The Boston Massacre & The Boston Massacre & Boston Tea PartyBoston Tea Party

Initial ActivityInitial ActivityYou live in the New England colonies in the You live in the New England colonies in the

1700s. Recently, British officials have 1700s. Recently, British officials have placed new taxes on tea- your favorite placed new taxes on tea- your favorite

drink. You’ve never been very interested drink. You’ve never been very interested in politics, but you’re beginning to think in politics, but you’re beginning to think

that people far across the ocean shouldn’t that people far across the ocean shouldn’t be able to tell you what to do. Some of be able to tell you what to do. Some of your friends have joined a group that your friends have joined a group that

refuses to buy British tea.refuses to buy British tea.

Would you give up your favorite drink to join Would you give up your favorite drink to join the boycott?the boycott?

Word SplashWord Splash

1. Repeal2. Boycott3. Intolerable4. Propaganda

Word SplashWord Splash

repeal: to do away with or cancel officially.

Word SplashWord Splash

boycott: to refuse to buy, use, or go to, in order to make a protest or bring about a change.

Word SplashWord Splash

intolerable: too difficult or unpleasant to be near or to be able to deal with

Word of the DayWord of the Day

Propaganda: a story giving only one side in an argument to reach a certain goal

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre Many Bostonians saw the presence Many Bostonians saw the presence

of the British troops as a of the British troops as a threatthreat by by the British government against the the British government against the colonists. colonists.

The soldiers knew they were not The soldiers knew they were not welcome.welcome.

Both sides did not like each other.Both sides did not like each other. Name calling, arguments, and Name calling, arguments, and

fightsfights between the Bostonians between the Bostonians and the soldiers were common.and the soldiers were common.

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

What do you think might What do you think might happen after British Troops happen after British Troops are brought to Boston? are brought to Boston? Explain.Explain.

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre On March 5, 1770 a British On March 5, 1770 a British

soldier standing guard alone soldier standing guard alone had an argument with a had an argument with a colonist and colonist and struckstruck him. him.

A crowd gathered around the A crowd gathered around the soldier and began throwing soldier and began throwing snowballs and shouting snowballs and shouting insults.insults.

As more troops arrived, As more troops arrived, colonists told them to “colonists told them to “fire if fire if you dareyou dare”.”.

Suddenly, the soldiers Suddenly, the soldiers firedfired into the crowd, instantly into the crowd, instantly killing three men, including killing three men, including sailor Crispus Attucks. Two sailor Crispus Attucks. Two people died later.people died later.

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre

1.1. What is a massacre?What is a massacre?

2.2. Why do you think the Why do you think the events in Boston would be events in Boston would be called the Boston called the Boston Massacre? Explain.Massacre? Explain.

Boston MassacreBoston Massacre Samuel Adams and other Samuel Adams and other

protestors quickly spread the protestors quickly spread the story of the shootings.story of the shootings.

They used it as They used it as propagandapropaganda, or , or a story giving only one side in a story giving only one side in an argument to reach a certain an argument to reach a certain goal, against the British.goal, against the British.

Colonists called the shootings Colonists called the shootings the the Boston MassacreBoston Massacre..

As a result of the shootings, As a result of the shootings, the British soldiers and their the British soldiers and their officer were charged with officer were charged with murder.murder. Jury found them not guilty Jury found them not guilty

because they were acting in self-because they were acting in self-defense.defense.

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party To reduce tensions in the colonies, Parliament To reduce tensions in the colonies, Parliament

repealed all of the Townshend Acts except for repealed all of the Townshend Acts except for the tax on the tax on teatea..

Britain knew that the demand for tea was high Britain knew that the demand for tea was high even though there was a boycott.even though there was a boycott.

Colonial merchants were Colonial merchants were smugglingsmuggling most of this most of this tea without having to pay a tax on it.tea without having to pay a tax on it.

Parliament passed the Parliament passed the Tea Act Tea Act in 1773.in 1773. Allowed the British East India Company to sell Allowed the British East India Company to sell

tea directly to the colonists for lower prices.tea directly to the colonists for lower prices. May encourage colonists to stop smuggling, May encourage colonists to stop smuggling,

which would give Britain more tax money.which would give Britain more tax money.

The Boston Tea The Boston Tea PartyParty

Three ships loaded Three ships loaded with tea from the with tea from the British East India British East India Company arrived in Company arrived in Boston Harbor Boston Harbor in in 1773.1773.

Members of the Members of the Sons of Liberty Sons of Liberty demanded that the demanded that the ships leave.ships leave.

The governor of The governor of Massachusetts Massachusetts would not let the would not let the ships leave without ships leave without paying a paying a taxtax..

Unsure what to do, Unsure what to do, the captains waited the captains waited in the harbor.in the harbor.

The Boston Tea The Boston Tea PartyParty

On the night of On the night of December 16, December 16, 1773, colonists 1773, colonists dressed up like dressed up like Native Americans Native Americans sneaked onto sneaked onto three tea-filled three tea-filled ships and ships and dumpeddumped over 340 over 340 tea tea chests chests into the into the Boston Harbor.Boston Harbor. This event This event

became known became known as the as the Boston Boston Tea PartyTea Party..

Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts Parliament decided to punish Boston.Parliament decided to punish Boston. In the spring of 1774, they passed the Coercive Acts.In the spring of 1774, they passed the Coercive Acts. Colonists called these laws Colonists called these laws Intolerable ActsIntolerable Acts.. The act had many effects:The act had many effects:

Boston Harbor was closed until Boston paid for the Boston Harbor was closed until Boston paid for the ruined tea.ruined tea.

The governor decided if legislature could occur. The governor decided if legislature could occur. Colonists had Colonists had no say no say in government now.in government now.

A new A new QuarteringQuartering Act required colonists to house Act required colonists to house British soldiers.British soldiers.

The British hoped these steps would bring back The British hoped these steps would bring back order in the colonies.order in the colonies.

Instead, they increased people’s anger at Britain.Instead, they increased people’s anger at Britain.

SummarySummaryAnswer the following question Answer the following question

on a sheet of loose leaf:on a sheet of loose leaf:

What was the significance of What was the significance of

the Boston Massacre?the Boston Massacre?