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Parliament passes the Tea Act
British Parliament passes the Tea Act, retaining a 3 pence per pound tax on tea sold in the American colonies. -
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Boston Tea Party
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East India Company announces Tea Merchants
East India Company announces the selection of tea merchants in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Charleston. -
American Colonies call for tea merchants to resign
Over 1000 people meet at Faneuil Hall to request tea merchants selected by East India Company to resign. -
Richard Clarke's House
A mob gathered outside of Richard Clarke's house. He was one of the tea merchants selected by the East India Company. The mob was demanding his resignation and they broke some windows on his house. -
The Dartmouth arrives in Boston Harbor
The Dartmouth, which was one of the three ships involved in the Boston Tea Party arrives in Boston Harbor on this day. There are only 28 days left before the cargo must be unloaded from the Dartmouth and the tax paid. If the tax is not paid, the ship and the cargo on the ship can be taken by the Customs Officials. -
The Body of the People
Thousands of concerned people from Boston and nearby towns met at Faneuil Hall on November 29, 1773 to talk about the tea crisis. The meeting had to be moved to the Old South Meeting House because Faneuil Hall was not big enough to hold them all. -
The Attempt at Compromise
Painter, John Singleton Copley tries to reach a compromise between the 'Body of the People' and the tea merchants. -
Philadelphia and New York Tea Merchants resign
Under pressure, tea merchants in Philadelphia and New York resign. -
The Final Straw
Two more ships filled with tea arrived in the Boston Harbor. They were the Beaver and the Eleanor. The deadline to pay the tax for the tea on the Dartmouth was on December 17th and concerned people met at the Old South Meeting House again. Their goal was to find a way to stop the tea from being unloaded from the ships. -
The Secret Plan
No legal plan was working so the Sons of Liberty came up with a secret plan. The plan they came up with was not legal, but the Sons of Liberty believed it was important to stand up for their rights. The Sons of Liberty disguised themselves Indian costumes and marched down to Griffin's Wharf to put their secret plan into action. -
The Destruction of the Tea
Between 6pm and 9pmThe Sons of Liberty destroyed 340 chests of tea with their tomahawks and tossed them off of the three ships. No one was hurt during the tea party, not even the ships. The Sons of Liberty only destroyed the tea. -
The Aftermath
Many the people who were in the Boston Tea Party actually left Boston so they wouldn't get arrested. Only one man was caught. Paul Revere rode to New York to spread the news about the tea party and then in the beginning of 1774, London heard about it to. What is really important about the Boston Tea Party is that this was the first time we stood up against the British and we did it without anyone getting hurt or being crazy. -
The Boston Port Act
The Boston Port Act is just one of four acts that made what is known as the Intolerable Acts. This act was very important because it closed off the port of Boston for trade and commerce. Here are some of the actual words written in the Boston Port Act:
…That from and after June 1, 1774, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever to lade, put, or cause to procure to be laden or put, off or from any quay, wharf, or other place, within the said town of Boston… -
The Start of the American Revolution
