6. The British Empire and the Colonial Crisis, 1754

Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Analyzing Historical Evidence: Reactions to the Boston Port Act Outside Massachusetts

Select the best answer for each question. Click the “submit” button for each question to turn in your work.

Question 6.11

1. Parliament enacted the Boston Port Act on June 1, 1774 in response to

the Boston Massacre.

the attempted assassination of Governor Thomas Hutchinson.

the formation of committees of correspondence.

the Boston Tea Party.

Question 6.12

2. Which of the following reflects how George Washington viewed Boston in the wake of the Boston Port Act, according to the letter he wrote to George William Fairfax?

Bostonians should not have destroyed the tea and needed to be punished.

Parliament had acted cruelly, but there was nothing the other colonies could do to help.

Boston’s cause had become the cause of all American colonists.

What happened in Boston did not concern the other colonies.

Question 6.13

3. Which of the following explains why the Kingston letter-writers characterized themselves and their fellow colonists as slaves?

“…when we consider the new, arbitrary, and unjust claims of our brethren in Great Britain…[W]e view and consider ourselves…as absolute slaves….”

“…when we consider the military forces, both by sea and land, sent in a hostile manner to enforce…those acts and claims….”

“…for what is a slave, but one who is bound in all cases whatsoever by the will and command of another.”

“…Britain, instead of being our best friend, will be looked upon as an enemy; and then a final separation…will no doubt soon follow….”

Question 6.14

4. According to the anonymous Philadelphian letter-writer, what needed to happen before Parliament would view Boston’s grievance as legitimate?

Pennsylvania needed to hold its own demonstration against the Tea Act.

Boston needed to pay for the cost of the tea dumped in the harbor.

At least seven colonies needed to sign tea nonimportation pacts.

The colonists needed to create their own American parliament.

Question 6.15

5. Which of these beliefs was shared by all three letter-writers?

It is unjust to levy taxes without the consent of the people being taxed.

Bostonians should not have dumped the tea into the Boston Harbor.

If the cruel Parliamentary acts were not reversed, war with Britain was inevitable.