The Boston Tea Party

The Boston tea party occurred on December 16^th, 1773 in response to the British Parliaments tea act on May 10, 1773. The tea act granted the English East India Company a monopoly on the importation of tea into the colonies. This meant the colonists were able to buy tea at a low price, but were forced to pay a tea tax to the British. The Colonists did not agree with paying taxes to the British, and viewed this as taxation tyranny. They began to protest “no taxation, without representation”. The Americans believed they were able to govern themselves, and revolted against British attempts to remain in control of the 13 colonies.

In response to this act of Tyranny, Samuel Adams organized the tea party with about 60 members of the sons of liberty, his underground resistance group. Some of the men disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians to conceal their identity, and raided the ships docked at the Boston Harbor. The colonists threw about 342 chests of tea over board the ships and into the Boston harbor. This was their act of showing the British they will not participate in their tyranny.

This historical event was one of the most significant events in American history, because it was one of the first acts American colonists took to defend their freedom and independence from British Rule. The Boston tea party acted as a catalyst for the colonists to Unite and form an American resistance against the British. This was the start of the American Revolution.

Primary Sources:

1.

The Boston Post-Boy of December 13, 1773 reprinted a letter from Rivington’s New written by “The Mohawks.”

NEW-YORK, December 6, 1773.

WHEREAS our nation have lately been informed, that the fetters which have been forged for us (by the parliament of Great-Britain) are hourly expected to arrive, in a certain ship,belonging to, or chartered by, the East-India Company. We do therefore declare, that we are determined not to be enslaved, by any power on earth; and that whosoever shall aid, or abet, so infamous a design, or shall presume to let their store, or stores, for the reception of the infernal chains, may depend upon it, that we are prepared, and shall not fail to pay them an unwelcome visit, in which they shall be treated as they deserve; by

The MOHAWKS.

New-York, Nov. 27, 1773

View a digital image of this document at http://www.masshist.org/database/onview_full.cfm?queryID=457

• Description: This is a letter from the Boston post describing how the colonists viewed the Tea Act as enslavement, and were ready to revolt against tyranny.

2.

__POETRY & SONG IN OPPOSITION TO THE TEA ACT, 1773__

“A ZEALOUS DAUGHTER OF LIBERTY,” poem, The Massachusetts Spy, 2 Dec. 1773

Mr. THOMAS [printer],

Sir, an aged and very zealous Daughter of Liberty, Mrs. Ms, a Tailor by trade, not being able to attend her brethren and townsmen [at town meetings] the last Monday and Tuesday, delivered the following lines extempore [impromptu/of the moment] by way of caution to her countrymen.

PARLIAMENT an act has made

That will distress and ruin trade.

To raise a tax as we are told

That will enslave both young and old.

Look our poor Boston, make a stand,

Don’t suffer [allow] any Tea to land;

For if it once gets footing here,

Then Farewell Liberty most dear.

Reference: http://americainclass.org/sources/makingrevolution/crisis/text6/teaactresponse.pdf

• Description: This poem also describes the colonists perception of the Tea Act and its threat against their freedom.

3.

Reference: http://americainclass.org/sources/makingrevolution/crisis/text6/teaactresponse.pdf

• Description: This image is a British depiction of the Boston tea Party, "Americans throwing the cargoes of the tea ships into the river, at Boston"

References:

· "Boston Tea Party." United States History. Web. 16 Mar. 2015. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h646.html>.

· "Why Was The Boston Tea Party Significant?." Surfnetkids. Feldman Publishing. 9 Aug. 2007. Web. 16 Apr. 2015. <http://www.surfnetkids.com/independenceday/257/why-was-the-boston-tea-party-significant/ >.

· “Debunking Boston Tea Party Myths.” History Net: Where History Comes Alive – World & US History Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. < http://www.historynet.com/debunking-boston-tea-party-myths.htm&gt;