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.

   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 newspaper or diary entry written on or just after the night itself
   • A later textbook that repeats one of the two dates without checking it
   • Governor Hutchinson's later opinion of the event, written years afterward
3. 2.

   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: card D calls the recent acts of Parliament unconstitutional
   • Overstated: resolution 4 allows regulating external commerce but rejects taxes
   • Strong: the colonists declared their independence from Britain in 1774 at Philadelphia
   • Weak: resolution 4 accepts taxes for the purpose of raising revenue
4. 3.

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

   • 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
   • The Massachusetts House refused to rescind its letter, so the tea was destroyed in 1773
5. 4.

   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
   • Hutchinson saw a crime against the Crown; Adams saw a legitimate act of the people
   • Both agreed that it was lawful but disagreed about the price of the tea
   • Both blamed the Boston Port Act for causing the destruction of the tea
6. 5.

   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: 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
   • Strong: other colonies sent food and money to Boston after the port closed
   • Weak: cards A and B show Marshfield opposed it and some wondered about paying
7. 6.

   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?

   • Parliament justifies a punishment, and the Congress a protest, each to its audience
   • Both writers are neutral observers with no interest in how things turn out
   • Both writers are mainly describing the price of tea and how it was taxed
   • The Congress justifies a punishment, and Parliament justifies a protest against that punishment
8. 7.

   Cards C and D both address the closing of Boston's harbor. What do they show together, Pia asks?

   • Both agreed that the harbor of Boston should be closed until it was repaid
   • Parliament and the Congress described the same act in opposite terms
   • The Congress was formed to repeal the Port Act and for no other purpose
   • Parliament called the Port Act unjust and the Congress called it necessary
9. 8.

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

   • The colonies declared their independence from Britain at the Congress itself
   • Thirteen colonies took part in the Congress held in September of 1774 in the city of Philadelphia
   • 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
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?

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

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

    • 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
    • A longer textbook retelling of the same cards in many more words