The Boston Tea Party
Table of Contents
Chapter 1- Introduction-Page: 3
Chapter 2- What Caused the
Boston Tea Party?- Pages: 3-5
Boston Tea Party?- Pages: 3-5
Chapter 3- What happened at the
Boston Tea party?- Page: 6
Boston Tea party?- Page: 6
Chapter 4- What was the aftermath?-
Page: 7
Page: 7
Chapter 1- Introduction
Heading up the ramp to the Dartmouth, you know that the decision you
made will change not only your life, but it will change history. As you
dump your last bin of tea, you realize how effective the thing you did
actually was.
made will change not only your life, but it will change history. As you
dump your last bin of tea, you realize how effective the thing you did
actually was.
The Boston Tea Party occurred due to years of frustration for the colonists
due to the taxation and lack of representation in British Parliament. The
colonists were very angry and upset with the way they were being treated,
so they decided to act upon it. After the Boston Tea Party, King George was
furious, and a war was surely on the horizon.
due to the taxation and lack of representation in British Parliament. The
colonists were very angry and upset with the way they were being treated,
so they decided to act upon it. After the Boston Tea Party, King George was
furious, and a war was surely on the horizon.
Chapter 2-What caused the
Boston Tea Party?
Boston Tea Party?
In 1773 there were lots of taxes on the luxuries that the colonists enjoyed. Two of
those were the Stamp Act and Tea Act, which was the last straw for the colonists.
those were the Stamp Act and Tea Act, which was the last straw for the colonists.
The Stamp Act was an act that was passed March of 1775 that was held
over all american colonists that made all printed paper taxed, and to prove that
the tax was paid, the paper would have a large blue stamp on it. They would
chant, “Liberty, property, and no stamps!’’ It was repealed March of 1776.
over all american colonists that made all printed paper taxed, and to prove that
the tax was paid, the paper would have a large blue stamp on it. They would
chant, “Liberty, property, and no stamps!’’ It was repealed March of 1776.
The other act was the Tea act. The purpose of the tea act was to lower the
giant amount of tea produced by the financially troubled East India Tea. Joshua
Wyeth a 16 year old involved with the Boston Tea Party, said before the Tea
Party, “We were marry, in an undertone, of the idea of making so large a cup
of tea for the fish.”
giant amount of tea produced by the financially troubled East India Tea. Joshua
Wyeth a 16 year old involved with the Boston Tea Party, said before the Tea
Party, “We were marry, in an undertone, of the idea of making so large a cup
of tea for the fish.”
The colonists were also very upset that they had no representation in the
government that they were paying taxes to. The king was in debt 30 billion
dollars from unpaid bills from the French and Indian War, and he still had to
pay some soldiers in America, therefore, he taxed many luxuries.
government that they were paying taxes to. The king was in debt 30 billion
dollars from unpaid bills from the French and Indian War, and he still had to
pay some soldiers in America, therefore, he taxed many luxuries.
Researchers think that even though he was doing it for the right reasons,
he didn’t have the right to over tax the colonists, and limit their tea.
he didn’t have the right to over tax the colonists, and limit their tea.
The Sons of Liberty were a group of merchants and tradesmen founded to
protest the Stamp Act and other forms of taxation. The group included patriots
such as Benedict Arnold, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and
Paul Revere. Out of all the people in the Boston Tea Party, half of them were
Sons of Liberty.
protest the Stamp Act and other forms of taxation. The group included patriots
such as Benedict Arnold, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and
Paul Revere. Out of all the people in the Boston Tea Party, half of them were
Sons of Liberty.spirited meeting at the Liberty Tree. The Liberty Tree was a old elm that was
planted in 1646 in Boston’s Hanover Square. The Liberty Tree was often a
meeting point for anti-British speakers. At the gathering speaker after speaker
announced how frustrated they were with the British taxes.
After this meeting with everyone riled up, a mob marched from Liberty Tree to the dockside. The people assembled outside the British East India
Company’s office, and urged that the company’s representatives come
outside that instant. The agents refused to meet with the angry Bostonians.
Eventually, the angry protesters went home with heavy hearts, meanwhile the
tea ship Dartmouth, Eleanor, and Beaver were sailing closer to the Boston
Harbor.
tea ship Dartmouth, Eleanor, and Beaver were sailing closer to the Boston
Harbor.
On November 11, 1773 the tea ships arrived, and for the next few weeks even
more arrived.
more arrived.
Samuel wanted the ships to go back to England, the taxes unpaid.
On December 7, 1773 the tea ships had still not gone back to England. The
colonists were very upset, and assembled at the Old South Church house to
ask why the ships were still here. They found out that the owner of the ships
hadn’t even tried to leave yet. They urged the owner of the ships to demand
permission for the ships to leave.
colonists were very upset, and assembled at the Old South Church house to
ask why the ships were still here. They found out that the owner of the ships
hadn’t even tried to leave yet. They urged the owner of the ships to demand
permission for the ships to leave.
The colonists waited until next Thursday, December 16, 1773 and came back.
The owner of the ship told them that he unfortunately did not get permission for
the ship to leave.
The owner of the ship told them that he unfortunately did not get permission for
the ship to leave.
The colonists encouraged the owner of the ship to ask the governor to let the
ship let ave, but the governor wouldn’t until the tea was unloaded and the tea
tax was paid.
ship let ave, but the governor wouldn’t until the tea was unloaded and the tea
tax was paid.
Imagine living in a world where all your government wanted is the money, and
forced you to buy what you want from only one single company.
forced you to buy what you want from only one single company.
At one of the top secret meetings someone shouted, DUMP THE TEA! And
they did exactly that.
they did exactly that.
Historians think that at this time the people who knew about the Boston Tea
Party before it happened were probably scared of what was in store for their
country after it. The final meeting was public, and took place on the cold,
and drizzly morning ofDecember 16, 1773.
There were so many people, the crowd flowed out of the Old South Church,
which is where they held this meeting. A final message was sent to the
governor… would he give the go for the ships? And the tea? No, the
governor’s final answer was simply no.
which is where they held this meeting. A final message was sent to the
governor… would he give the go for the ships? And the tea? No, the
governor’s final answer was simply no.
John Hancock said at that gathering,
“Let every man do what’s right in their own eyes.”
Samuel Adams ended the meeting in a very powerful way saying,
“This meeting can do nothing more than to save the country.”
On their way out someone shouted, “Boston Harbor a teapot tonight!
Chapter 3-What happened at
the Boston Tea Party?
the Boston Tea Party?
At around 6:00 p.m on December 16, 1773, about 50 men stood in the Old
South Church, some wrapped in blankets and disguised as Mohawk Indians,
because if caught, they would have serious punishment. Most of the men had
smeared red war paint or chimney soot on their faces. For weapons, they
carried tomahawks.
South Church, some wrapped in blankets and disguised as Mohawk Indians,
because if caught, they would have serious punishment. Most of the men had
smeared red war paint or chimney soot on their faces. For weapons, they
carried tomahawks.
Geographers believe it wasn’t the best time to be outside in paint on their faces
because it was drizzling the morning of the Boston Tea Party, and it might still
have been damp and could of smeared their makeup.
because it was drizzling the morning of the Boston Tea Party, and it might still
have been damp and could of smeared their makeup.
They were all very recognizable citizens of Boston, but wore the costumes in
hopes of confusing British spies, who could later testify against them in court.
hopes of confusing British spies, who could later testify against them in court.
The mob spilled out of the church, and marched all the way to the city's dock.
As they arrived, the crowd grew silent, because everyone knew that British
warships were lurking in the black waters, and nobody wanted the British navy's
attention.
As they arrived, the crowd grew silent, because everyone knew that British
warships were lurking in the black waters, and nobody wanted the British navy's
attention.
The colonists departed into three groups, one group for Dartmouth, one for
Eleanor, and one for Beaver, the three ships docked at the wharf. They were
very stealthy as they quietly boarded the ship. The leader of each of the groups
demanded that the ship crew members open up the cargo holds. The sailors
agreed without any complaining. The holds were stocked to the brim with chests of
tea, each weighing 320 pounds. The colonists hauled the chests up to the boat
using the boats winches.
Eleanor, and one for Beaver, the three ships docked at the wharf. They were
very stealthy as they quietly boarded the ship. The leader of each of the groups
demanded that the ship crew members open up the cargo holds. The sailors
agreed without any complaining. The holds were stocked to the brim with chests of
tea, each weighing 320 pounds. The colonists hauled the chests up to the boat
using the boats winches.
Once they were aboard, there was no going back. They broke open the chests
and dumped the tea into the ocean, the sea overflowing with tea bags. On deck
there was a teenager named Robert Sessions. He wrote years later,
and dumped the tea into the ocean, the sea overflowing with tea bags. On deck
“I was not one of those appointed to destroy the tea, and who disguised
themselves as Indians, but was a volunteer, the disguised men being largely
men of family and position.”
themselves as Indians, but was a volunteer, the disguised men being largely
men of family and position.”
By the end of this event the colonists had dumped 342 chests of tea into
the harbor, successfully. They made sure every single tea bag had been
dumped into the ocean, by sweeping the entire deck.
the harbor, successfully. They made sure every single tea bag had been
dumped into the ocean, by sweeping the entire deck.
Their work very much completed, the colonists happily marched into the night.
Chapter 4- What was
the aftermath?
the aftermath?
Soon enough, the word got around to the British Parliament about the Boston
Tea Party, and they were not very happy. The British government even placed
all of Massachusetts under military control. Colonists called this treatment the
Intolerable Acts. Because of all the anger over the Intolerable Acts, delegates
from twelve other colonies made the first Continental Congress and agreed to
end trade with England. This was actually the first time that colonies unified to
protest a British law.
Tea Party, and they were not very happy. The British government even placed
all of Massachusetts under military control. Colonists called this treatment the
Intolerable Acts. Because of all the anger over the Intolerable Acts, delegates
from twelve other colonies made the first Continental Congress and agreed to
end trade with England. This was actually the first time that colonies unified to
protest a British law.
The Revolutionary War began in Lexington and Concord outside of
Boston just 16 months after the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party was
the key event for the Revolutionary War. For more than eight long years, this
war continued, but the result was the birth of the United States of America.
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence while the
war was still being fought. The american leaders signed the United States
Constitution, 4 years after the war ended. The Constitution was a
foundation for the new nation.
. 
Boston just 16 months after the Boston Tea Party. The Boston Tea Party was
the key event for the Revolutionary War. For more than eight long years, this
war continued, but the result was the birth of the United States of America.
In 1776, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence while the
war was still being fought. The american leaders signed the United States
Constitution, 4 years after the war ended. The Constitution was a
foundation for the new nation.
. Perhaps the Boston Tea Party was the reason for independence today, and for
years to come.
Chapter 5- Conclusion
It is true that the Boston Tea Party led to freedom in America. When the
colonists had meetings at the Old South Church before the Boston Tea Party,
did they know how important those meetings were for our country today?
The remarkable men on the boat that night, risking punishment, pulled through
for their families, and their freedom. The Boston Tea Party led to the
Revolutionary War, which in the end, shaped our country. To me, the Boston
Tea Party was the starting point to our country’s values, and to our recognition
of our rights. Do we still appreciate those freedoms today?
colonists had meetings at the Old South Church before the Boston Tea Party,
did they know how important those meetings were for our country today?
The remarkable men on the boat that night, risking punishment, pulled through
for their families, and their freedom. The Boston Tea Party led to the
Revolutionary War, which in the end, shaped our country. To me, the Boston
Tea Party was the starting point to our country’s values, and to our recognition
of our rights. Do we still appreciate those freedoms today?
Glossary
Luxuries-desirable idem
Act-Law
Liberty-the state of being free
Repealed-to revoke a law
Undertone-a subtle meaning
Merchant-someone who sells goods
Patriots-a person who supports their country, pro-american
Mob-large group of people, intent to cause trouble
Agents-representative of an organization
Bostonians-inhabitant of the city of Boston
Soot-a black powder produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter
Tomahawks-axes
Wharf-a level dock area
Stealthy-behaving in a cautious manner
Cargo- goods carried on a ship
Holds-a space for carrying cargo
Winches-a hauling device
Intolerable-unable to be endured
Delegate-a person sent to represent others
Continental-belonging to a continent
Trade-buying and selling goods
Unified-to become united
Declaration-a formal or explicit statement
Congress-a national legislative body
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