Harbor Tea Toss Worksheet
Grade 5 History Investigation
Harbor Tea Toss Worksheet
December 16, 1773
Name:
Date:
Class:
Detective Word Bank
Tax: Extra money citizens must pay to support the government.
Parliament: The British lawmaking group across the Atlantic Ocean.
Boycott: Refusing to buy goods as a peaceful way to protest.
Sons of Liberty: A secret group of colonists who resisted British rules.
1
Trouble Brewing in Boston
In 1773, Great Britain passed the Tea Act. This law made tea from the British East India Company cheap, but colonists still had to pay a tax on every cup. Colonists shouted, "No taxation without representation!" They were furious because they had no say or elected leaders in the British Parliament.
A. Why were the colonists upset about the tea tax even though the tea was cheaper?
Complete the sentence starter below:
The colonists were upset because they could not
2
The Meeting at Old South Church
On the cold night of December 16, 1773, over 5,000 angry colonists squeezed into the Old South Meeting House. When British officials refused to send the tea ships back to England, patriot leader Samuel Adams gave a quiet signal. A whistle blew, and groups of men headed quickly toward Griffin's Wharf.
B. Who organized the resistance against the tea ships in Boston?
King George III
The Sons of Liberty
British Naval Captains
French Fur Traders
Unit: Road to the American Revolution Turn page for the Harbor Raid →
Harbor Raid & Aftermath
Page 2 Investigation
3
Midnight in the Harbor
Men disguised in Mohawk garments boarded three ships: the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver. Using axes, they split open 342 wooden chests and dumped over 45 tons of tea leaves into the ocean water. They took care not to damage anything else on the ships!
3 Ships
Dartmouth, Eleanor, Beaver
342 Chests
Dumped into the harbor
Strict Rule
No other property stolen
C. What fact shows that the Sons of Liberty wanted this to be a political protest, not just wild vandalism?
4
The King Strikes Back
King George III was furious. Parliament passed harsh laws called the Coercive Acts (colonists called them the Intolerable Acts). The British navy closed Boston Harbor until the destroyed tea was repaid. Instead of scaring the colonists, this act brought all thirteen colonies closer together!
CAUSE (Action):
Colonists throw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor to protest unfair taxes.
EFFECT (British Reaction):
Historian's Decision
Imagine you lived in Boston in 1773. Would you have supported the Boston Tea Party? State your opinion and give one clear reason from your reading.
Helpful starter: I would / would not support the Boston Tea Party because...
Teacher Check: Evidence Used Clear Sentences
Score: ______ / 10
