The Boston Tea Party and the History of Tea in America

What Happened Before the Boston Tea Partyunloading off the ships in New York and
To people in England in the late 1700s, AmericaPhiladelphia. In Charleston, the tea was being held
symbolized hope. Many risked their lives travelingin government warehouses until the colonists paid
the high seas just to reach the new continent,for the tax on the tea.
suffering vitamin and mineral deficiencies along theBut once three tea ships arrived in Boston, the
way. Little did they know that once they arrived,Boston Tea Party protesters were well on their
they would have major obstacles to overcome -way to making history. The governor, Thomas
Native Americans interfering with settlers,Hutchinson, wouldn't let the ships leave without
criminals stealing whatever was in their coveredfirst paying the duties.
wagon, famine, and the least expected obstacle,On Dec. 16, 1773, protesters led by Paul Revere,
fighting their own British government forSamuel Adams and dozens of other politically
independence.active men disguised themselves as Indians and
Many colonists landed in Massachusetts andsneaked onboard the ships. Then with a
Boston was a port that kept supplies coming intowell-coordinated effort, the men threw the tea
supply the colonists' needs from the motherinto the Boston Harbor as a symbol of rebellion
country. One of the primary cargos onboard shipsand a sign to British Parliament that the tea tax
from the mother country England was tea, awould not be respected. Tea floated in the harbor,
commodity that the British had come to knowand when tea leaves contact water, there's tea
and love.no matter where that water is. In this case, the
British Parliament officials, faced with financialBoston Harbor was the big teacup. The event
problems of the British East India Company sawwas called the Boston Tea Party.
taxation on that tea as an easy way to tax theThe Boston Tea Party wasn't the end of the
colonists. The law was called the Tea Tax. Britishdispute. Actions often result in pushback from the
Parliament had no idea of the unrest andother side, especially on a political level. In 1774,
frustration the colonists felt about paying anotherBritain closed Boston's port as an attempt to
tax when they passed that tax law. The colonistsrecover costs of the destroyed tea. Pushback
believed that they should pay taxes to their ownfrom the colonists resulted and more protests
elected officials in America, but it was toobegan, although none were as big as the previous
burdensome to pay Britain as well. To the BritishBoston Tea Party. The colonists formed solidarity
officials, a tax on tea was a way thatamong themselves and met at the First
government could still control their people'sContinental Congress convention. The primary
finances and pay off their own debts.topic on the agenda was to petition Britain for
Unrest continued for many weeks and Britishrepeal of the laws against them.
Parliament couldn't resolve the issue with electedIt's possible that the Boston Tea Party was the
officials here in America. Tea Act protesters werestart of resentment that would never be
brewing a revolution and it was about to happeneliminated. In 1775, the American Revolutionary
soon and become the Boston Tea Party.War broke out and the rest is history ever since.
The Boston Tea Party BeginsOne thing remains, we still love our tea in
Thus, any tea that came into an American portAmerica, 85% of tea consumed in the USA is
from Britain would be taxed Protesters wereserved as iced tea and in most States it is not
successful in preventing the taxed tea fromtaxed.