tea act
It's a well-known fact; tea was a tremendously popular item during the times of the colonists. The British East India Company, which was the main supplier of tea at the time, had found itself in near financial ruin. Britain believed that they could fix the situation by passing the Tea Act of 1773. They assumed it would be extremely beneficial to both the company and the colonists; however, they were profoundly incorrect.
The Tea Act stated that the British East India Company could sell directly to the colonists, and eliminate tea merchants altogether. The Parliament seemed to believe that it would work out better for everyone, and that the tea company would find itself past financial ruin by directly exporting to the colonies. The colonists would be paying a lower price since they would no longer have to buy from the merchants, who raised the prices in order to make a profit for themselves. The British thought this was the perfect solution. However, they were far from accurate.
In fact, the Tea Act infuriated the colonists, and with great reason. Eliminating tea merchants not only put the merchants out of work, but it also violated their right to conduct free enterprise. Free enterprise is an economic system where few restrictions are placed on business activities and ownership. In this system, governments generally have minimal ownership and intervention. The Parliament passing the Tea Act was completely unwarranted and uncalled for, so it was understandable for the colonists to be upset.
As a result of the act, the colonists began to rebel by refusing to buy British tea. The boycotting of the Tea Act was what sparked the infamous Boston Tea Party of 1773, where the Sons of Liberty threw the contents of 342 chests of British tea into the Boston Harbor in protest. On December 17th, 1773, John Adams wrote in a journal entry, "The destruction of tea must have such important and lasting results that I can't help considering it a turning point in history." We now
The Tea Act stated that the British East India Company could sell directly to the colonists, and eliminate tea merchants altogether. The Parliament seemed to believe that it would work out better for everyone, and that the tea company would find itself past financial ruin by directly exporting to the colonies. The colonists would be paying a lower price since they would no longer have to buy from the merchants, who raised the prices in order to make a profit for themselves. The British thought this was the perfect solution. However, they were far from accurate.
In fact, the Tea Act infuriated the colonists, and with great reason. Eliminating tea merchants not only put the merchants out of work, but it also violated their right to conduct free enterprise. Free enterprise is an economic system where few restrictions are placed on business activities and ownership. In this system, governments generally have minimal ownership and intervention. The Parliament passing the Tea Act was completely unwarranted and uncalled for, so it was understandable for the colonists to be upset.
As a result of the act, the colonists began to rebel by refusing to buy British tea. The boycotting of the Tea Act was what sparked the infamous Boston Tea Party of 1773, where the Sons of Liberty threw the contents of 342 chests of British tea into the Boston Harbor in protest. On December 17th, 1773, John Adams wrote in a journal entry, "The destruction of tea must have such important and lasting results that I can't help considering it a turning point in history." We now