The Beginner's American History
by D. H. Montgomery (adapted excerpt)

The King's Order

In 1763, the war with the French ended with the English gaining possession of the whole of America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. This part of America was ruled by George the Third, King of England, who was now determined to send over more guards but wanted the people in the 13 colonies in America to pay the cost of keeping these guards. However, people were not willing to do this because they felt that they were able to protect themselves without help of any kind. Then the king said, "If the Americans will not give the money, I will take it from them—for pay it they must and shall." This was more than the king would have dared say about England; for there, if he wanted money to spend, he had to ask the people for it, and they could give it or not as they thought best. The Americans said, "We have the same rights as our brothers in England, and the king cannot force us to give a single copper against our will. If he tries to take it from us, we will fight."

The "Boston Tea Party"

However, George the Third did not really know the Americans, and he did not think that they meant what they said. He tried to make them pay the money, but they would not, and from Maine to Georgia, all the people were of one mind. Then the king thought of an alternate plan and arranged for shiploads of tea to be sent over to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Charleston. He ordered, "If the tea should be landed and sold, then every man who bought a pound of it would have to pay six cents more than the regular price." That six cents was a tax, which the people refused to pay. When the tea reached New York, the citizens sent it back again to England. They did the same thing at Philadelphia. At Charleston, they let it be landed, but it was stored in damp cellars. People would not buy any of it anymore, so it all rotted and spoiled. In Boston, they had a grand "tea party." A number of men dressed themselves up like Native Americans, went on board the tea ships at night, broke open all the chests, and emptied the tea into the harbor.


Select the correct answer.
Which statement best describes the purpose of the passage?
A.
to explain why the American colonists launched a protest against King George the Third
B.
to entertain with a story about how American colonists lived under King George the Third
C.
to provide an account about the history of the relationship between England and America
D.
to compare the different leadership styles exercised at the time in England and America