The Boston Tea Party

Objectives: By the end of this lesson students will be able to: Explain what happened during the Boston Tea Party. Name the important facts about the Boston Tea Party. Identify with the perspectives of the American colonists and the British.

The class will now be separated into two groups. Please take out paper and a pencil. Now wait for instructions.

POP QUIZ! On the piece of paper please list the names of the 13 colonies.

Surprise Cookies or No Cookies? This does NOT count! Since you finished the task you will all be given a reward. Group #2 will decide for the ENTIRE class: Cookies or No Cookies?

Confused? This is what happened between the colonists and the British. The colonists did not have a choice as to whether the British should tax tea or not. This caused the taxation without representation call of the colonists.

Let’s Read! The Boston Tea Party

1763 King George III and his government wanted to tax the American colonies as a way of regaining their war costs. A series of actions including the Stamp Act (1765), The Townshend Acts (1767), and the Boston Massacre (1770) agitated the colonists. When the decision was made to tax tea, that was what spurred the colonists into action, which in turn laid ground work for the American Revolution.

The colonies felt like they had no obligation to pay taxes imposed by a parliament in which they had no representation. Due to this, Parliament retracted the taxes with exception of a duty on tea – a demonstration of Parliament’s ability and right to tax the colonies. The Americans would now get their tea at a cheaper price than ever before. However, if the colonies paid the duty tax on the imported tea, they would be acknowledging Parliament’s right to tax them.

Tea was a staple of the colonial life – it was assumed that the colonists would rather pay the taxes than deny themselves the pleasure of a cup of tea. This did not fool the colonists. The companies sent out the shipments of tea to Philadelphia, New York, Charleston, and Boston. They were not allowed to land in Philadelphia and New York. The tea was sent to a warehouse where it rotted. When Boston permitted a total of three ships to dock, it started a reaction of fury among the townspeople.

December 16, 1773 Early evening, about 200 men disguised as Indians, known as the Sons of Liberty, assembled by the Old South Meeting House under the guidance of Samuel Adams. The crowd marched to the harbor where the three ships were docked and dumped 342 chests of tea overboard. The tea that was dumped was to be valued over 90,000 pounds which is equal to $159,611.25!

Intolerable Acts In March 1774, Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts, which included closing Boston Harbor and imposing martial law. Intolerable Acts were: Quartering Act – Quartering of British soldiers in civilian homes Quebec Act – It rearranged the Canadian Borders. Administration of Justice Act – It protected royal officials accused of capital crimes. They had to be tried in England. Massachusetts Government Act– It gave the royal government direct control over the colony down to town meetings. Boston Port Bill – Closed Boston Harbor and reparations were made for the tea that had been destroyed.

British vs. Colonists Why were taxes imposed British vs. Colonists Why were taxes imposed? Why did the colonists fight back? British Colonists -

Let’s DEBATE! Left side: British Right side: American colonists You will partake in a debate presenting the positive and negatives of both sides. Throughout the debate, you will be able to refer to the chart we just made on the board, your notes, and textbooks.

It’s a DRAW!! Everyone did such a great job and you should give yourselves a hand! Your points were very well taken! Now … Can someone please explain to me, after all that we have learned, how the REAL debate between the American Colonists and the British ended?

Martial Law Because of the Boston Tea Party, we lost more freedom than we started with due to the Intolerable Acts and Martial Law. Martial Law is when there is a curfew placed on a city. The military is called in to uphold the curfew. No one is allowed on the streets without presidential clearance.

Class Discussion Can you name the repercussions of the Boston Tea Party? Can you name some facts about the Boston Tea Party?

Vocabulary -Tea Act -Sons of Liberty -Boston Tea Party -Intolerable Act -Martial Law Taxes -Samuel Adams -Townshend Act -Stamp Act

HOMEWORK Please complete the Vocabulary worksheet. Be ready to discuss it in class tomorrow. Homework will be collected tomorrow.

TEA TIME! THE END