The Boston Tea Party and Resistance to British Rule Graphic Organizer
Directions: Have students fill out the graphic organizer and answer the analysis questions while looking at the three political cartoons.
Handout B: “Bostonians in Distress”(1774)
Handout C: “The Bostonians Paying the Excise Man” (1774)
| Cartoon Title | What do I see? How does the cartoon relate to the Boston Tea Party and the British response to it? | Is the illustrator supportive of the Boston Tea Party and colonial opposition to British tax policy? Or is he sympathetic to the British? |
| “Bostonians in Distress” (1774)
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| “The Bostonians Paying the Excise Man” (1774)
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Analysis Questions:
- Based off your understanding of the leadup to the Boston Tea Party, do you believe the colonists were justified in throwing the tea into the harbor? Explain your answer.
- Do you believe the British were justified in the measures they took after the Boston Tea Party? Explain your answer.
- The colonists who took part in the Boston Tea Party were careful to avoid destroying any private property outside of the tea—some stories say they even replaced a padlock that needed to be broken. Why do you think they did this? How does this demonstrate the virtues of moderation and respect?