The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a revolutionary incident that took place on 16th December 1773 in Boston, Massachusetts in the colonies of British America. It was a protest by the American colonists against the British government in which the Sons of Liberty destroyed thousands of pounds of British tea. This incident is widely seen as one of the major catalysts for the Revolutionary War.
The Cause of the Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was a direct result of the Tea Act of 1773. It was designed to lower the price of British tea so as to help the financially struggling British East India Company. This act was seen by the American colonists as an attempt by the British Government to impose unfair taxes on them and to deny them the right of self-governance. The Americans were further angered by the fact that the Tea Act also gave a monopoly to the British East India Company in the American tea market.
The Events of the Boston Tea Party
On the night of 16th December 1773, a ragtag group of Sons of Liberty boarded three shipped belonging to the British East India Company which were in Boston harbour and threw overboard over 300 chests of tea. This incident became known as the Boston Tea Party and it quickly became a symbol for the movement of American independence.
The Aftermath
In response to the Boston Tea Party, the British government imposed a series of acts known as the Intolerable Acts. These acts further angered the American colonists and led to a series of protests and the eventual formation of the American Revolutionary War in 1775.
The Legacy of the Boston Tea Party
The American Revolutionary War ultimately led to the independence of the United States of America in 1783. The Boston Tea Party is seen as an iconic event in American history and is widely considered to be a major part of the process which led to the formation of America as an independent nation.
Conclusion
The Boston Tea Party was a revolutionary incident which changed the course of history forever. It is remembered today as a symbol of American independence and liberty. It sparked the American revolution and its legacy lives on to this day.
