From the Proclamation of 1763 to the Intolerable Acts: British laws and colonial reactions

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   From tea to the First Continental Congress, 1773 to 1774 (cards A to E). Card A, a summary in our words from the Massachusetts Historical Society: Parliament passed the Tea Act on May 10, 1773. The ship Dartmouth, carrying 114 chests of tea, reached Boston on November 28. After a meeting on December 16, 30 to 60 men dressed as Indians went to the wharf and dumped 342 chests of tea into the harbor. John Adams called it an "exertion of popular power." Governor Hutchinson called it high treason. The town of Marshfield urged loyal subjects to speak out against the act. The captains of the tea ships could not name those responsible, so the government decided to punish the entire town of Boston. Card B, a summary in our words from the Massachusetts Historical Society page on the Coercive Acts: it dates the destruction of the tea to December 17, 1773. Parliament closed the port of Boston on June 1, 1774. Boston's Committee of Correspondence told colonists they "suffer in the common cause" and urged a boycott of British goods. Colonists replied in different ways: some feared the plan would bring more misery, some wondered whether paying for the tea would calm Parliament, and people from Nova Scotia to Georgia sent food, supplies and money. In September 1774 representatives of twelve colonies met in Philadelphia. Card C, the Boston Port Act (March 31, 1774; Avalon Project): "WHEREAS dangerous commotions and insurrections have been fomented and raised in the town of Boston, in the province of Massachuset's Bay, in New England, by divers ill-affected persons". A summary in our words: from June 1, 1774, no goods could be loaded or unloaded at Boston's wharves, with an exception for fuel and food brought by coastal vessels for the inhabitants. Card D, the Declaration and Resolves of the First Continental Congress (October 14, 1774; Avalon Project): it calls the Boston Port Act and other recent acts "impolitic, unjust, and cruel, as well as unconstitutional". Resolution 4 says the colonists "cheerfully consent to the operation of such acts of the British parliament" ... "the regulation of our external commerce", "excluding every idea of taxation internal or external, for raising a revenue on the subjects, in America, without their consent". Resolution 9: "That the keeping a standing army in these colonies, in times of peace, without the consent of the legislature of that colony, in which such army is kept, is against law". Card E, a summary in our words from the National Park Service: it dates the destruction of the tea to the night of December 16, 1773, and says dozens of disguised men boarded three ships and dumped 342 chests. In New York and Philadelphia the tea ships were turned away, and in Charleston the tea was left on the wharf.

2. 1.

   Card C is Parliament's Boston Port Act. It blames "divers ill-affected persons." What is the Act best evidence for, Ari asks?

   • Exactly what happened in Boston on the night, with each detail checked by Parliament
   • How much tea was destroyed in the harbor, counted in chests of tea
   • Why the colonies sent their representatives to Philadelphia in 1774
   • The reasons Parliament gave for the punishment, from its own point of view
3. 2.

   Cards A and E date the tea's destruction to December 16; card B says December 17. What would best settle it, Bo asks?

   • The text of the Boston Port Act, which closed the harbor the next year
   • A later textbook that repeats one of the two dates without checking it
   • Governor Hutchinson's later opinion of the event, written years afterward
   • A newspaper or diary entry written on or just after the night itself
4. 3.

   A student says: "In 1774 the colonists denied all of Parliament's authority." How strong is that claim, given resolution 4 in card D, Jun asks?

   • Strong: the colonists declared their independence from Britain in 1774 at Philadelphia
   • Overstated: resolution 4 allows regulating external commerce but rejects taxes
   • Weak: resolution 4 accepts taxes for the purpose of raising revenue
   • Strong: card D calls the recent acts of Parliament unconstitutional
5. 4.

   Using cards A to D, which chain best explains the Boston Port Act and the colonial reply, Kira asks?

   • The Massachusetts House refused to rescind its letter, so the tea was destroyed in 1773
   • Twelve colonies met first, and then the tea was destroyed in Boston harbor
   • The Resolves of October 1774 caused Parliament to pass the Boston Port Act
   • The tea was destroyed, no one was named, the town was punished, twelve colonies met
6. 5.

   Card A: Hutchinson called the tea's destruction high treason; Adams called it an "exertion of popular power." How do they differ, Luz asks?

   • Hutchinson praised it as popular power, and Adams condemned it as treason against the Crown
   • Both blamed the Boston Port Act for causing the destruction of the tea
   • Both agreed that it was lawful but disagreed about the price of the tea
   • Hutchinson saw a crime against the Crown; Adams saw a legitimate act of the people
7. 6.

   A student says: "Everyone in the colonies supported the destruction of the tea." How strong is that claim, given cards A, B and E, Milo asks?

   • Strong: other colonies sent food and money to Boston after the port closed
   • Strong: Adams praised it as popular power, so the colonies must have agreed with him
   • Weak: card E says New York and Philadelphia accepted the tea ships
   • Weak: cards A and B show Marshfield opposed it and some wondered about paying
8. 7.

   Card C opens by blaming "divers ill-affected persons," and card D calls the acts "unjust." How does each writer's purpose shape the wording, Noah asks?

   • The Congress justifies a punishment, and Parliament justifies a protest against that punishment
   • Both writers are mainly describing the price of tea and how it was taxed
   • Both writers are neutral observers with no interest in how things turn out
   • Parliament justifies a punishment, and the Congress a protest, each to its audience
9. 8.

   Cards B and D cover June to October 1774. How did the response widen beyond Boston, Tala asks?

   • Aid came from Nova Scotia to Georgia, and twelve colonies drew up a joint declaration
   • Boston alone met in Philadelphia, and the other colonies stayed silent
   • Thirteen colonies took part in the Congress held in September of 1774 in the city of Philadelphia
   • The colonies declared their independence from Britain at the Congress itself
10. 9.

    Card A: the Dartmouth carried 114 chests; 342 chests in all were dumped. What share was on the Dartmouth, and what is the limit, Ren asks?

    • One-third; the cards do not say how the other 228 chests were divided
    • About 25 percent, found by dividing 114 by the sum of 342 and 114 together
    • About two-thirds, which is the share that was not on the Dartmouth
    • One-third, so each of the other two ships carried 114 chests as well
11. 10.

    A student asks whether the Coercive Acts united the colonies or divided them. What new evidence would help most, Zee asks?

    • A longer textbook retelling of the same cards in many more words
    • A speech by a supporter of the boycott, praising the colonies that joined
    • Dated letters and votes from several colonies before and after the acts
    • One more statement that the acts united the colonies behind Boston