Boycotts and the Boston Massacre

What does boycotting mean?

• Boycotting is the refusal to buy a certain product or support a company or organization.

How did boycotting play a role in the Revolution?

• After the Townshend Acts were passed, the colonists began refusing to buy British goods.

• This was called the “Non-Importation Movement.”

• Places most greatly impacted were major ports such as Boston and New York.

How did the Colonists live life without British goods?

• Boycott supporters spread the word quickly so more people participated.

• Colonists were encouraged to make homemade things.

• For example, women would stop buying imported tea and began making homemade clothes.

How effective were the boycotts?

• They worked!

• British prices fell by 50%

• The British had no choice but to remove the taxes on everything except tea.

What was the Boston Massacre?

• On a cold night in March, 1770, colonists got into a scuffle with British soldiers.

• The scuffle began when colonists expressed frustrations with how the British were running the colonies.

• Amidst the confusion, British fired shots at the colonists, and 5 were killed.

How did the Boston Massacre affect the Colonists?

• The Massacre led to even greater anger for the colonies.

• Paul Revere’s drawing, along with many newspaper articles depicted the British as the clear enemy.

Paul Revere’s Boston Massacre Depiction

• Write your summary.