Question

Difficulty: MediumBritish Taxation Policies and Colonial Resistance

“1. That the disposal of their own property is the inherent right of freemen; that there can be no property in that which another can, of right, take from us without our consent; that the claim of Parliament to tax America, is, in other words, a claim of right to levy contributions on us at pleasure. . . .

5. That the resolution lately entered into by the East India Company, to send out their tea to America, subject to the payment of duties on its being landed here, is an open attempt to enforce the ministerial plan of taxing us, and a violent attack upon the liberties of America.”
— Philadelphia Resolutions, October 16, 1773

Which of the following colonial actions was a direct consequence of the sentiments expressed in the excerpt?

  1. The organization of local protests and actions, such as the Boston Tea Party, to prevent the landing of East India Company teaAnswer
  2. B
    The convening of the Stamp Act Congress to draft a petition of rights and grievances to the King
  3. C
    A colonial demand for the complete dismantling of the mercantilist system to trade freely with other European empires
  4. D
    The immediate drafting of the Articles of Confederation to establish a unified colonial government

Answer

The organization of local protests and actions, such as the Boston Tea Party, to prevent the landing of East India Company tea
The correct answer is correct because the Philadelphia Resolutions of October 1773 articulated the colonial resistance to the Tea Act, asserting that importing taxed tea was an attack on American liberties. This widespread sentiment directly motivated groups like the Sons of Liberty to physically prevent the landing of the tea, resulting in events like the Boston Tea Party in December 1773.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document and its context.
The excerpt is from the Philadelphia Resolutions of October 1773, which directly protest the Tea Act and the East India Company's plans to import taxed tea.
Understanding the specific historical event (the 1773 Tea Act crisis) helps identify the chronological sequence and immediate consequences.
2
Identify the direct outcome of the colonial resistance to the Tea Act.
Colonial resistance to the landing of East India Company tea culminated in protests, most famously the Boston Tea Party in December 1773, where tea was dumped into the harbor to prevent payment of the duty.
This links the ideology expressed in the resolutions to the concrete actions taken by the colonists.
3
Evaluate the distractors based on chronology and concept.
The Stamp Act Congress occurred in 1765 (chronological error). The Articles of Confederation were drafted in 1777 (chronological error). The demand was about representation and consent, not dismantling the entire mercantilist system of trade (conceptual error).
Ensures that all other choices are incorrect and aligned with historical facts.

Key Concept

The escalation of colonial resistance to British taxation policies, specifically the Tea Act, which led to direct actions like the Boston Tea Party.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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