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American Revolution

The Boston Massacre

The Boston Massacre
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   high interest, readability grades 4 to 5
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   3.99

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    refused, wounded, jury, murder, unfair, guilty, duty, defend, lawyer, fell, jail, soldier, danger, goods, justice, against
     content words:    Indian War, Townshend Acts, On March, Crispus Attucks, John Adams, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, Boston Massacre

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The Boston Massacre
By Cathy Pearl 		  
1     England had tried to tax the colonies many times. The colonists fought against the taxes. They thought the taxes were unfair. They did not want to help England pay for the French and Indian War. England and the colonists were very unhappy. Soon, there would be a disaster.
 
2     England made new taxes for the colonists in 1767. The taxes were called the Townshend Acts. It put duties on glass and tea. A duty is a tax on imported goods. England hoped the colonists would be happier with a duty. Not all of the colonists would have to pay the tax.
 
3     The colonists were not fooled. They knew the Townshend Acts were another way to raise money for England. The colonists started another boycott. Women made their own cloth. They refused to buy English tea.
 
4     England sent soldiers to Boston. On March 5, 1770, a group of men and boys started to bother a soldier. They threw snowballs and oyster shells at him. The soldier was worried. He sent for more soldiers to help him.

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