Purpose of the Tea Act of 1773
The Tea Act of 1773 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain that played an important role in the events leading up to the American Revolution. The Act was designed for the benefit of the East India Company and to increase tea exports to the American colonies.
Why the Tea Act of 1773 was Put in Place
- To save the financially troubled East India Company by giving it a monopoly over tea imports to the American colonies
- To strengthen Britain’s control over the American colonies by taxing tea and other goods
- To demonstrate Britain’s power and authority over the Colonies and to show that Britain had the right to levy taxes on the colonies
The Outcome of the Tea Act
The tax imposed by the Tea Act directly led to the Boston Tea Party, a group of American revolutionaries throwing tea off the British-controlled East India Company’s tea ship into the harbour. This incident, along with many other protests against British taxes, sparked the American Revolutionary War that eventually led to the colonies gaining their independence.
Conclusion
The Tea Act of 1773 was a direct attempt by Great Britain to reduce the financial burden of the East India Company and to further extend its power and authority over the American colonies. Although this attempt backfired and ultimately led to the American Revolution, it remains an important part of history that is still remembered to this day.
