Unveiling The Catalysts Behind The Boston Tea Party

Unveiling the Catalysts Behind the Boston Tea Party The Boston Tea Party was one of the major turning points in America. It was caused by a mix of wanting an independent nation and mostly aggression toward Great Britain for its unfair laws against the colonists. These laws included the Sugar, Stamp, Townshend, and Tea Acts. Overall, the Boston Tea Party boils down to a convergence of political tensions and economic grievances. This act of defiance, characterized by dumping tea into Boston Harbor, symbolized the intensifying resistance among the colonies and catalyzed the American Revolutionary War. British officials unjustly taxed colonists to cover up the debt they caused. Most of this debt was caused by wars, like the French-Indian War and the Seven Years' War. One of the

This shows that the colonists were unhappy with being taxed. Their protests lowered the British income even more, causing more acts and taxes. One of the last laws passed, before the Boston Tea Party, was the Townshend Acts, which consisted of four smaller acts. These four acts were the Suspending Act, the Townshend Duties Act, the Commissioners of Customs Act, and the Indemnity Act. The Suspending Act stopped the New York State Assembly. The Townshend Duties Act imposed taxes on luxury goods that were imported. Taxes included glass, paper, lead, paint colors, and tea. (Benson Townshend Acts, 2,4) The exact wording is: “For every 112 pounds of crown, plate, flint, and white glass, 4 shillings, 8 pence For every 112 pounds of green glass, 1 shilling 2 pence For every 112 pounds of red lead, 2 shillings For every 112 pounds of painter's colors, 2 shillings, For every pound of tea, 3 pence,”(Crompton, 15). The Commissioners of Customs Act established a Board of Customs Commissioners. This has complete control over import