The Boston Tea Party
Before the United States became a country, it was a group of
13 colonies ruled by Great Britain. The British king and a large group of
government leaders called Parliament made the laws for the colonies.
Unfortunately for the colonists, none of them were able to join the
Parliament. That meant that the colonists had to follow British rules,
but were not directly represented in British government. That situation
lasted for generations. In the 1770s, however, many colonists began to
protest. Nowhere was the spirit of protest clearer or more shocking than
in the so-called Boston Tea Party of 1773.
1
In the years leading up to the Tea Party, Parliament passed many
laws that affected life in the colonies. Many of these laws raised taxes
on the colonists. For instance, some laws placed taxes on stamps,
paper goods, and sugar. In 1767, British leaders passed the Townshend
Acts, a series of laws that gave Parliament the right to tax and restrict
the colonists. Many colonists were outraged and spoke out angrily
against the new laws.
2
In 1770, Parliament scaled back the tax plans, but insisted that
colonists still pay a heavy tax on tea. Worse, British leaders also
created a tea monopoly, allowing only one company the right to
sell all the tea in the colonies. This company, the British East India
Company, had produced too much tea and was trying to get rid of it in
the colonies. Many colonists were angered by this news. Colonists in
Philadelphia and New York refused to buy or resell the East India tea.
3
However, not everyone opposed the British. Many people in the
colonies wanted to obey British laws and keep good relations with
the king and Parliament. One of these people was Governor Thomas
Hutchinson. He allowed three East India Company ships to sail into
Boston Harbor. Hutchinson gave them permission to unload the tea
and sell it in Boston.
4
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How do the asides by Citizen 1 and Citizen 2 in the play help
71 the playwright convey meaning? Use examples from the play to
support your answer.
Write your answer in complete sentences.
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What is the theme of “One Historic Night”? Use details from the
72 play to support your answer.
Write your answer in complete sentences.
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How are “One Historic Night” and “The Boston Tea Party” alike
73 and different in their portrayal of the Patriots and their cause?
Use examples from both passages in your comparisons.
In your answer be sure to do the following:
• tell how the play and article are alike
• tell how they are different
• use examples from the play and the article to support
your answer
Write your answer in complete sentences.
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