Conflicts in Boston Growing Tensions in Boston Townspeople were frustrated with British policies and taxes and began to act out. Townspeople were frustrated.

ConflictsConflictsin Bostonin Boston

Growing Tensions in Growing Tensions in BostonBoston

Townspeople were frustrated Townspeople were frustrated with British policies and with British policies and taxes and began to act out.taxes and began to act out.

British customs officers sent British customs officers sent word back to England that word back to England that the colonies were on the the colonies were on the brink of rebellion.brink of rebellion.

Parliament responded by Parliament responded by sending more troops to sending more troops to Boston (“Redcoats”) who set Boston (“Redcoats”) who set up camp in the center of the up camp in the center of the city.city.

Send more

soldiers to

America!

Yeah!

Good idea!

Redcoats in BostonRedcoats in Boston Most colonists didn’t want the Most colonists didn’t want the

soldiers in their city.soldiers in their city. Many soldiers behaved rudely Many soldiers behaved rudely

and sometimes violently toward and sometimes violently toward the colonists.the colonists.

Colonists taunted British Colonists taunted British soldiers in the streets. soldiers in the streets. Sometimes soldiers would fight Sometimes soldiers would fight back.back.

British soldiers occasionally British soldiers occasionally stole from local shops and took stole from local shops and took jobs from Bostonians.jobs from Bostonians.

The Boston MassacreThe Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, the tension On March 5, 1770, the tension reached a breaking point. A fight reached a breaking point. A fight broke out between colonists and broke out between colonists and soldiers.soldiers.

A mob of angry colonists moved A mob of angry colonists moved through the snowy streets of Boston through the snowy streets of Boston with any weapons they could find – with any weapons they could find – sticks, shovels, stones, and clubs.sticks, shovels, stones, and clubs.

The Boston MassacreThe Boston Massacre A British guard called for help, and the A British guard called for help, and the

crowd threw stones, snowballs (some crowd threw stones, snowballs (some with stones and bricks inside), oyster with stones and bricks inside), oyster shells, and pieces of wood at the shells, and pieces of wood at the soldiers.soldiers.

Boston colonists taunted the Boston colonists taunted the soldiers, “Fire, you bloodybacks! soldiers, “Fire, you bloodybacks! You dare not fire!” You dare not fire!”

In the confusion, the soldiers In the confusion, the soldiers fired their weapons. fired their weapons.

Results of The Boston Results of The Boston MassacreMassacre

Five colonists were killed.Five colonists were killed.– Crispus AttucksCrispus Attucks

Colonial leaders used news of the Colonial leaders used news of the killings as anti-British propaganda.killings as anti-British propaganda.

They spread the word through They spread the word through newspapers and posters showing the newspapers and posters showing the brutality of British soldiers.brutality of British soldiers.

Results of the Boston Results of the Boston MassacreMassacre

Many colonists called for stronger Many colonists called for stronger boycotts on British goods.boycotts on British goods.

To ease the tension, Parliament To ease the tension, Parliament repealed all taxes from the Townshend repealed all taxes from the Townshend Acts, except taxes on tea.Acts, except taxes on tea.

““Committees of Correspondence” Committees of Correspondence” continued to call for resistance to continued to call for resistance to British rule and circulated writings British rule and circulated writings about grievances (complaints) against about grievances (complaints) against Britain.Britain.

Conflicts Over TeaConflicts Over Tea Parliament kept a tax on tea Parliament kept a tax on tea

because they felt American because they felt American colonists would still pay for it. colonists would still pay for it. Tea was part of everyday life Tea was part of everyday life for most people.for most people.

Many colonists wanted Many colonists wanted Parliament to repeal taxes on Parliament to repeal taxes on tea and boycotted it.tea and boycotted it.

The British East India The British East India Company faced ruin, so Company faced ruin, so Parliament passed The Tea Parliament passed The Tea Act.Act.

The Tea ActThe Tea Act

Parliament passed the Tea Parliament passed the Tea Act in 1773 Act in 1773 to save the East to save the East India Company. India Company.

East India tea was cheaper East India tea was cheaper than tea in than tea in the colonies because they the colonies because they didn’t have to pay taxes.didn’t have to pay taxes.

Colonial merchants felt this Colonial merchants felt this was unfair and hurt their was unfair and hurt their businesses.businesses.

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party

Colonists in Philadelphia and Colonists in Philadelphia and New York protested and New York protested and forced East India ships back to forced East India ships back to England. Another shipment England. Another shipment went to Boston.went to Boston.

The royal governor of The royal governor of Massachusetts ordered three Massachusetts ordered three British ships carrying tea to British ships carrying tea to unload their cargo in Boston unload their cargo in Boston (despite boycotts).(despite boycotts).

Samuel Adams and the Boston Samuel Adams and the Boston Sons of Liberty quickly made a Sons of Liberty quickly made a plan to protest.plan to protest.

The Boston Tea PartyThe Boston Tea Party

At midnight on At midnight on December 16, 1773, the December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty disguised Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk themselves as Mohawk Indians boarded the Indians boarded the ships in Boston Harbor ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests and dumped 342 chests of tea overboard.of tea overboard.

This event is known as This event is known as the Boston Tea Party.the Boston Tea Party.

The Intolerable Acts The Intolerable Acts

After the Boston Tea Party, King After the Boston Tea Party, King George III realized that England was George III realized that England was losing control of the colonies.losing control of the colonies.

To punish Boston colonists for To punish Boston colonists for dumping the tea, Parliament passed dumping the tea, Parliament passed the Coercive Acts.the Coercive Acts.

These acts closed Boston Harbor until These acts closed Boston Harbor until the citizens paid for the ruined tea.the citizens paid for the ruined tea.