Boston Tea Party

By: Jeff Seiple

Late in 1773 something happened in Boston that had two important results. It hardened the feelings of the British against the Americans. It also united the colonists more than ever before.

In December, British ships entered Boston Harbor loaded with the tea. The Americans tried to send the tea back to Britain but they were not allowed to send the tea back. The British tea was less money than the Dutch tea, the Americans usually smuggled it into the into the colonies. But it had a tax on it. If the Americans bought the British tea it would mean that they agreed that Britain could tax them. Some people in Boston decided to protest against this tax.

On the night of December 16, 1773 they dressed up like American Indians with feathers and paint on their faces. They climbed onto the ships and broke open all 342 cases of the British tea. Then they dumped the tea into the harbor. As they worked through the night, a crowd watched from the shore. There was no damage to the ships or any other trouble. The only thing that was damaged was the tea and a padlock that was replaced the next morning. One man wrote, "It was the stillest night that Boston enjoyed for many months." The British were angry by the Boston Tea Party.

Now the British government decided to punish Massachusetts. It closed the part of Boston to all ships except ships for food and fuel.