Huzzah! Get ready to celebrate!
It’s the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party! On December 16, 1773, a bunch of colonists who had it up to here with England dumped some tea into Boston Harbor and started a revolution. “No taxation without representation!”
The tea dumping was organized by a political group called the Sons of Liberty. I mean, what a badass name. And the badass members included John Hancock, Sam Adams, and Paul Revere, to name a few. The Sons of Liberty threw 342 chests of tea into the harbor. The 342 chests equate to 45 tons of tea and took over three hours to accomplish. Three whole hours…I’m sure by the end, the tea-throwing lost its luster. Also, Benjamin Franklin insisted on paying back the company for the lost tea…Ben, you just lost all my respect. Go fly a kite.
The Sons of Liberty embodied the resiliency and strength of America at the time. The act of throwing the tea into the harbor was the ultimate way to stick it to the man in 1773. And to honor the day, I think we should all stick it to the man in our own personal way. One idea may be to stick soggy tea bags into your least favorite family member’s shoes. You could also walk up to your nemesis and tell them they have something in their teeth and then walk away. The Sons of Liberty will look proudly on you from above.
If you do choose to celebrate in a less defiant manner, you can check out the Boston Tea Party Museum located on Congress Street. They will have a live reenactment on Saturday, December 16th. Find out more details here!
History of the Boston Tea Party via History.com
The Boston Tea Party was a political protest that occurred on December 16, 1773, at Griffin’s Wharf in Boston, Massachusetts. American colonists, frustrated and angry at Britain for imposing “taxation without representation,” dumped 342 chests of tea imported by the British East India Company into the harbor.
The event was the first major act of defiance to British rule over the colonists. It showed Great Britain that Americans wouldn’t take taxation and tyranny sitting down, and rallied American patriots across the 13 colonies to fight for independence.
Why Did the Boston Tea Party Happen?
In the 1760s, Britain was deep in debt, so the British Parliament imposed a series of taxes on American colonists to help pay those debts.
The Stamp Act of 1765 taxed colonists on virtually every piece of printed paper they used, from playing cards and business licenses to newspapers and legal documents. The Townshend Acts of 1767 went a step further, taxing essentials such as paint, paper, glass, lead, and tea.
The British government felt the taxes were fair since much of its debt was earned fighting wars on the colonists’ behalf. The colonists, however, disagreed. They were furious at being taxed without having any representation in Parliament and felt it was wrong for Britain to impose taxes on them to gain revenue.
Drunk History
Another way to celebrate? Learning about Boston’s revolutionary and drunken past, all while drinking beer. Explore the Freedom Trail and see ten historic sites related to the American Revolution, and grab a cider or beer at three historic taverns. Hear about the role alcohol played in some of the pivotal moments in history, including the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. Get the details here.
More events to celebrate – trifold hats and muskets optional
ARMY-NAVY GAME TO HONOR BOSTON TEA PARTY – Saturday, December 10th
As Massachusetts gets ready for the Army-Navy game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, the USAA is not only honoring “America’s Game,” but it’s also bringing a 374-pound bag of tea to Boston’s historic sites.
FANEUIL HALL ON DEC. 16
The 250th Boston Tea Party Anniversary and Reenactment will take you through the years of the Boston Tea Party. This event runs from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. While this event is sold out, screens will be placed outside Faneuil Hall for the public to watch the presentation.
DOWNTOWN CROSSING ON DEC. 16
People will gather outside the Old South Meeting House as the town crier brings “news to the street.” The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
RAISE YOUR GLAS – DRINK A SAM ADAMS BEER
Beermaker Samuel Adams has developed a historically sourced green tea pale ale to mark the anniversary — and since the Dec. 16 raid was done in the name of ending “taxation without representation,” the company is selling the beer without tax, a representative told NBC10 Boston.
25 year old bulldog and Aperol spritz enthusiast. My perfect day is a loco brunch turned into dinner at capo and possibly a trip to the basement.
