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What Were the Effects of the Boston Tea Party?

Daniel Liden
Daniel Liden

On 16 December 1773, colonists in Boston, Massachusetts, boarded three ships full of tea sent by the East India Company and threw the tea into the Boston Harbor. They did so to protest the Tea Act, passed by the Parliament of Great Britain, which practically granted the East India Company a monopoly on tea distribution in the American colonies. The colonists were required to pay a tax on this tea because of the Townshend Acts. One of the first effects of the Boston Tea Party was the passage of strict new laws known as the "Coercive Acts," which were intended to punish the colonists. This led to many of the later effects, including the formation of the First Continental Congress. The Boston Tea Party was also a major catalyst leading to the start of the American Revolutionary War.

The Coercive Acts, also known as the Intolerable Acts, were intended as punishment for the destruction of property. One of these acts actually shut down trade in the city of Boston until the damages could be repaid. These punitive acts were particularly strict because the British Parliament intended to make an example of Boston in order to discourage other acts of rebellion from the colonies.

The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest by American colonists of Great Britain's Tea Act.
The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest by American colonists of Great Britain's Tea Act.

These acts led to another of the effects of the Boston Tea Party: the development of the First Continental Congress. This congress was formed with the intent of petitioning the British Parliament in order to have the harsh punitive acts repealed. The petition was ignored, leading to the development of the Second Continental Congress. Between these two Congresses, the American Revolutionary War began, and the Second Continental Congress was highly involved in overseeing the war effort.

The American Revolution can be traced back to the Boston Tea Party.
The American Revolution can be traced back to the Boston Tea Party.

In many ways, the American Revolutionary War itself can be seen as one of the effects of the Boston Tea Party. There were many different factors and rebellious acts that eventually precipitated in the war, but the Boston Tea Party was among the most significant. The passage of the Coercive Acts and the subsequent refusal of the British Parliament to repeal them led to a great deal of dissatisfaction from colonists. It is distinctly possible that without the Boston Tea Party, the Revolution would have been delayed for quite some time or may not have even happened at all.

Discussion Comments

anon993658

I need the effects on the colonists in order to write an essay.

anon314233

This is a great source and it really helped me have an easier time with my research! I'm glad I found WiseGeek!

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    • The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest by American colonists of Great Britain's Tea Act.
      By: magmarcz
      The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest by American colonists of Great Britain's Tea Act.
    • The American Revolution can be traced back to the Boston Tea Party.
      By: Onur ERSIN
      The American Revolution can be traced back to the Boston Tea Party.
    • The Boston Tea Party is an important event leading up the American Revolution.
      By: Mark J. Grenier
      The Boston Tea Party is an important event leading up the American Revolution.
    • David Kennison, the last survivor of the Boston Tea Party, lived to 115 years of age.
      By: Seth Anderson
      David Kennison, the last survivor of the Boston Tea Party, lived to 115 years of age.
    • Colonists threw tea overboard to protest mandatory taxes.
      By: City of Boston Archives
      Colonists threw tea overboard to protest mandatory taxes.
    • Boston's role in shaping local and U.S. political history is still on display at old government buildings that still stand in the city.
      By: mdbrockmann82
      Boston's role in shaping local and U.S. political history is still on display at old government buildings that still stand in the city.