Changes

: ''Main Article: [[Tax Day Tea Party]]''

: ''Main Article: [[Tax Day Tea Party]]''

As mentioned, the [[Tax Day Tea Party|Tax Day Tea Parties]] were the first such events. The many organizations that formed in the wake of Rick Santelli's impromptu announcement made little or no effort to coordinate their planning, beyond all choosing April 15 as their target protest date, on account of its obvious association with the payment of taxes.

Success from the Chicago Tea Parties on February 27, as part of a concerted nationwide effort, led to the [[Tax Day]] Tea Party rallies held on April 15, 2009. Following the Chicago Tea Party protests, a group called ''Americans for Prosperity'' of [[North Carolina]] began implementing plans for a "Tax Day" Tea Party rally in Raleigh on the tax filing deadline.<ref>[http://www.raleigh3.com/default.asp?sdetail=1849&sc=2724 Raleigh Holds 'Tea Party' To Protest Government], ''Raleigh Telegram'', March 25, 2009</ref> Leading up to the Tax Day Tea Parties, the events were organized and promoted by volunteers, activists, and [[Political action committee]]s across the [[United States]].<ref>http://www.freedomworks.org/press-releases/freedomworks-co-sponsoring-taxpayer-tea-parties-ac</ref> By taking advantage of online viral [[marketing]] to get the word out,<ref name="investorsnews">[http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=470054&Ntt=tea+party 'Tea Party' Protests In 35 Cities], March 2, 2009</ref> the speed and scope with which the Tax Day Tea Party protests were organized can be attributed to the use of [[Twitter]] [[Micro-blogging|tweet]] feeds,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tcotreport.com/ |title=#TCOT Report |publisher=Top Conservatives on Twitter (#TCOT) |date= |accessdate=2009-04-15}}</ref> on [[blogs]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Ambinder |first=Marc |url=http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/02/tea_parties_pajamas_and_mediaevent_symbiotics.php |title=Tea Parties, Pajamas, and Media/Event Symbiotics |publisher=The Atlantic |date=2009-02-25 |accessdate=2009-02-25}}</ref> and the [[social networking]] [[website]] [[Facebook]].<ref name="facebook">[http://michellemalkin.com/2009/03/04/going-galt-and-the-next-tea-party-wave/ “Going Galt” and the next Tea Party wave], March 4, 2009, [[Michelle Malkin]]</ref>

The event organizers made every effort to ensure the continuation of their movement, by registering attendees for mailing lists and also offering merchandise for sale. They made ''no'' effort to exclude any particular participants on account of race, color, creed, or political party affiliation. All participants expressed a shared outrage at the level of taxation and at the contempt that they felt that not only the President but also most members of [[United States Congress|Congress]], regardless of political party, appeared to be displaying for the Constitution.

President Obama is seen to have responded to the tea parties with requested budget cuts of $100 million on April 20, 2009.<ref name="rushlimbaugh">[http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_042109/content/01125107.guest.html Obama Responded to Tea Parties with $100 Million in "Budget Cuts"], April 21, 2009, [[Rush Limbaugh]]</ref> Rush Limbaugh contended, "I'm sure they've got internal polling data that shows these tea parties are successful and these tea parties are a problem. So they're responding to the tea parties here. That's all this is." According to a [[Rasmussen Reports]] national telephone survey on April 20, 2009, the poll found that fifty-one percent (51%) of Americans had a favorable view of the tea parties held nationwide, including 32% who said their view of the events were "Very favorable." Thirty-three percent (33%) held an unfavorable opinion of the tea parties. Fifteen percent (15%) were not sure.<ref name="rasmussenreports">[http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics2/51_view_tea_parties_favorably_political_class_strongly_disagrees 51% View Tea Parties Favorably, Political Class Strongly Disagrees], April 20, 2009, [[Rasmussen Reports]]</ref>

=== Independence Day ===

=== Independence Day ===

: ''Main Article: [[Independence Day Tea Party]]''

: ''Main Article: [[Independence Day Tea Party]]''

These same organizations decided to repeat their performance on [[Independence Day]] (July 4, 2009). Even more persons attended; the largest such rally was held on the grounds of the Southfork Ranch (scene of the [[television]] series ''[[Dallas (television)|Dallas]]''), in [[Plano]], [[Texas]], which drew 37,000 attendees. The themes that organizers and participants sounded at these events were much the same as were those at the Tax Day events: advocacy of limited government, decrying of high levels of taxation, and refusal to countenance plans for [[socialism]] and especially socialized [[medicine]].

The same organizations decided to repeat their performance on [[Independence Day]] (July 4, 2009). Even more people attended; the largest such rally was held on the grounds of the Southfork Ranch (scene of the [[television]] series ''[[Dallas (television)|Dallas]]''), in [[Plano]], [[Texas]], which drew 37,000 attendees. The themes that organizers and participants sounded at these events were much the same as were those at the Tax Day events: advocacy of limited government, decrying of high levels of taxation, and refusal to countenance plans for [[socialism]] and especially socialized [[medicine]].

=== Labor Day ===

=== Labor Day ===