The Rise of the Boston Tea Party

Although acts such as the quartering acts, stamp act, and so on, led to the rise of the Boston Tea Party, the Tea Act was the last straw for the colonist. The Tea Act of 1773, allowed the British Indian Company to sell its tea directly to the colonies, underminding colonia tea merchants. Inspite of the consenquences, the Intolerable acts, that the colonist had to deal with, the Boston Tea Party played a mayor role in the start of the American Revolution.

In the 1760s, a countless number of acts were being imposed on the American Colonies so Britain could pay their debt after the 7 years war. For more than 9 years, the colonist tolerated theses new laws. These acts were known as the Sugar Act of 1764, taxing sugar, cofffee, and wine; the Stamp Act of 176, which taxed irems such as newspapers and envelopes; and the Townshend act of 1767, taxing galss, lead, paint, and so on. It wasn’t until December 16, 1773 in Boston Massachusetts that they decided to finally take a huge action. Colonist were angry that Britain was imposing taxation without representation. John Hancock decided to organize a boycott against tea, which was subject to an import tax. No matter how much the colonist rejected the East Indian Company tea, Britain forced the tea ashore.

A memoir writen from George Hewes, a Boston shoemaker, allows us to learn about the Boston Tea party from the colonist perspective. On a cold December 16th, Hewes says he along with other colonist and the Sons of Libery dressed up as Indians, tomahawks to be specific. They marched to Griffins Wharf, where the ships containing the tea were located, and split into 3 parties. Once every party aborded each ship, they were ordered to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard (Hewes). After 4 to 5 hours, more than 300 chest of tea were dumped in the Boston Harbor. They were surrounded by British armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist [them] (Hewes). Once every chest of tea was throw out of the ship, everybody retreated back to their homes with abosoloutely no questions being asked outloud. Regardless of the silence, one thing was clear there appeared to be an understanding that each individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret, and risk the consequences for himself (Hewes).

Although other events lead up to the Revolutionary War, the Boston Tea Party was a silent and peacful protest. There were no deaths or major violences towards each other during this time. Before the colonist could take action into their own hands, they came together at the South Meetinh House before heading to the wharf. Rumors spread that Sam Adams organized force behind the protest. The sons of libery and colinist dressed as Indias not to mock nor appear scary but because they wanted to blend in and hide their real indentities. During the Boston Tea Party, stealing or any other illegal acitivity was prohibited becasue the colonist did not want to be criminals, they wanted to make a stance against the unfair rules and make a political statement.