Chap 5 Section 2Building Colonial Unity

• Trouble in Boston

• 1768- British Customs seized the “Liberty”• ship belonged to John Hancock

(merchant and protest leader)

• Accused of smuggling

• News angered townspeople

• “Liberty Affair” – event that united colonist!!!!

John Hancock

Trouble in Boston

• Protests had British Officials nervous!!!!

• 1768- Customs Officers sent word back to Britain that rebellion was brewing!

• Parliament sent 2 regiments of Troops!

• “Redcoats” set up camp in middle of city.

• Colonists- its gone too far, series of laws & army to occupy colonial cities!!!!

The Redcoat Soldiers

• Soldiers acted rudely & often time violent

• Soldiers were mostly poor men and earned little pay

• Some soldiers stole goods from local shops

• Scuffled with boys that taunted them

• Soldiers competed for off duty jobs that Bostonians wanted.

• Townspeople’s hatred grew stronger daily

“REDCOATS”

The Boston Massacre

• March 5, 1770- fights broke out between townspeople and soldiers.

• British Officers tried to call the crowd.

• “We did not send for you. We will not have you here. Well get rid of you,” one man shouted

• Townspeople began using any weapon available (sticks, stones, shovels, clubs)

Boston Massacre

• Crowd approached “Sentry” on duty called for help

• Redcoat soldier was knocked down and fired.

• Led to several gunshots- killing 5 colonists.

• Crispus Attucks• Killed in massacre

• Dockworker

• Part Native/ Part African

The Boston Massacre

Crispus Attucks Scene from the Massacre

Word Spreads

• Colonial leaders used the news as propaganda• (information designed to influence opinion)• Sam Adams- Slaughter of Innocent Americans by

bloodthirsty redcoats.• Paul Revere- engraving showed British officer giving

order to open fire.• Strengthened anti-British feelings• Led to stronger boycott on British Goods• Parliament repealed all Townshend Acts taxes except

on TEA.

A Crisis Over Tea!

• British East India Tea Company faced ruin!

• To save company, Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773.

• Tea Act of 1773

• Tea to colonies without most taxes (138)

• Company could sell directly to shopkeepers

• East India Tea- cheaper than other Tea

• Act gave favorable adv. Over the colonies

Colonial Reaction

• Demanded New Boycott

• Daughters of Liberty – “we’ll part with our tea” not our freedom.

• Vowed to stop East India’s ships from unloading .

• Tea shipped to Philly, NY, Boston, Charles Town.

• Philly, NY ships turned back, Charles Town Tea –seized & stored in Warehouse.

The Boston Tea Party

• 3 Tea Ships arrived in Boston Harbor-late 1773

• Royal Gov. refused to let ships turn back

• Sam Adams & “Sons of Liberty” acted swiftly

• Dec. 16- group disguised as Natives boarded the ship & threw 342 chests of tea overboard.

• Act became known as The Boston Tea Party

• Word spread & celebrations about the bravery ensued.

The Intolerable Acts

• Coercive Acts- 1774- harsh, intended to punish people of Massachusetts.

• Acts- closed Boston Harbor until ruined tea was paid for. (prevented food and supplies)

• Acts also banned town meetings, permitted Royal officers to be tried in other colonies or in Britain when accused of Crimes.

• Forced Bostonians to shelter soldiers in their homes

• Quebec Act- set up permanent gov. for Quebec with religious freedom to French Catholics

Colonist Reaction

• Very angry- still felt a violation of their right was taken place

• Colonists felt the Quebec area was West of the Appalachians & North of Ohio River.

• Colonists named the Coercive Act and the Quebec Acts- The Intolerable Acts……