The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party is a Grade 5 history skill from Pengi Social Studies, Chapter 3: Encounters and Early Colonies. Students learn how colonists protested British taxation by dumping tea into Boston Harbor in 1773, a pivotal act of resistance that accelerated the path to the American Revolution.
Key Concepts
On May 10, 1773, Great Britain passed the Tea Act .
This law allowed one British company to sell tea directly to the colonies at a very low price. While the tea was cheaper, this hurt the business of colonial merchants and was seen as another attempt by Britain to control colonial trade.
Common Questions
What was the Boston Tea Party?
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest on December 16, 1773, when American colonists, frustrated by British taxation without representation, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.
Why did colonists protest the tea tax?
Colonists believed it was unfair to be taxed by the British Parliament when they had no representation in it, leading to the slogan no taxation without representation.
Who participated in the Boston Tea Party?
Members of the Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams, dressed as Mohawk Indians and boarded British ships to dump the tea.
What happened after the Boston Tea Party?
Britain responded with the Intolerable Acts to punish Massachusetts, which further united the colonies against British rule.
What grade covers the Boston Tea Party?
The Boston Tea Party is a Grade 5 social studies history topic.