The Boston Tea Party - 06/13/25

Boston Tea Party

A protest by colonists against British taxes on tea in 1773

Why it happened

Colonists were angry about taxes they didn’t vote for (no representation)

The Tea Act

1773 law that added sales tax to tea to help the British East India Company

Sales tax

A fee added to the price of an item; part of what angered the colonists

Taxation without representation

Paying taxes without having a vote in British Parliament

Old South Meeting House

Where colonists met to plan protests, including the Tea Party

Date of Boston Tea Party

December 16, 1773

What happened during it

Over 100 colonists dumped 340+ crates of tea into Boston Harbor

Symbol used

Colonists wore Mohawk feathers to show American identity

Goal of the protest

To stop the sale and tax of tea in the colonies

The Coercive Acts

Laws passed by Britain in 1774 to punish Boston for the Tea Party

Effects of Coercive Acts

Closed Boston Harbor and banned town meetings

Why it matters

The Tea Party and Coercive Acts pushed the colonies closer to war with Britain