The American Revolution: Analysis of the Boston Tea Party

Answer

The American Revolution: Analysis of the Boston Tea Party

            The use of primary sources for historical analyses remains an advantageous way of analyzing history. It helps one to think critically and ask useful questions that further develop one’s knowledge and understanding concerning historical events. This paper reviews the American Revolution, as a historical topic and uses a letter addressed to George Dudley, concerning the Boston Tea Party, as a primary source. The paper begins by providing a summary of the letter before giving a brief description of the society in which the letter was written. The paper then addresses the connection between the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution. It concludes with a reason why the American Revolution is significant and how the Boston Tea Party Event supported the ideals of the American Revolution.

The letter to George Dudley, an officer and former chairperson of the East India Company in London, gives an account of the Boston Tea Party. The author of the letter adopts a pseudonym, Anglo Americanus, probably for his own safety. Anglo Americanus gives an in-depth description of the destruction of the tea brought by the East India Company in three ships citing “an unlawful unrighteous Act” as the reason for this destruction. The letter, dated a day after the famous Boston Tea Party, (December 17, 1773) addresses how the American colonists made every possible effort to send back the tea but the consignees would not do so. Thus, destruction of the tea was the last and final option. The letter further explains that the American people were determined not to use the tea or pay any duty. Anglo Americanus then advises George Dudley to “Get the Tea Act repealed” if he ever wanted to sell his tea (An Excerpt from Tea Leaves), otherwise, he ought to keep all his tea. The letter sheds light on the tumultuous amount of detestation towards the East India Company’s tea. It explains that certain country towns collected all the tea by the East India Company and burnt it in their public commons as a declaration of their detestation of the tea. The writer concludes with a brave declaration that depicts the thoughts of the Americans at that time, “death to an American is more desirable than slavery.”

            The letter is written during a time when tension between American colonists and the British was high. This is evident in the Anglo Americanus’ choice of words in the letter; “The people will risk life and fortune in this affair, the very being of America depends on it.” Britain, at that time, was in great debt. It, therefore, imposed a number of taxes on the American colonists to help pay those debts. Britain claimed it was in debt as a result of fighting on behalf of the colonies. Thus, they thought the colonies would accept the taxes. However, they were wrong. The American people adamantly refused the taxes and even attacked Governor Thomas Hutchinson, a loyalist to British colonial rule. Hollitz (2000) describes this event in his book, “A crowd of men in workaday garb descended on Hutchinson’s mansion.”  One of the taxes imposed was the Tea Act. The Act gave British East India Company permission to sell tea to the colonies duty-free and much cheaper than other tea companies – but still tax the tea when it reached colonial ports (History.com Editors). This Act greatly annoyed the American colonists. Thus, the Sons of Liberty, a group of merchants who protested the taxes, boarded docked ships at the Griffin’s Wharf and threw 342 chests of tea brought by the East India Company into the water.

In the days leading up to the Boston Tea Party event, Americans had shown great courage in repelling what they believed were unjust Acts of parliament. For example, in derision of the Stamp Act, Hollitz (2000) describes an event where, “common Bostonians detained farmers bringing produce into town along Orange Street until they had their goods stamped.”  Although the American people in the colonies loved tea, the tax imposed on it by parliament had given offense to all (Volo). These Acts of Parliament slowly built up frustration and resentment towards British colonial rule. The Boston Tea Party was thus the first major act of resistance to the British rule. It showed the Americans’ determination to fight against tyranny. It further inspired and rallied American patriots to fight for independence leading to the American Revolution.   

The American Revolution, as a topic, is significant since it served as an outright resistance to the unjust way of ruling set up by the British. The revolution set equality and liberty as a basis for future governments. The American revolution resulted in a contagious spread for Liberation inspiring people from different parts of the world such as France and Haiti to revolt against autocratic leadership. From the revolution, people learned that it was possible to be independent and rule themselves. They also learned that they should never accept any forms of injustice from their governments. Rather, they ought to fight for their rights.  The Boston Tea Party supports this view of the topic. Rather than sit down and accept the unjust taxation laws passed by the British, the American colonists in the Boston Tea Party event set an example of how people should respond to punitive laws. They should always fight for their rights.

            In conclusion, the use of primary sources for historical analyses remains an advantageous way of analyzing history as it helps one to think critically and ask useful questions that further develop one’s knowledge and skill concerning historical events. The letter to George Dudley gives an account of the Boston Tea Party citing reasons for the event. The letter is written during a time when tension between American colonists and the British was high due to the discriminatory Acts of Parliament as shown by the writer’s choice of words. The Boston Tea Party was the first major act of resistance to the British rule as it showed the Americans’ determination to fight against tyranny. The American Revolution, supported by the Boston Tea Party event, set an example of how people should respond to injustices done by governments. The people ought to fight for their rights.