The Boston Tea Party 1773
- In the Fall of 1773, a newspaper published particulars about the plans of the East India Company
- Colonists learned that the company planned on bringing their tea to the colonies to be sold
- the news began circulating
- Bostons sent a petition to the governor to send back the tea once it arrives; but the governor was powerless since the British stood watch and enforced the laws
- November 25th a ship called the Dartmouth carrying 114 chests of tea arrived in Boston Harbor
- A group called the "The Body" containing all Bostonian s and anyone from surrounding towns demanding the tea be returned
- News arrives from Philadelphia to New York that anyone attempting to land tea in those ports should beware an unwelcomed visit
- Early December 1773 the ports in PH,NY and Charleston resigned their commission
- Boston tea agents stubbornly refused to give up their commissions; this caused doubt within other parts of the colonies
- December 15th the Eleanor and Beaver,both carrying tea landed at the wharf
- Ship owners refused to return the tea back to England
- December 16th, The Body came up with a resolution to prevent any further tea from the East India Company from being stored,sold or consumed.
- At the end of the meeting a row of 30-60 men dressed up as Indians and streamed into the street down to the wharf that held all the tea
- John Adamns called this act "an exercise of popular power"; the group the proceeded to dump 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor
- As governor Hutchinson heard of this act he calls the dumping of the tea high treason
- Rambunctious patriots urged other Bostonian's to "keep courage"
- Boston was praised for its firm opposition to the tyrannical English policies
- Not all of Massachusetts was as enthused about Bostons unlawful act
- Non the less in March another act of patriotism was shown when the Fortune, a ship carrying more tea, entered Boston harbors and Indians were once again destroying the tea
- When ship captain ship captains arrived in England they had to testify on what happened
- Since they were not able to point out individuals the entire town of Boston was punished by closing the port of Boston until the East India Company was reimbursed .