Name: Date: Period: Causes of the American Revolution Scavenger Hunt Instructions
Directions
Welcome to the Causes of the American Revolution! Today we are going on a scavenger hunt online to learn about
key events that led to the American Revolution; the Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, and Boston Tea Party. Each
student will read two different primary sources (first hand account) and answer the appropriate questions. At the
end of the scavenger hunt partners will come together and discuss their findings and help one another answer the
remaining questions. The websites that you will be visiting are listed in each section of the scavenger hunt. Find
your partner and choose two computers next to each other.
A brief summary of each event is provided below along with brief biographies of two important people that you will
encounter in your online adventure. If you should have any questions please raise your hand and I will assist you.
Primary sources can be hard to read so please look at the questions provided below title ‘General Questions
(Primary Sources)’ to help you. You might find some words in your reading that you may not understand please
do a word search on http://www.dictionary.com or ask me.
Warning: All of your attention is necessary for this project please refrain from checking your email or listening to
music or any other Internet distractions.
American Revolution Events
Stamp Act
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765. The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and
required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed-paper they used. What made the law so offensive to the colonists was
not so much its immediate cost but the standard it seemed to set. In the past, taxes on colonial trade had always been to
regulate trade, not to raise money. The Stamp Act, however, was just for Britain to make more money off the colonies
without their approval.
Boston Massacre
On the evening of March 5, 1770, a crowd of people had gathered and began harassing the some British soldiers led by
Captain Thomas Preston. The situation became so chaotic it caused someone to yell “Fire!” and the soldiers began
shooting into the crowd. Five townspeople were killed and others wounded. The problem is that no one knew who gave
the order to fire at the townspeople.
Boston Tea Party
On December 16, 1773, a small group of American colonists (many of them dressed up as Mohawk Indians) sneaked
onto three ships in the Boston harbor, and dumped more than 300 cases of English tea overboard as a protest against
British taxation.
1 Name: Date: Period: Important Biographies
Captain Preston
Thomas Preston was an officer of the 29th Regiment of Foot who was present at the Boston Massacre March 5,
1770. He was arrested after the shooting and charged with murder. As an officer Preston received a separate
trial from the other accused soldiers. The trial lasted from October 24, 1770 to October 30, 1770.
George Hewes
Robert Hewes was born in Boston, on September 5th 1742. When the Boston Tea Party occurred he was 31
years old. In his early life Robert was not fortunate to get a good education and his main employment was
farming, fishing and shoe-making, which also was his father's trade. In 1758 he attempted to enlist in the army
to serve against the French, but did not “pass muster”. He was later unsuccessful in his attempt to join the navy
and then resumed shoe-making.
General Questions (Primary Sources)
In reading these primary sources you should ask yourself the following questions in order to understand the
purpose of each sources.
• What is it?
• Who wrote or made it? • When was it written or made? Where was it written or made? Why was this document/object written or
made?
• Who was the intended audience/user?
• What questions does this source raise? What don’t we know about this source?
• What other information do we have about this document or object?
• What else do we need to know in order to understand the evidence in this source?
2 Name: Date: Period: Causes of the American Revolution Online Scavenger Hunt
Stamp Act:
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/stampact/sapitt.htm
Was William Pitt loyal to the American colonies or to Britain? Why?
Is the term taxation without representation relevant to this speech? How?
Analyze the following quote and restate it in your own words. “When two countries are connected together, like
England and her colonies, without being incorporated, the one must necessarily govern; the greater must rule
the less; but so rule it, as not to contradict the fundamental principles that are common to both.”
Why did William Pitt believe the Stamp Act should be repealed?
Boston Massacre – Captain Thomas Preston:
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/bostonmassacre/prest.htm
Why did General Thomas Preston sent 12 troops to the King’s Treasury?
Was it General Preston intension to shoot at the townspeople?
According to General Preston why was he falsely accused of ordering his soldiers fire their weapons?
In your opinion who initiated the Boston Massacre, General Preston or the Boston Residents? Why?
3 Name: Date: Period: Causes of the American Revolution Online Scavenger Hunt
Anonymous Account of the Boston Massacre:
http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/D/1751-1775/bostonmassacre/anon.htm
According to this anonymous source why were the British troops in Boston?
According to this source who initiated the massacre, the British troops or Boston residents? Why?
Analyze the following quote and state what you think it means” There were a great many that would eat their
dinners on Monday next, that should not eat any on Tuesday.”
After reading this source do you have any questions about the Boston Massacre? Did you find out something
interesting or new?
Boston Tea Party – Eyewitness Account by George Hewes:
http://www.boston-tea-party.org/account-george-hewes.html
What question does this source raise about the Boston Tea Party? What don’t we know about this source?
In Hewes account of the Boston Tea Party references are made of townspeople trying to take some of the
tea for their personal use. What was the general reaction towards these individuals?
Why did the Boston Tea Party happen?
State one thing about this account that you found interesting?
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