The Boston Tea Party is one of those historical events that most Americans know about, though for many the details are somewhat sketchy. (Spoiler alert: It wasn’t a party, and no tea was consumed, though it was the focus of the event.) The Boston Tea Party was actually a revolutionary statement to Parliament and the then-reigning monarch of Great Britain, King George III, about trade restrictions placed on the popular beverage and other related issues. Let’s look at this historical episode and its larger context: a story that involves nefarious dealings with international smugglers, a false flag operation, and another highly popular beverage. 

Tea Time Troubles Brew 

When British subjects crossed the Atlantic Ocean and settled as colonists in the Americas, they brought their noted fondness for tea with them and weren’t about to let geography deprive them of their homeland habit. At that time, most tea was imported to the Colonies; even today, tea is still not widely grown in the United States. 

In the 1770s, the British East India Company (EIC)—which transported tea but was also closely associated with the trafficking of African slaves to the Colonies—was experiencing financial problems. To bolster the struggling company, the British Parliament passed the Tea Act, which made the EIC the exclusive importer of tea to the American Colonies, among other stipulations.  

There had already been a tea tax in place in the Colonies since 1767, though some tea merchants had sidestepped this by purchasing tea from Dutch smugglers. This latest exertion of control by the government back home did not sit well with the independent tea sellers that were edged out by EIC’s monopoly and low-price advantage. The Wal-Mart Effect, some 233 years before the term was coined.  

America’s First False Flag Operation? 

While tea merchants in other port cities refused to do business under the new terms, Boston’s royal governor, Thomas Hutchinson, was steadfast in cooperating. However, some locals had another idea. 

What happened at the Boston Tea Party? Dozens of men dressed as Native Americans stormed Boston Harbor one crisp December night in 1773, boarded EIC ships, and dumped about £18,000 worth of tea overboard. (Some accounts have participants breaking open the heavy chests before pouring the tea directly into the water, while others have them heaving the chests into the water.) The incident was famously immortalized in a 1970s educational cartoon. 

Samuel Adams—influential writer, politician, signatory to the Declaration of Independence, and inspiration for the beer brand that’s sold today—was a Colonial rights supporter who opposed the Tea Act and “taxation without representation.” The night of the Boston Tea Party, Adams spoke at a large meeting of likeminded individuals at Boston’s Old South Meeting House. Some attendees later took part in dumping tea into Boston Harbor, though Adams’s role in planning that act of protest and whereabouts during the act itself remain unclear. 

A Large Bill Comes Due 

Parliament responded to the Boston Tea Party with wide-ranging sanctions against Massachusetts in particular. While this may have been predictable, it served as yet another point of contention in an escalating feud between the Colonies and their mother country. About 16 months later, the American Revolutionary War broke out. That conflict lasted more than eight years and, in combination with a small outbreak that ran concurrently, resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. But it also gave birth to an independent nation that showed Britain its control over its growing global footprint could be successfully challenged.  

Revisit History and Enrich Your Future 

One of the most fascinating aspects of studying history is gaining a more nuanced perspective on some eras and events and a more accurate understanding of those that may be commonly misunderstood. Delivered in a 100% online, asynchronous format, The University of Texas Permian Basin’s Master of Arts in History program features in-depth 16-week courses that illuminate the American Revolution and other pivotal epochs of American and world history. View all program courses here. 

How can an MA in history degree prepare you for a more rewarding future? Consider these facts: 

  • UT Permian Basin’s MA in history program helps you become a stronger communicator and critical and analytical thinker. These qualities are highly prized by today’s employers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor and Forbes. 
  • The broadly applicable soft or durable skills you develop will help set you up for success in a variety of professional fields.  
  • Master’s degree holders’ median annual earnings are $86,372—about 16% higher than those of individuals who have a bachelor’s degree alone. 

Ready to go back in time so that you can move forward? Start your journey today! 

Sources: 
https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Tea-Party
https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/king-george-iii-biography
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Adams
https://allthingsliberty.com/2013/11/7-myths-boston-tea-party/