The Boston Tea Party 1773

The war against the French and Indians had left the British short of funds. King George III and his Government decided to tax the American colonies as a way of recouping their war costs and also a way of bringing colonies into line, as they were becoming increasingly independent while the British were distracted by war.

A series of actions antagonised the colonists but it was the Crown's attempt to tax tea that roused the colonists to action, and set the mood for the American revolution.

The colonists refused to pay the taxes levied on tea. In other ports tea ships were either not allowed to land or tea was impounded in warehouses.

In Boston the arrival of three ships led to furious reaction. The crisis came to a head in December 1773, when the ships were refused permission to leave, a group of colonists, some dressed as Indians descended on the three ships and forced the sailors to tip the tea overboard into the harbour.

Reaction in London was swift and tough. In March 1774 among other measures the Port of Boston was closed. This action led directly to the American War of Independence.