The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a series of protests that took place inBoston, Massachusetts in 1773. It was a political and economic act of directaction against the British government and the monopolistic East IndiaCompany. The colonists were protesting against taxation withoutrepresentation and the perceived intrusion of the East India Company intocolonial life.
Causes of the Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was in direct response to the “Tea Act” of 1773.This act allowed the East India Company to sell its tea directly to thecolonists in America, bypassing colonial merchants and resulting in alower price for tea. This allowed the East India Company to monopolizethe tea trade in America, which outraged the colonists.
Events of the Boston Tea Party
The colonists in Boston responded to the Tea Act by organizing aprotest at the harbor in Boston. This protest was known as the “BostonTea Party” and it took place on December 16th, 1773. Colonists disguisedas Native Americans boarded ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into thesea. This caused an estimated $1.7 million in damage and was a symbolicprotest against the oppressive policies of the British government.
Aftermath of the Boston Tea Party
The aftermath of the Boston Tea Party saw an increase in anti-Britishsentiment in the colonies. The British government responded to theevents by passing a series of acts known as the “Intolerable Acts” whichplaced various restrictions on the colonies. These restrictions includedthe closing of the port of Boston and the deployment of British troopsin the colonies.
The Boston Tea Party was an important event in the lead up to theAmerican Revolution and the establishment of the United States. It wasan act of direct action against the British government that demonstratedthe colonists’ willingness to fight for their rights and freedoms. TheBoston Tea Party has had long lasting implications and has become an iconic symbol of American independence.
