The Boston Tea Party and Intolerable Acts 1773 What was the Boston Tea Party? How was the Tea Party significant to the American Revolution?

For years, colonists avoided British tea tax by smuggling in Dutch tea through the Caribbean.

In 1773, British Parliament passed the Tea Act In 1773, British Parliament passed the Tea Act. They allowed the British East India Company to sell tea in the colonies at an extremely low price.

by British East India Company The Tea Act made British tea (with the tax) less expensive than the smuggled tea from the Caribbean. Taxed tea sold by British East India Company $ Smuggled tea from the Caribbean $

I know the British tea is cheaper than the tea from the Caribbean. But I refuse to give any of my money to King George or British Parliament! Colonists still boycotted the British tea, even though it actually cost less.

Ships filled with tea from England sat in Boston Harbor Ships filled with tea from England sat in Boston Harbor. Merchants refused to sell the tea, so there was no place to unload it from the boats.

On December 16, 1773, dozens of Sons of Liberty members boarded the ships illegally.

They were disguised as Native Americans.

They destroyed the tea by throwing it into the harbor They destroyed the tea by throwing it into the harbor. Over 300 crates of it! 2016-$1.5 million

This event became known as The Boston Tea Party

British Parliament punished the colonists for the Tea Party.

Punishment for the colonies: Sent more soldiers to Boston and enforced the Quartering Act Closed Boston Harbor and stopped all trade between Boston and Britain Punishment for the colonies: Made it illegal for Massachusetts to have town meetings. The government of Massachusetts was controlled by the English appointed governor.

The colonists responded to the Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts) by gathering for the First Continental Congress.

Colonists Present Included Sam Adams George Washington Ben Franklin

The First Continental Congress September-October 1774 Colonies (except Georgia) sent delegates to Philadelphia for the First Continental Congress: Delegates wrote a letter to King George Said colonists should have the same rights as other British citizens Asked parliament and King George to stop taxing the colonies without representation in parliament Asked to repeal the Intolerable Acts

Colonists begin training for battle in case of war with Britain King George plans to send more soldiers. He declared that the colonists had begun a rebellion.

Militia- a military force raised by the individual colonies (instead of a untied army) Minutemen- soldiers who fought in militias; they had to be ready very quickly in case of war

Quick Quiz What did the Tea Act do? What was the colonial response to the Tea Act? How did the British punish the colonists for their response to the Tea Act? Three requests made by the colonists at the First Continental Congress were that ______________, _______________ and _________________. 5. The First Continental Congress was important because it was the first time that ________________