Colonists Resist the Tea Act:
In many American ports, the colonists boycotted the tea. When the British East India Company’s tea ships sailed into American ports, angry protesters, led by the Sons of Liberty, kept them from unloading their cargoes. In New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston, South Carolina, they intimidated the companies' merchants into refusing to accept the tea. Many ships turned back for England still filled with tea. In Boston, however, the royal governor ordered the British navy to block the exit from Boston Harbor. He insisted that the ships would not leave until all of their tea was unloaded. With the encouragement of the Sons of Liberty, the citizens refused to allow the unloading of three tea ships.
On December 16, 1773 (between 7:00-10:00 at night), after the tea sat in the port for nearly three weeks, the Sons of Liberty decided to unload the tea, but not in the way the governor had in mind. That night, about 116 men (many disguised as Native Americans) boarded the ships and dumped about 90,000 pounds of tea, worth around $1 million, into the sea. News of the Boston Tea Party excited Patriots throughout the colonies. “This is the most magnificent moment of all,” wrote John Adams. “This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm… it must have… important consequences.” He was right.
In many American ports, the colonists boycotted the tea. When the British East India Company’s tea ships sailed into American ports, angry protesters, led by the Sons of Liberty, kept them from unloading their cargoes. In New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston, South Carolina, they intimidated the companies' merchants into refusing to accept the tea. Many ships turned back for England still filled with tea. In Boston, however, the royal governor ordered the British navy to block the exit from Boston Harbor. He insisted that the ships would not leave until all of their tea was unloaded. With the encouragement of the Sons of Liberty, the citizens refused to allow the unloading of three tea ships.
On December 16, 1773 (between 7:00-10:00 at night), after the tea sat in the port for nearly three weeks, the Sons of Liberty decided to unload the tea, but not in the way the governor had in mind. That night, about 116 men (many disguised as Native Americans) boarded the ships and dumped about 90,000 pounds of tea, worth around $1 million, into the sea. News of the Boston Tea Party excited Patriots throughout the colonies. “This is the most magnificent moment of all,” wrote John Adams. “This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm… it must have… important consequences.” He was right.