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Boston Tea Party

The Tea Act

“Men will always go to the cheapest markets.” – Lord North, British Prime Minister 1770-1782

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Repeal of the Townshend Acts

  • On the day of the Boston Massacre, the English parliament decided to repeal almost all of the Townshend Acts

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  • Why did they repeal all these acts?

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  • Colonial Boycotts – hurt British merchants

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TAX ON TEA

  • Parliament left the tax on Tea (WHY?)
  • Wanted to show still had power to tax colonies (raise revenue)
  • TEA IS A VERY POPULAR DRINK

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TEA ACT 1773

  • Actually lowered the price on tea
  • Why are colonists so angry about this act?

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*British East India Tea Company

  • Facing Bankruptcy
  • *The TEA ACT excused the company from paying a import tax (lowers price)
    • Tea could only arrive in company ships
    • Could only be sold by company merchants
  • Allows company to sell tea directly to colonists (lowers price) NO middle man
  • WHY ARE THE COLONISTS SO ANGRY

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ANSWER

  • Possibility of creating a monopoly for the British East India Tea Company
    • Monopoly – one company has complete control of the market
      • characterized by a lack of economic competition
  • *Colonial merchants and wholesalers were afraid that soon other British companies would secure the same kind of privileges.
    • The old “slippery slope”
    • “What’s next?”

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BOSTON TEA PARTY

  • December 16, 1773
  • 150-200 or so Patriots, dressed as Mohawk Indians, dumped over (342 chests) 10,000 pounds of tea into Boston Harbor in protest ($1million)

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Why did they dress as Mohawk Indians?

Revolutionary symbol of liberty

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Your Reaction

Pretend you are King George III, write a short letter to the Royal Governor of Massachusetts once you hear the news of the Boston Tea Party. In your letter, you need to include what you want the Governor to do (Five minutes).

Next, you will share your reaction with your _________________ partner.

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Homework: pg 151 #1-4 all