Transcript Boston Massacre - Mr. Verdolino`s Social Studies Page

The Boston Massacre &
Boston Tea Party
Initial Activity
You live in the New England colonies in the 1700s.
Recently, British officials have placed new taxes
on tea- your favorite drink. You’ve never been
very interested in politics, but you’re beginning
to think that people far across the ocean
shouldn’t be able to tell you what to do. Some
of your friends have joined a group that refuses
to buy British tea.
Would you give up your favorite drink to join the
boycott?
Word Splash
1.
2.
3.
4.
Repeal
Boycott
Intolerable
Propaganda
Word Splash
repeal: to do away with or
cancel officially.
Word Splash
boycott: to refuse to buy,
use, or go to, in order to make
a protest or bring about a
change.
Word Splash
intolerable: too difficult or
unpleasant to be near or to be
able to deal with
Word of the Day
Propaganda: a story giving
only one side in an argument
to reach a certain goal
Boston Massacre
Many Bostonians saw the presence of
the British troops as a threat by the
British government against the colonists.
 The soldiers knew they were not
welcome.
 Both sides did not like each other.
 Name calling, arguments, and fights
between the Bostonians and the
soldiers were common.

Boston Massacre
What do you think might happen
after British Troops are brought
to Boston? Explain.
Boston Massacre
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On March 5, 1770 a British
soldier standing guard alone
had an argument with a colonist
and struck him.
A crowd gathered around the
soldier and began throwing
snowballs and shouting insults.
As more troops arrived,
colonists told them to “fire if
you dare”.
Suddenly, the soldiers fired into
the crowd, instantly killing three
men, including sailor Crispus
Attucks. Two people died later.
Boston Massacre
1.
2.
What is a massacre?
Why do you think the events in
Boston would be called the
Boston Massacre? Explain.
Boston Massacre
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Samuel Adams and other
protestors quickly spread the
story of the shootings.
They used it as propaganda, or
a story giving only one side in
an argument to reach a certain
goal, against the British.
Colonists called the shootings
the Boston Massacre.
As a result of the shootings, the
British soldiers and their officer
were charged with murder.

Jury found them not guilty because
they were acting in self-defense.
The Boston Tea Party
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To reduce tensions in the colonies, Parliament
repealed all of the Townshend Acts except for the tax
on tea.
Britain knew that the demand for tea was high even
though there was a boycott.
Colonial merchants were smuggling most of this tea
without having to pay a tax on it.
Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773.
 Allowed the British East India Company to sell tea
directly to the colonists for lower prices.
 May encourage colonists to stop smuggling, which
would give Britain more tax money.
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Three ships loaded
with tea from the
British East India
Company arrived in
Boston Harbor in
1773.
Members of the Sons
of Liberty demanded
that the ships leave.
The governor of
Massachusetts would
not let the ships leave
without paying a tax.
Unsure what to do,
the captains waited in
the harbor.
The Boston Tea Party

On the night of
December 16, 1773,
colonists dressed up
like Native
Americans sneaked
onto three tea-filled
ships and dumped
over 340 tea chests
into the Boston
Harbor.
 This event
became known
as the Boston
Tea Party.
The Boston Tea Party
Intolerable Acts
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Parliament decided to punish Boston.
In the spring of 1774, they passed the Coercive Acts.
Colonists called these laws Intolerable Acts.
The act had many effects:
 Boston Harbor was closed until Boston paid for the
ruined tea.
 The governor decided if legislature could occur.
Colonists had no say in government now.
 A new Quartering Act required colonists to house British
soldiers.
The British hoped these steps would bring back order in the
colonies.
Instead, they increased people’s anger at Britain.
Summary
Answer the following question on
a sheet of loose leaf:
What was the significance of
the Boston Massacre?