England’s Response To The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was one of the most iconic events in the American Revolution. This event that saw the Sons of Liberty dump hundreds of chests of British East India Company tea into Boston Harbor became an incredible shove towards revolution for the American colonies. But what was England’s response?
Stamp Act of 1774
In response to the Boston Tea Party, England passed the Intolerable Acts. This was a series of five acts that the British government put into place to try and demonstrate their authority to the colonies. This included the Dismemberment Act, the Administration of Justice Act, the Boston Port Act, the Quartering Act, and most notably, the Stamp Act of 1774.
The Stamp Act of 1774 was implemented as a direct tax on Britain’s American colonies. This required revenue stamps to be affixed to every document or product sold in the British American colonies, including newspapers and legal papers. The English saw this as an effective way to gain revenue from the colonies in order to pay for the costs of military protection.
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances
In response to the Intolerable Acts, in October 1774, some of the most influential leaders of the American Revolution gathered in Philadelphia to create and sign the Declaration of Rights and Grievances. This document was sent to King George III, and addressed four main grievances of the American colonies, including:
- Taxation without Representation– This refers to the protest of taxation without the full representation of the colonists in the British Parliament.
- No Trial by Jury– This refers to the protest of the colonists not being allowed to be tried by their peers.
- Infringement of Colonial Trade– This refers to the protests of British laws that were put in place to restrict the colonists ability to trade with countries other than Britain.
- Restriction of Rights– This refers to the protests of the colonists not being granted the same rights, such as the right to bear arms, as those written in the English Bill of Rights.
The Declaration of Rights and Grievances stated that the colonies should not be taxed without first gaining the approval of their own elected Assembly. It also included a list of proposed modifications to the Intolerable Acts in order to address the grievances listed above.
The Aftermath
Unfortunately, King George III rejected the Declaration of Rights and Grievances and tensions between the Colonies and England greatly increased. This would eventually lead to the American Revolution, and England’s defeat at the hands of the Colonists. The events in Boston would spark a chain of events that would ultimately lead to the American colonies gaining their independence from Britain.
The legacy of the Boston Tea Party lives on in American history and has since been seen as a key symbol of revolt and revolution. It the direct result of this event that the American colonies would eventually gain their freedom from Britain and establish themselves as an independent nation.
