Boston Massacre

On March 5, 1770, a group of citizens of Boston set upon a squad of ten British soldiers. The British had to open fire to defend their lives. They killed five men. Six citizens were wounded.

The soldiers and their officer, Captain Preston, were arrested and tried for murder. As both the soldiers and Bostonians were equally guilty, only two of the British were declared guilty of manslaughter. They were branded on the hand and released. The others, including the officer, were acquitted.

Boston Massacre, as the event was called, raised anti-British sentiment in the colonies. Massacre Day was observed in Boston as a patriotic holiday. Afterwards they used to say that the foundation of American independence was laid on that day.

American colonists felt that the time was coming for them to take up arms against the mother country. The colonies were unanimous in their desire to do away with the British rule. In 1772—1773 they formed special bodies called the local committees of correspondence. They were to keep alive opposition to British policy. Soon intercolonial committees of correspondence were created. Every colony had its central committee through which it could exchange information and ideas with other colonies. These intercolonial groups acted in unity and gradually evolved into the first American congress.

Notes:

Boston Massacre — Бостонская расправа (1770)

to try for murder — судить за убийство

manslaughter — человекоубийство

to be branded — быть заклейменным

to be acquitted — быть оправданным

to be observed — соблюдаться

the foundation of American independence was laid on that day — в тот день была заложена основа американской неза­висимости

to take up arms — браться за оружие

unanimous — единодушный

the local committees of correspondence — местные корреспондентские комитеты

gradually evolved into — постепенно превратились в

EXERCISES

1. Переведите на русский язык:

A group of citizens of Boston, a squad of ten British soldiers, six citizens, only two of the British, including the officer, as the event, anti-British sentiment in the colonies.

2. Выпишите из текста предложения, содержащие следующие словосочетания и переведите их на русский язык:

On March 5, 1770, as a patriotic holiday, afterwards, American colonists, in 1772—1773, intercolonial groups.

3. Составьте предложения со следующими словами и словосочетаниями:

American independence, the event, in Boston, special bodies, the local committees of correspondence, to keep alive opposition.

4. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. What happened in Boston on March 5, 1770?

2. What sentiment did Boston Massacre raise in the British colonies?

3. Why were the colonies unanimous in their desire to do away with the British rule?

4. When were the local committees of correspondence formed?

5. What were they formed for?

6. What evolved into the first American congress?

BOSTON TEA PART Y

The Townshend Acts were so unpopular in America that Parliament decided to repeal the Townshend revenue duties. Only a symbolic tax on tea was retained. For a short period tea became cheaper.

Things went worse in 1773. The British East India Company was facing bankruptcy, as it could not sell about seventeen million pounds of tea imported from India. Parliament wanted to help the company. If the company collapsed, Britain would lose heavily in tax revenue. To assist the company, the British government granted the merchants the monopoly of tea business in America.

The colonists regarded it as an attempt to trick them. They protested the law giving a British company an unfair advantage in the colonial trade. Struggling against the monopoly, the Americans would not permit the unloading of three British ships that arrived in Boston with 342 chests of tea.

On December 16, a group of Bostonians, disguised as Indians, boarded these ships and emptied the tea into Boston Harbour. That was the famous Boston tea party.

To punish the Bostonians for the tea incident the British closed the port. No goods could be brought to Boston by sea. However, other colonies decided to provide Massachusetts with food and other necessary supplies. The repressive act of the British government fanned great discontent in America. It was responded by summoning of the First Continental Congress in 1774.

Notes:

Boston Tea Party — "Бостонское чаепитие"

a symbolic tax on tea was retained — символический на­лог на чай был сохранен

regarded it as an attempt to trick them — рассматривали это как попытку обмануть их

an unfair advantage — несправедливое преимущество

would not permit the unloading — не пожелали разрешить разгрузку

chest of tea — ящик чая. Ящик представлял собой стан­дартную торговую меру и содержал в себе 108 фунтов (около 50 кг) чая

fanned great discontent — вызвало огромное недоволь­ство

It was responded by summoning of the First Continental Congress — Вответ был созван Первый Континентальный конгресс

EXERCISES

1. Переведите на русский язык:

The Townshend Acts, so unpopular in America, Parliament decided, to repeal, the Townshend revenue duties, only a symbolic tax on tea, for a short period, tea became cheaper, an unfair advantage in the colonial trade.

2. Выпишите из текста предложения, содержащие следующие словосочетания и переведите их на русский язык:

The British East India Company, the British government granted, an attempt to trick them, the law giving a British company.

3. Составьте предложения со следующими словами и словосочетаниями:

On December 16, a group of Bostonians, to punish the Bostonians, to provide Massachusetts with food, the First Continental Congress in 1774.

4. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Why did tea become cheaper?

2. Why did Parliament want to help the British East India Company?

3. What caused protests of the colonists?

4. What is known as the Boston Tea Party?

5. How were the Bostonians punished?

6. Why was the First Continental Congress summoned in 1774?