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Mr. A's Writing Tools
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Document Analysis
Why Did the Boston Tea Party Happen?
What to Do
Compelling QuestionWhy did the Boston Tea Party happen? Historical ContextOn the night of December 16, 1773, a group of colonists in Boston disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians, boarded three British ships in Boston Harbor, and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. This act of protest, later called the Boston Tea Party, was one of the key events leading to the American Revolution. The Tea Party was not a sudden act. It was the result of years of growing anger over British taxes. After the expensive French and Indian War (1754-1763), Parliament passed a series of tax laws — the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts — to raise money from the colonies. Colonists protested that they should not have to pay taxes passed by a Parliament in which they had no representatives. "No taxation without representation" became their rallying cry. In 1773, Parliament passed the Tea Act, which gave the British East India Company a monopoly on selling tea in the colonies. The colonists saw this as another example of Britain controlling their lives without their consent. When three ships loaded with East India Company tea arrived in Boston Harbor, patriots led by Samuel Adams organized the protest. Britain responded with the "Intolerable Acts" — harsh punishments that closed Boston Harbor and stripped Massachusetts of self-government. Primary Source Documents
Document 1: Samuel Adams's Call to Action (adapted)
Samuel Adams was a political leader in Boston who organized resistance to British taxes. He helped form the Sons of Liberty and the Committees of Correspondence, which coordinated colonial opposition. He gave this speech at a town meeting as Bostonians debated what to do about the tea ships sitting in the harbor.
Fellow citizens of Boston, the time for talk has passed. Three ships
loaded with East India Company tea now sit in our harbor. The governor
refuses to send them back to England. The customs officers insist the
tax must be paid. If we do nothing, the tea will be unloaded and the
tax collected — and a dangerous precedent will be set.
Let me remind you what is at stake. This is not merely about the price
of tea. If Parliament can tax our tea without our consent, they can tax
our bread, our cloth, our very homes. Today it is tea. Tomorrow it will
be everything we own. The principle is what matters: no free people should
be forced to pay taxes imposed by a government in which they have no
voice.
We have tried every peaceful means. We have petitioned the King. We have
written to Parliament. We have boycotted British goods. And still they
treat us as subjects to be commanded, not citizens to be consulted. The
tea must not be landed. The tax must not be paid. If the governor will
not act, then the people must act for themselves.
This meeting can do nothing more to save the country. Let every man do
what is right in his own eyes.
Document 2: British Tax Notice for Tea Importers
This notice was posted in Boston when the tea ships arrived. It explains the tax requirements under the Tea Act. British officials argued that the tax was fair and legal — Parliament had the right to tax the colonies, and the tea was actually cheaper than smuggled Dutch tea, even with the tax included.
NOTICE TO ALL TEA IMPORTERS AND MERCHANTS
By Order of His Majesty's Customs Office, Port of Boston
Be it known that all tea imported into the colony of Massachusetts must
be subject to a duty of three pence per pound, as established by Act of
Parliament. This duty is required by law and must be paid before any tea
may be unloaded from any vessel in this port.
The duty on tea is modest and reasonable. It amounts to less than the
price colonists have been paying for tea smuggled from Holland, which
enters our ports illegally and deprives the Crown of lawful revenue.
The East India Company tea, even with the duty, is offered at a lower
price than any tea currently available in the colonies.
Parliament has the lawful authority to levy taxes upon all subjects of
the Crown, whether they reside in London or in Boston. The colonies
benefit greatly from the protection of the British Army and Navy, from
British trade routes, and from the stability of British law. It is only
just that the colonies contribute to the costs of their own defense and
governance.
Any person who interferes with the lawful collection of this duty, or
who destroys or conceals tea to avoid payment, shall be subject to
prosecution and severe penalties under the law.
Key Terms
Writing Steps
1
Examine the Documents
Write your observations about the documents. What do you notice?
Answer these questions: 1. What is the compelling question asking you to find out? 2. What do you notice about who wrote each document and when? 3. What pattern, connection, or theme do you see across the documents? You can use bullet points, short phrases, or sentences. Read all the documents carefully. Answer these questions:
1. What is the compelling question asking you to answer? 2. Look at who wrote each document and when — what do you notice about the authors? 3. What pattern, connection, or theme do you see across the documents? Note: Your answers here help you prepare. This step is not part of your final score.
Scoring Guidance — Step 1
Target: ~10 words
Look for:
Main Argument Evidence (Doc 1) Evidence (Doc 2) Conclusion
2
Write Your Claim
Write ONE sentence that answers the compelling question.
Your claim should: - Answer the question directly - Use information from the documents - Be specific — don't just say "yes" or "no" A claim is one sentence that directly answers the compelling question.
Compelling Question: Why did the Boston Tea Party happen? A strong claim: - Answers the question in ONE clear sentence - Is based on what you read in the documents - Takes a clear position — not just "yes" or "no" - Is specific — not "it was important" or "things changed"
Scoring Guidance — Step 2
Role: claim
Target: ~15 words
Look for:
Answer the question directly
Use information from the documents
Be specific — don't just say 'yes' or 'no
Sentence Starters
Based on the documents, my claim is that ___.
My thesis is that ___ because ___.
The documents show that ___.
Target: about 15 words
3
Support with Document Evidence
Write 1-2 pieces of evidence from the documents. Say which document each piece comes from.
Your evidence should: - Name the document (Document 1, the letter, etc.) - Use specific details, quotes, or facts - Explain what the document says — don't just copy it Look at the documents on the left for the exact details. Evidence is specific information from the documents that supports your claim.
Find evidence from the documents that supports your claim. Quote or describe specific details. Always say WHICH document your evidence comes from (e.g., "In Document 1, the author says..." or "According to the letter from..."). Strong evidence at this grade: - Names the document it comes from - Uses specific details, quotes, or facts - Directly connects to your claim
Scoring Guidance — Step 3
Role: evidence
Target: ~25 words
Look for:
Name the document (Document 1, the letter, etc.)
Use specific details, quotes, or facts
Explain what the document says — don't just copy it
Sentence Starters
According to Document ___, ___.
Document ___ states, "___," which shows ___.
The author of Document ___ writes that ___.
Target: about 25 words
4
Explain Your Reasoning & Write Full Response
First, write your reasoning (2-3 sentences):
- Why does your evidence support your claim? - What does the evidence mean in historical context? - Use "because" or "this shows that..." Then, write your complete response in the box below. Your paragraph should: - Start with your claim - Include your evidence with document attribution - Explain WHY the evidence matters - Connect everything back to the compelling question - Be 4-6 sentences total This is the most important step! You will do two things:
Part A — Write your reasoning. Now explain WHY your evidence supports your claim. Think about: - What does this evidence MEAN? - Why is it important? - How does it help answer the compelling question? Reasoning ≠ Evidence. Don't repeat what you already wrote. Try: "This is important because..." or "This shows that..." Part B — Write your COMPLETE response. Put your claim, evidence, and reasoning together into a clear paragraph.
Scoring Guidance — Step 4
Role: full analysis
Target: ~60 words
Look for:
Start with your claim
Include your evidence with document attribution
Explain WHY the evidence matters
Connect everything back to the compelling question
Sentence Starters
My claim is ___. Document ___ shows ___. This matters because ___.
Target: about 60 words
Self-Check Rubric
Before You Turn InI completed the planning step
I wrote my claim
My claim is about 15 words
I wrote my evidence
My evidence is about 25 words
I wrote my full analysis
My explain your reasoning & write full response is about 60 words
I re-read my writing and fixed any spelling or grammar mistakes
I am proud of this work
ReflectionWhat was the hardest part of this assignment? What would you do differently next time? Want the AI-coached version of this assignment?
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