1. What threat did the British make if the colonists did not stop their opposition to the tea?
1. What threat did the British make if the colonists did not stop their opposition to the tea?
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Transcribed Image Text:AMERIGAN REPUBLIC
Name
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CHAPTER 5 ACTIVITY 3
The Boston Tea Party
From the "Recollections of George Hewes"
George Hewes was one of the "Indians" who destroyed the tea in Boston Harbor on
December 16, 1773. Read his account of the Tea Party and answer the questions that follow.
The tea destroyed was contained in three ships, lying near each other at what was
called at that time Griffin's wharf, and were surrounded by armed ships of war, the
commanders of which had publicly declared that if the rebels, as they were pleased
to style the Bostonians, should not withdraw their opposition to the landing of the
tea before a certain day, the 17th day of December, 1773, they should on that day
force it on shore, under the cover of their cannon's mouth. On the day preceding the
seventeenth, there was a meeting of the citizens of the county of Suffolk, convened
at one of the churches in Boston, for the purpose of consulting on what measures
might be considered expedient to prevènt the landing of the tea, or secure the people
from the collection of the duty. At that meeting a committee was appointed to wait
on Governor Hutchinson, and request him to inform them whether he would take
any measures to satisfy the people on the object of the meeting. To the first applica-
tion of this committee, the Governor told them he would give them a definite answer
by five oclock in the afternoon. At the hour appointed, the committee again repaired
to the Governor's house, and on inquiry found he had gone to his country seat at
Milton, a distance of about six miles. When the committee returned and informed
the meeting of the absence of the Governor, there was a confused murmur among
the members, and the meeting was immediately dissolved, many of them crying
out, "Let every man do his duty, and be true to his country"; and there was a general
huzza for Griffin's wharf.
It was now evening, and I immediately dressed myself in the costume of an
Indian, equipped with a small hatchet, which I and my associates denominated the
tomahawk, with which, and a club, after having painted my face and hands with coal
dust in the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin's wharf, where the ships lay
that contained the tea. When I first appeared in the street after being thus disguised,
I fell in wit'h many who were dressed, equipped and painted as I was, and who fell in
with m
Wher we arrived at the wharf, there were three of our number who assumed an
authority o direct our operations, to which we readily submitted. They divided us
into three parties, for the purpose of boarding the three ships which contained the
tea at the same time. The name of him who commanded the division to which I was
assigned was Leonard Pitt. The names of the other commanders I never knew. We
were immediately ordered by the respective commanders to board all the ships at
the same time, which we promptly obeyed. The commander of the division to which
I belonged, as soon as we were on board the ship, appointed me boatswain, and
ordered me to go to the captain and demand of him the keys to the hatches and a
dozen candles. I made the demand accordingly, and the captain promptly replied,
and delivered the articles; but requested me at the same time to do no damage to
the ship or rigging. We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches
and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard, and we immediately
proceeded to execute his orders, first cutting and splitting the chests with our toma-
hawks, so as to thoroughly expose them to the effects of the water.
In about three hours from the time we went on board, we had thus broken and
thrown overboard every tea chest to be found in the ship, while those in the other
d marched in order to the place of our destination.
31
Transcribed Image Text:ships were disposing of the tea in the same way, at the same time. We were sur-
rounded by British armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist us.
We then quietly retired to our several places of residence, without having any
conversation with each other, or taking any measures to discover who were our as-
sociates; nor do I recollect of our having had the knowledge of the name of a single
individual concerned in that affair, except that of Leonard Pitt, the commander of
my division, whom I have mentioned. There appeared to be an understanding that
each individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the
consequence for himself. No disorder took place during that transaction, and it was
observed at that time that the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoved for many
months. ...
The next morning, after we had cleared the ships of the tea, it was discovered that
very considerable quantities of it were floating upon the surface of the water: and
to prevent the possibility of any of its being saved for use, a number of small boats
were manned by sailors and citizens, who rowed them into those parts of the harbor
wherever the tea was visible, and by beating it with oars and paddles so thoroughly
drenched it as to render its entire destruction inevitable.
1. What threat did the British make if the colonists did not stop their opposition to the tea?
2. What was the first action of the group that met at the Boston church?
3. What was the governor's response to the people?
4. What did the group decide to do when they realized the governor had left?
5. Describe the costumes that the men wore to the wharf.
6. Why were the men at the wharf divided into three groups?
7. What task was assigned to the narrator? Was he successful?
8. Why did the men break open the cases of tea instead of just throwing them overboard?
9. Why do you think the British did nothing to stop the destruction of the tea?
10. Why do you think the men dressed as Indians did not tell each other their names?
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