the East India Company, and on board certain vessels lying within the bay or harbor of Boston, were seized and destroyed: And whereas, in the present condition of the said town and harbor, the commerce of his Majesty’s subjects cannot be safely carried on.

2 The Americans have tarred and feathered your subjects, plundered your merchants, burnt your ships, denied all obedience to your laws and authority; yet so clement and so long forbearing has our conduct been that it is incumbent on us now to take a different course. Whatever may be the consequences, we must risk something; if we do not, all is over

Activity # 5: Charting and Discussion

Prompt: Was the Boston Tea Party an act of activism or vandalism?

Charting Space:

Boston colonist, adopted the pseudonym Anglo Americanus.2 Consignees: the officials appointed to oversee the sale of tea and the collection of the taxes on behalf of the British East India Company.

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Thesis: Assess the extent to which the Boston Tea Party was an act of activism or vandalism.

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Name: _________________________________ Date: ___________________________

Exit Ticket (U3W13L9) Team:___________________________

The Boston Tea Party6

Directions: Read the note below, annotate the image and then answer questions #1-3.

Print shows two men with a tarred and feathered customs officer, they are forcing him to drink from a large teapot. The man has a short piece of rope around his neck which may have been attached to the piece of rope hanging from a gibbet in the background. On January 27, 1774, a British customs officer, John Malcolm, was tarred and feathered, led to a gallows, and forced to drink tea. The American holding the teapot wears a hat with "45" on it, a patriotic symbol referring to the John Wilkes case of 1763. The other American, holds the broken end of the noose and carries a club. The large bow in his hat indicates his membership in the Sons of Liberty.

1. What

was another method of protest used by the colonists?

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2. ** What act is likely being protested in this image? What evidence do we see of that?

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3. ** What colonial organization/group was largely responsible for organizing different forms of protest?

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Name: _________________________________ Date: ___________________________

Homework (U3W13L9) Team:___________________________

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The Coercive ActsDirections: Read the following passage for new information and claim. Then answer the questions completely.

1 Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party with new laws that the colonists called the "Coercive" or "Intolerable Acts." The first, the Boston Port Bill, closed the port of Boston until the tea was paid for. The action threatened the very life of the city, for to prevent Boston from having access to the sea meant economic disaster. Other enactments restricted local authority and banned most town meetings held without the governor's consent. A Quartering Act required local authorities to find suitable quarters for British troops, in private homes if necessary. Instead of subduing and isolating Massachusetts, as Parliament intended, these acts rallied itssister colonies to its aid. The Quebec Act, passed at nearly the same time, extended the boundaries of the province of Quebec south to the Ohio River. In conformity with previous French practice, it provided for trials without jury, did not establish a representative assembly, and gave the Catholic Church semi-established status. By disregarding old charter claims to western lands, it threatened to block colonial expansion to the North and Northwest; its recognition of the Roman Catholic Church outraged the Protestant sects that dominated every colony. Though the Quebec Act had not been passed as a punitive measure, Americans associated it with the Coercive Acts, and all became known as the "Five Intolerable Acts."

2 At the suggestion of the Virginia House of Burgesses, colonial representatives met in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774, "to consult upon the present unhappy state of the Colonies." Delegates to this meeting,known as the First Continental Congress, were chosen by provincial congresses or popular conventions. Only Georgia failed to send a delegate; the total number of 55 was large enough for diversity of opinion, but small enough for genuine debate and effective action. The division of opinion in the colonies posed a genuine dilemma for the delegates. They would have to give an appearance of firm unanimity to induce the British government to make concessions. But they also would have to avoid any show of radicalism or spirit of independence that would alarm more moderate Americans.

3 A cautious keynote speech, followed by a "resolve" that no obedience was due the Coercive Acts, ended with adoption of a set of resolutions affirming the right of the colonists to "life, liberty, and property," and the right of provincial legislatures to set "all cases of taxation and internal polity." The most important action taken by the Congress, however, was the formation of a "Continental Association" to reestablish the trade boycott. It set up a system of committees to inspect customs entries, publish the names of merchants who violated the agreements, confiscate their imports, and encourage frugality, economy, and industry.

4 The Continental Association immediately assumed the leadership in the colonies, spurring new local organizations to end what remained of royal authority. Led by the pro-independence leaders, they drew their support not only from the less well-todo, but from many members of the professional class (especially lawyers), most of the planters of the Southern colonies, and a number of merchants. They intimidated the hesitant into joining the popular movement and punished the hostile; began the collection of military supplies and themobilization of troops; and fanned public opinion into revolutionary ardor.

5 Many of those opposed to British encroachment on American rights nonetheless favored discussion andcompromise as the proper solution. This group included Crown-appointed officers, Quakers and members of other religious sects opposed to the use of violence, numerous merchants (especially in the middle colonies), and some discontented farmers and frontiersmen in the Southern colonies.

6 The king might well have effected an alliance with these moderates and, by timely concessions, so strengthened their position that the revolutionaries would have found it difficult to proceed with hostilities. But

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George III had no intention of making concessions. In September 1774, scorning a petition by Philadelphia Quakers, he wrote, "The die is now cast, the Colonies must either submit or triumph." This action isolatedLoyalists who were appalled and frightened by the course of events following the Coercive Acts.

** Summary:

** AC:

1. ** The Coercive Acts were also known as the________________________ Acts.a. Intolerableb. Stampc. Sugard. Townshend

2. ** The ___________________________ required local authorities to find suitable quarters for British troops, in private homes if necessary.

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3. What law extended the boundaries of the province of Quebec south to the Ohio River?

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4. ** What meeting was held in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774? Why was it important?

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5. ** What was the most important action taken by the First Continental Congress?

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6. The Continental Association disbanded within a few months.a. Trueb. False

7. Who wrote, in September, 1774, “The dieis now cast, the Colonies must either submit or triumph”?

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