Time Frame
The Boston Tea Party took place in 1773, ten years after Peace of Paris ended the "Indian" or French and Indian Wars in 1763 and ten years before the Treaty of Paris ended the War for Independence in 1783. The Stamp Act was enacted in 1763 and repealed in 1766. The Tea Act was enacted in 1773. Adam Smith published "The Cost of Empire," and Thomas Paine wrote "Common Sense" in 1776.
Identification
The Boston Tea Party was a civil protest against the monopoly held by the East India Company to trade in the English North American colonies. The secret Committees of Correspondence of Boston and the surrounding communities formed the nucleus of resistance to the Tea Act and formed a group, some disguised as Mohawks, that dumped 342 containers, containing 45 tons of tea from three ships---the Dartmouth, the Eleanor and the Beaver, moored at Griffin's Wharf. Between 7 and 10 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, a little more than a hundred people took part while hundreds more watched from shore. The organizers offered restitution for the destruction, valued at 10,000 British pounds. Among the participants in the organization of the protest were Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and John Hancock.
The Boston Tea Party took place in 1773, ten years after Peace of Paris ended the "Indian" or French and Indian Wars in 1763 and ten years before the Treaty of Paris ended the War for Independence in 1783. The Stamp Act was enacted in 1763 and repealed in 1766. The Tea Act was enacted in 1773. Adam Smith published "The Cost of Empire," and Thomas Paine wrote "Common Sense" in 1776.
Identification
The Boston Tea Party was a civil protest against the monopoly held by the East India Company to trade in the English North American colonies. The secret Committees of Correspondence of Boston and the surrounding communities formed the nucleus of resistance to the Tea Act and formed a group, some disguised as Mohawks, that dumped 342 containers, containing 45 tons of tea from three ships---the Dartmouth, the Eleanor and the Beaver, moored at Griffin's Wharf. Between 7 and 10 p.m. on Thursday, December 16, a little more than a hundred people took part while hundreds more watched from shore. The organizers offered restitution for the destruction, valued at 10,000 British pounds. Among the participants in the organization of the protest were Samuel Adams, Paul Revere and John Hancock.
History
England's relationship with her colonies had been troubled ever since the end of the French and Indian Wars in 1763. Financially strapped after the wars, Great Britain found itself a world power without the means to support its power. Economically, the English were Mercantilists---they believed that colonies existed to support the Mother Country. The legislation passed by Parliament beginning with the Stamp Act in 1763 was designed to restore the treasury by taxing those---the colonists---who had directly benefited from English victories in wars along their frontiers. The colonists, of course, saw the Stamp Act---or any attempt to raise revenue as "taxation without representation" since colonial representatives to Parliament had no vote. The Committees of Correspondence organized to resist unfair taxation and the trade monopoly of the East India Company. In 1770, five colonists were killed by nervous soldiers who were later acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Effects
The Boston Tea Party was considered a riot by the nervous British ruling class. Immediately after the Tea Party, Boston was placed under martial law, trade was limited to government-approved traders, military trials were ordered moved to England, and soldiers were stationed in the homes of townspeople. The effect of this action radicalized those who had not yet committed to confrontation with the crown, and the result was the call to the First Continental Congress, precursor to the Second Continental Congress where the Declaration of Independence was adopted, beginning the Revolutionary War.
Expert Insight
On December 16, 1773, a majority of citizens considered themselves English citizens. The limitations of the martial law imposed as the result of it convinced a majority that their only choice was to live as Americans rather than as colonists of England.
England's relationship with her colonies had been troubled ever since the end of the French and Indian Wars in 1763. Financially strapped after the wars, Great Britain found itself a world power without the means to support its power. Economically, the English were Mercantilists---they believed that colonies existed to support the Mother Country. The legislation passed by Parliament beginning with the Stamp Act in 1763 was designed to restore the treasury by taxing those---the colonists---who had directly benefited from English victories in wars along their frontiers. The colonists, of course, saw the Stamp Act---or any attempt to raise revenue as "taxation without representation" since colonial representatives to Parliament had no vote. The Committees of Correspondence organized to resist unfair taxation and the trade monopoly of the East India Company. In 1770, five colonists were killed by nervous soldiers who were later acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Effects
The Boston Tea Party was considered a riot by the nervous British ruling class. Immediately after the Tea Party, Boston was placed under martial law, trade was limited to government-approved traders, military trials were ordered moved to England, and soldiers were stationed in the homes of townspeople. The effect of this action radicalized those who had not yet committed to confrontation with the crown, and the result was the call to the First Continental Congress, precursor to the Second Continental Congress where the Declaration of Independence was adopted, beginning the Revolutionary War.
Expert Insight
On December 16, 1773, a majority of citizens considered themselves English citizens. The limitations of the martial law imposed as the result of it convinced a majority that their only choice was to live as Americans rather than as colonists of England.
