What was the Boston Tea Party?

The Boston Tea Party was a significant act of rebellion by American colonists against British taxation and is best characterized as a protest where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor. This event occurred on December 16, 1773, when the colonists, frustrated with the Tea Act that allowed the British East India Company to sell tea at a reduced rate but still with taxation, gathered to express their discontent. They viewed the act as an imposition of unjust taxation without representation since they had no say in the British Parliament.

By taking the dramatic step of destroying the tea, the colonists aimed to send a clear message regarding their opposition to British rule and the taxes imposed upon them. This act of defiance was not merely a protest; it symbolized the growing colonial unity and resistance against British authority, setting the stage for further actions leading up to the American Revolution.