Questions and Answers
What was the main reason for the American colonies' dissatisfaction with the British government?
What was the result of the British government's passing of the Tea Act?
What was the name of the war that led to the British government's financial crisis?
What was the main purpose of the Townshend Acts?
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Why did the Boston Tea Party take place?
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What best describes the situation faced by the American colonies?
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What was the consequence of the Tea Act for many colonists?
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What can be compared to the situation faced by the American colonies in terms of unfair taxation?
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What was the British East India Company's role in the Tea Act?
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What was the outcome of the Boston Tea Party?
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Study Notes
What is the Boston Tea Party?
- A political protest in Boston, Massachusetts, where people fought against unfair taxes by throwing tons of tea into the ocean
- Not a social gathering, but an act of defiance against the British government
American Colonies and Great Britain
- The United States started as several colonies owned by Great Britain
- American colonies had to pay taxes set by the British government, but had no say in who ran the government
- They referred to this issue as 'taxation without representation'
The Tea Act
- Passed in 1773, making it illegal for colonists to buy tea from anyone except the British East India Company
- Meant many colonists could no longer sell tea, and Americans could be overcharged with no option to shop elsewhere
- Benefited the British government, as the company's taxes paid for government salaries
Colonists' Grievances
- Already angered by taxation without representation
- Passage of the Tea Act pushed them over the edge
- Felt it was unfair to be forced to buy tea at an overcharged price, with no option to shop elsewhere
The Boston Tea Party Protest
- December 16, 1773, in Boston, Massachusetts
- Over 100 colonists, led by Samuel Adams, took a stand against the Tea Act and taxation without representation
- Dressed up as Mohawk Indians to show they considered themselves American, not British
- Boarded three British ships in the Boston Harbor, carrying tea to sell in the colonies
- Dumped more than 340 chests of tea overboard into the water, making it completely worthless (almost $2 million worth of tea in today's money)
Significance of the Boston Tea Party
- Considered the event that sparked the American Revolution
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Description
Learn about the Boston Tea Party, a historical event that marked a significant protest against unfair taxes and British rule in the American colonies.