The British Empire's tightening grip on American colonies sparked growing resentment. From the Proclamation of 1763 to the Tea Act of 1773, a series of restrictive policies fueled colonial discontent. Protests, boycotts, and resistance movements like the Sons of Liberty emerged in response.

The Boston Tea Party of 1773 marked a turning point in colonial-British relations. This act of defiance against the Tea Act led to harsh British retaliation through the Coercive Acts. Colonial unity strengthened as a result, culminating in the First Continental Congress and setting the stage for revolution.

Colonial-British Tensions and the Destruction of the Tea

Tensions in colonial-British relations

• Growing colonial resentment towards British rule intensified due to various acts and restrictions imposed by the British government
  • Proclamation of 1763 restricted westward expansion into Native American territories, limiting colonial growth and land acquisition
  • Sugar Act of 1764 imposed duties on imported sugar and molasses, while the Currency Act of 1764 banned the colonies from issuing their own currency, causing economic hardship
  • Stamp Act of 1765 required the use of stamped paper for legal documents, newspapers, and other printed materials, leading to widespread protests and the Declaratory Act of 1766, which asserted Britain's right to tax the colonies
  • Townshend Acts of 1767 placed duties on imported goods (glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea), further angering colonists
• Colonial resistance and protests emerged in response to British policies
  • Formation of the Sons of Liberty, a group of American patriots who organized protests and resistance against British rule (Samuel Adams and Paul Revere)
  • Non-Importation Agreements among colonial merchants to boycott British goods and put economic pressure on Britain
  • Boston Massacre of 1770, where British soldiers fired upon a crowd of colonists, killing five and wounding six, heightening tensions
• Partial repeal of the Townshend Acts in 1770 eased some tensions, but duties on tea remained a contentious issue

Impact of 1773 Tea Act

• Tea Act of 1773 aimed to help the struggling British East India Company by granting it a monopoly on tea trade to the colonies
  • Allowed the company to sell tea directly to the colonies, bypassing colonial merchants and threatening their livelihoods
  • Colonists perceived the act as another attempt by the British to assert control and undermine colonial autonomy
• Colonial response to the Tea Act was marked by protests and resistance in major cities (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston)
  • Colonists argued that the act violated their rights as Englishmen to be taxed only by their elected representatives
  • Boycotts of British tea and efforts to prevent the unloading of tea shipments were organized
• Boston Tea Party of December 1773 was a significant act of defiance against British authority
  • Sons of Liberty, disguised as Native Americans, boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water
  • Protest against the Tea Act and British taxation without representation became a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the American Revolution

The Coercive Acts and Colonial Resistance

Coercive Acts and colonial resistance

• British response to the Boston Tea Party led to the implementation of the Coercive Acts (also known as the Intolerable Acts) in 1774
  1. Boston Port Act closed the port of Boston until the destroyed tea was paid for and order was restored
  2. Massachusetts Government Act limited the power of the Massachusetts legislature and increased the power of the royal governor, effectively curtailing colonial self-governance
  3. Administration of Justice Act allowed British officials accused of crimes in the colonies to be tried in Britain, protecting them from colonial justice systems
  4. Quartering Act required the colonies to provide housing and provisions for British troops, placing a burden on colonial communities
• Colonial reaction to the Coercive Acts was one of outrage and unity against perceived British oppression
  • Acts were seen as a direct attack on colonial rights, liberties, and self-governance, uniting the colonies in opposition
  • Committees of Correspondence facilitated communication and coordination among the colonies, allowing for a more organized resistance
• First Continental Congress convened in September 1774 in response to the Coercive Acts
  • Delegates from 12 colonies (except Georgia) met in Philadelphia to discuss a unified response to British actions
  • Issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, outlining colonial grievances and asserting their rights as British subjects
  • Called for a boycott of British goods through the Continental Association, aiming to put economic pressure on Britain
• Escalation of tensions following the Coercive Acts and the First Continental Congress
  • Colonial militias began to prepare for potential armed conflict with British forces
  • British attempts to seize colonial weapons and suppress rebellion led to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War in April 1775 (Battles of Lexington and Concord)

Economic and Political Context

• Mercantilism shaped British imperial policy, aiming to maximize the economic benefits of colonial possessions
• Colonial resistance to British rule was fueled by a desire for greater self-governance and economic autonomy
• The ongoing tensions between Britain and the colonies ultimately led to the American Revolution, challenging the existing imperial system