The Bostonians in Distress
1774
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This is a copy of a print attributed to Philip Dawe, printed for the firm of Robert Sayer and John Bennett. The image appeared in a London newspaper soon after the Boston Tea Party, on November 19, 1774. The sailors in this political cartoon represent the colonies coming to the aid of Bostonians suffering under Parliament’s Coercive Acts.
After Boston’s “tea party,” the British Parliament passed a series of Coercive Acts in 1774 to punish the city and reassert its authority over the colonies. Deemed “intolerable” by Americans, the colonies responded by sending delegates to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to devise a united response to the Coercive Acts.
Known today as the First Continental Congress, delegates debated and adopted policies aimed at defending colonial rights in the British Empire. Although the Congress met in the hope of peacefully repairing the fracturing imperial relationship, the measures it passed failed to avert war and a complete break with Great Britain.
A copy of this print was gathered as part of the George Washington Bicentennial Commission in 1931-1932. The Commission's purpose was to celebrate the birth and accomplishments of Washington, and to collect, preserve, and publish writings, artworks, and photographs pertinent to his life and times.
After Boston’s “tea party,” the British Parliament passed a series of Coercive Acts in 1774 to punish the city and reassert its authority over the colonies. Deemed “intolerable” by Americans, the colonies responded by sending delegates to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to devise a united response to the Coercive Acts.
Known today as the First Continental Congress, delegates debated and adopted policies aimed at defending colonial rights in the British Empire. Although the Congress met in the hope of peacefully repairing the fracturing imperial relationship, the measures it passed failed to avert war and a complete break with Great Britain.
A copy of this print was gathered as part of the George Washington Bicentennial Commission in 1931-1932. The Commission's purpose was to celebrate the birth and accomplishments of Washington, and to collect, preserve, and publish writings, artworks, and photographs pertinent to his life and times.
This primary source comes from the Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch.
National Archives Identifier: 532890
Full Citation: Photograph 148-GW-437; The Bostonians in Distress. Copy of mezzotint attributed to Philip Dawe, 1774.; 1774; The George Washington Bicentennial Commission, 1931 - 1932; Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch, Record Group 148; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/bostonians-in-distress, December 11, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.