Instructions
You will learn about the Boston Tea Party and explore its significance in American history. Please answer the questions below based on the information provided and your understanding of the event.
Reading Section
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that took place on December 16, 1773. It was organized by the Sons of Liberty, a group of American colonists who were frustrated with British taxation without representation. The protest was against the Tea Act of 1773, which allowed the British East India Company to sell its tea at a lower price than that of colonial tea merchants, effectively undercutting them. In response, a group of colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. This act of defiance escalated tensions between the colonies and Great Britain, ultimately leading to the American Revolution.
Questions
- What was the main reason for the Boston Tea Party?
- Who organized the Boston Tea Party?
- What was the Tea Act of 1773, and how did it affect colonial merchants?
- What action did the colonists take during the Boston Tea Party? Describe it.
- Explain how the Boston Tea Party contributed to the start of the American Revolution.
- In your opinion, was the Boston Tea Party an effective way to protest British rule? Why or why not?
Creative Task
Imagine you were a member of the Sons of Liberty during the Boston Tea Party. Write a short diary entry reflecting on your feelings about the event after it occurred.