Boston Massacre and Tea Party

BOSTON MASSACRE AND TEA PARTY

GETTING’ ROWDY IN BOSTON!

Colonists VERY upset with British.

News of the protests got to Parliament!

British wanted to get colonists under control.

Sent troops to occupy colonial cities.

TROOPS CAUSE TROUBLE Soldiers are jerks!

Stole goods from shops Got in “scuffles” Stole local jobs from colonists

Colonists’ hatred for them grew and grew

Led to the…

BOSTON MASSACRE! Angry mob of colonists

threw sticks, rocks at redcoats.

Knocked one redcoat down. Confused soldier opened

fire: Five unarmed colonists killed

Crispus Attucks-the first American to die in the colonists' fight for freedom. Was an escaped slave of African & Native American descent

NEWS SPREAD FAST!

Colonists exaggerated the severity of event using: Propaganda:

information designed to influence opinion.

Made the redcoats look vicious and bloodthirsty.

STOP! Show video American Story of US,

minute 18-28

RESENTMENT TOWARD BRITAIN GREW EVEN STRONGER!

Called for more boycotts!

Britain tried to smooth things over Repealed Townshend Acts

Except on TEA!

Colonists still not happy! Anti-British writings circulated through

colonies.

TEA ACT

The East India Co. in money trouble so Parliament passed Tea Act: allowed EIC

Ship tea to colonies without paying taxes on it.

Sell tea directly to shopkeepers, bypassing merchants.

Gave British a monopoly on tea.

COLONIES’ ANGER GROWS!

Large cities held large public meetings to discuss plans of action.

British were warned about colonies’ anger but ignored it.

Tea was shipped anyway. Most cities refused to unload the tea

and sent it back to Britain

Except in Boston…

BOSTON TEA PARTY Royal governor refused to let ships turn

back to Britain. Samuel Adams and Sons of Liberty:

Dressed as Native Americans and boarded ship.

Dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

KING GEORGE WANTS TO PUNISH BOSTON…

So Parliament passed: Coercive Acts:

Closed Boston Harbor until tea was paid for. No food/supplied could get in or out.

Banned town meetings. Forced people to house soldiers.

Against their rights as citizens.

COLONISTS NOT HAPPY!

They renamed the Coercive Acts:The Intolerable

Acts!

At this point:The colonists are

FIRED UP!