Changes

Meanwhile, the revolutionary Samuel Adams was busy establishing a resistance organization known as the Committee of Correspondence.  This group, and others like it throughout the colonies, shared and disseminated information on Britain's activities.   

Meanwhile, the revolutionary Samuel Adams was busy establishing a resistance organization known as the Committee of Correspondence.  This group, and others like it throughout the colonies, shared and disseminated information on Britain's activities.   

Thus, although conflicts diminished somewhat from 1770 to 1773, colonists retained their opposition to British oppression.  The tea tax remained in effect, so many colonists refused to drink British tea and, once again, their boycott was felt in England.

Although violent conflicts diminished somewhat from 1770 to 1773, colonist opposition to British oppression continued.  The tea tax remained in effect, and thus many colonists refused to drink British tea and, once again, their boycott was felt in England.

 

Bent on breaking the colonists' boycott of English tea, England next passed the Tea Act of 1773.  A large British tea company, the East India Company, lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  The East India Company had a huge inventory of tea and received an exception from the tea tax.  This enabled the East India Company to import tea from their huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where they planned to undersell colonial merchants.  The Puritans of Massachusetts were furious about this.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally appointed governor refused.  On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists led by Samuel Adams disguised themselves as Indians and boarded the tea ships.  They dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor; this was the "Boston Tea Party."  The task took an entire night, as the ships contained 350 chests of tea, costing about 1.87 million dollars in wasted tea (converted to today's dollars).

Bent on breaking the colonists' boycott of English tea, England next passed the Tea Act of 1773.  A large British tea company, the East India Company, lobbied for and obtained [[monopoly]] (exclusive) rights from the England.  The East India Company had a huge inventory of tea and received an exemption from the tea tax.  This enabled the East India Company to import tea from their huge inventory to Boston Harbor, where they planned to undersell colonial merchants.  The Puritans of Massachusetts were furious about this.  They tried to have the tea turned back to England, but the royally appointed governor refused.  On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists led by Samuel Adams disguised themselves as Indians and boarded the tea ships.  They dumped all of its tea into Boston Harbor; this was the "Boston Tea Party."  The task took an entire night, as the ships contained 350 chests of tea, costing about $1.87 million in wasted tea (converted to today's dollars).

 

As punishment, Britain passed harsh laws, which were given pejorative names by the colonists: the Coercive Acts or, alternatively, the Intolerable Acts.  These laws revoked Massachusetts' charter, closed Boston Harbor, installed a British general as governor, and repealed liberties like the right to hold town meetings.  The closing of the harbor, in particular, was a sore blow to Massachusetts, whose economy was largely dependent on fishing and whaling.

As punishment, Britain passed harsh laws, which were given pejorative names by the colonists: the Coercive Acts or, alternatively, the Intolerable Acts.  These laws revoked Massachusetts' charter, closed Boston Harbor, installed a British general as governor, and repealed liberties like the right to hold town meetings.  The closing of the harbor, in particular, was a severe blow to Massachusetts, whose economy was largely dependent on fishing and whaling.

In defiance, public sentiment turned violently against tea.  Coffee gradually replaced it, and continues to be more popular than tea in America to this day. In Boston today, there is still no tax on tea as a tribute to the Boston Tea Party.

In defiance, public sentiment turned violently against tea.  Coffee gradually replaced it, and continues to be more popular than tea in America to this day. In Boston today, there is still no tax on tea as a tribute to the Boston Tea Party.

 

The British also passed the Quebec Act, which gave Canadians part of the Ohio Valley.  This further infuriated the colonists.  In addition, the Act gave the French more freedoms, such as freedom of religion for the Catholic Church.  Colonists were angered because (1) they felt people in Quebec were getting more freedoms than they had and (2) they feared establishment of an Anglican Church in America.

The British also passed the Quebec Act, which gave Canadians part of the Ohio Valley.  This further infuriated the colonists.  In addition, the Act gave the French more freedoms, such as freedom of religion for the Catholic Church.  Colonists were angered because (1) they felt people in Quebec were getting more freedoms than they had and (2) they feared establishment by Britain of an Anglican Church in America.

Although many colonists remained loyal to the King and had hoped to keep peace, conflicts worsened and emotions boiled over.

Although many colonists remained loyal to the King and had hoped to keep peace, conflicts worsened and emotions boiled over.