The Boston tea party

The British government decided that the American colonists should contribute financially to the protection of this new expanded empire. It imposed certain new taxes on the colonists to pay for the British armed forces in America.

What happened in 1765?

Britain passed the stamp act, which put a stamp duty (tax) on various legal documents and items.

What happened in 1767?

The British introduced more taxes on sugar and cotton.

What happened in 1773?

Britain introduced a new tea duty

What happened on the 16 December 1773?

A group known as the Sun’s of Liberty went down to Boston harbor and boarded the tea ships.

What would the consequences for boarding the ships have been like?

The group would have been reported and charged for treason, then hanged

How many ships were rid of tea that night?

3 ships were boarded by angry traders. They dressed up as Native Indians and dumped 342 crates of tea into the water, worth £11,000

Why was the group so angry?

They realised that although the tax was small by only costing 3p, it was showing King George the III that they were willing to submit any amounts of unjust taxation that they pass. So they went against this.