The colonists loved to drink tea, but they were less thrilled with British taxes on their favorite drink. When Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773, which allowed the East India Company to undersell American Merchants, the colonists were outraged. When three East India Company ships filled with tea arrived in Boston Harbor, the colonists refused to let them land and insisted that the ships be sent back to England. After learning that the governor of Massachusetts had refused their demands, the patriots took matters into their own hands. On the night of December 16, 1773, a group of patriots, led by Sam Adams and disguised as Indians boarded three ships and dumped all the tea, over 45 tons of it, into Boston harbor. The patriots did not harm the ships themselves, or any other cargo on board the ships.
Short Essay Writing Question:
Imagine that you are one of the people involved in the Boston Tea Party. You can assume the role of a patriot, a member of Parliament, or the owner of the tea. How do you think you would feel the morning after the Tea Party? What do you think you would do? Explain.
