1. Uniting the Colonists
Chapter 5 Lesson 2

2. Objectives
Draw conclusions about tensions between the colonists and the British that led up to the Boston Massacre
Analyze the role of propaganda in the colonies

3. Vocabulary Rebellion – open defiance of authority
Propaganda – ideas of information intentionally spread to harm or help a cause
Committee of Correspondence – organization that spread political ideas and information through the colonies

4. Trouble in Massachusetts 1768
Colonists were about to start a rebellion, British sent troops to Boston (Redcoats)
Redcoats were there to occupy, or take control of cities
The Redcoats were poor men who were rude, stole from local shops
Competed for jobs that Bostonians wanted

5. Tension in the Streets – March 5th 1770
A fight between Bostonians and soldiers broke out
They began throwing sticks and stones at the Redcoats
After one soldier was knocked down the Redcoats fired and killed 5 colonists
Crispus Attucks a dockworker who was part African part Native American
This was known as the The Boston Massacre

6. Spreading the News Colonial leaders used the killings as propaganda
Paul Revere made a picture of a British officer giving orders to open fire on the crowd
The Massacre led to stronger boycotts on British goods
Parliament repealed all the Townshend Acts taxes except the one on tea
Samuel Adams revived the committee of correspondence and called for action against Britain

7. Critical Thinking
How did the Boston Massacre affect British policies and relations between both sides?

8. Crisis in Boston
British East India Company was vital to British economy
Colonial boycott nearly drove it out of business
To save the company, Parliament passed the Tea Act

9. Tea Act
Gave British East India Company total control of the market for tea in the colonies
Made it less expensive for colonists by taking away some tax
Colonists were still angry and did not want to pay any tax or told what they could buy
Colonists boycotted; did not let ships unload tea
“We’ll part with our tea” – Daughters of Liberty

10. A Tea Party: December 16th 1773
Despite warnings of trouble, the British East India Company still shipped tea to the colonies
3 ships loaded with tea arrived to the Boston Harbor
At midnight the Boston Sons of Liberty dressed as Native Americans and threw 342 chests of tea overboard
This became known as The Boston Tea Party

11. Critical Thinking
Why were American colonists especially angry with the Tea Act?

12. Visual Open to page 118, what is being shown in this painting?
How can you tell who the ships belong to?
What is in the foreground of this painting?
What does that tell you about the artists possible point of view?

13. The Coercive Acts 1774
Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party by passing the Coercive Acts (Coercive means to force someone to do something)
Meant to punish the colonists for resisting authority
Banned town meetings
Closed Boston Harbor until they paid for the ruined tea
Stopped shipments of food
Tried to cut Massachusetts off from other colonies; instead it brought all of them together
Colonists called them the Intolerable Acts

14. Writing Skills Activity
Read page 119 “The Intolerable Acts” and write a short 1-2 paragraph speech designed to persuade people to resist the Intolerable Acts. Be sure to use persuasive language and facts to back up your argument.

15. Review
Anger over the Boston Massacre prompted colonists to boycott British goods, which led Britain to repeal all but one of the Townshend Acts’ taxes and drove more colonists t call for resistance to British rule
Colonists were angry about the Tea Act because they did not want to pay any tax or be told what they could buy
As a result of the Coercive Acts, the citizens of Boston had limited access to food and supplies that arrived by ship, town meetings were banned, and they had to provide shelter to British soldiers

16. Close and Reflect
What did you learn about Crispus Attucks? Why is he still remembered today as an important early American?