In this Grade 5 lesson from California myWorld Interactive, Chapter 5, students explore the key events that pushed the American colonies toward war with Great Britain, including the Boston Massacre, the formation of Committees of Correspondence, and the Boston Tea Party. Students learn vocabulary such as massacre, Patriot, Loyalist, and militia while examining how British policies like the Townshend Acts and the Tea Act fueled colonial unrest. By the end of the lesson, students can explain why escalating tensions led colonists to choose armed conflict over continued British rule.
Section 1
Colonists Shape the Story of the Boston Massacre
In 1770, tensions in Boston erupted into violence. British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five people. This event became known as the Boston Massacre.
Colonial leaders used this tragedy to unite people against Great Britain. They created powerful stories and pictures that portrayed the soldiers as evil murderers. This use of one-sided information to change how people think is called propaganda.
Section 2
Colonists Create a Communication Network
After the Boston Massacre, Patriot leaders wanted to unite the colonies against Great Britain. News traveled slowly, so it was hard for colonists in different places to work together. They needed a fast way to share information and organize their actions.
In 1772, a leader from Boston named Samuel Adams created a solution. He formed the first Committee of Correspondence. These were groups of colonists who wrote letters to each other. Soon, other towns and colonies created their own committees.
Section 3
The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party
On May 10, 1773, Great Britain passed the Tea Act.
This law allowed one British company to sell tea directly to the colonies at a very low price. While the tea was cheaper, this hurt the business of colonial merchants and was seen as another attempt by Britain to control colonial trade.
Section 4
The Intolerable Acts and the First Continental Congress
Great Britain was furious about the Boston Tea Party. To punish Boston, Parliament passed harsh laws that colonists called the Intolerable Acts. These laws closed Boston Harbor, which stopped trade, and took away some of the colonists' power to govern themselves.
The other colonies saw this and grew alarmed. They feared that Great Britain could punish them just as harshly. Instead of backing down, the colonies realized they needed to work together against what they saw as unfair treatment.
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Section 1
Colonists Shape the Story of the Boston Massacre
In 1770, tensions in Boston erupted into violence. British soldiers fired into a crowd of colonists, killing five people. This event became known as the Boston Massacre.
Colonial leaders used this tragedy to unite people against Great Britain. They created powerful stories and pictures that portrayed the soldiers as evil murderers. This use of one-sided information to change how people think is called propaganda.
Section 2
Colonists Create a Communication Network
After the Boston Massacre, Patriot leaders wanted to unite the colonies against Great Britain. News traveled slowly, so it was hard for colonists in different places to work together. They needed a fast way to share information and organize their actions.
In 1772, a leader from Boston named Samuel Adams created a solution. He formed the first Committee of Correspondence. These were groups of colonists who wrote letters to each other. Soon, other towns and colonies created their own committees.
Section 3
The Tea Act and the Boston Tea Party
On May 10, 1773, Great Britain passed the Tea Act.
This law allowed one British company to sell tea directly to the colonies at a very low price. While the tea was cheaper, this hurt the business of colonial merchants and was seen as another attempt by Britain to control colonial trade.
Section 4
The Intolerable Acts and the First Continental Congress
Great Britain was furious about the Boston Tea Party. To punish Boston, Parliament passed harsh laws that colonists called the Intolerable Acts. These laws closed Boston Harbor, which stopped trade, and took away some of the colonists' power to govern themselves.
The other colonies saw this and grew alarmed. They feared that Great Britain could punish them just as harshly. Instead of backing down, the colonies realized they needed to work together against what they saw as unfair treatment.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter