The 1773 Act gave the British East India Company a monopoly on British Tea , so it had control over all tea sold in the colonies. Even though the price of tea was lowered, the colonists were angry because they were forced to buy only British East India Company's tea and no longer could buy any tea they wanted.
How did the colonists react to the British East Indian Company having sole control over the prices of tea?
By allowing the East India Company to sell tea directly in the American colonies , the Tea Act cut out colonial merchants, and the prominent and influential colonial merchants reacted with anger. ... The Tea Act revived the boycott on tea and inspired direct resistance not seen since the Stamp Act crisis.
Why were the colonists opposed to the East India Company monopoly?
The British government granted the company a monopoly on the importation and sale of tea in the colonies. The colonists had never accepted the constitutionality of the duty on tea, and the Tea Act rekindled their opposition to it.
How did the colonists show their defiance toward the British East India Company and Parliament?
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.
How did the colonists react to each act?
American colonists responded to Parliament's acts with organized protest . Throughout the colonies, a network of secret organizations known as the Sons of Liberty was created, aimed at intimidating the stamp agents who collected Parliament's taxes.
Why did colonists hate the Tea Act?
Many colonists opposed the Act, not so much because it rescued the East India Company, but more because it seemed to validate the Townshend Tax on tea . ... These interests combined forces, citing the taxes and the Company's monopoly status as reasons to oppose the Act.
How much did tea cost in 1773?
The amount of tea dumped into the harbor would make 24,000,000 cups of tea. Today, that much tea would cost about $1,000,000.00 !
What did the British call the colonists?
“Patriots ,” as they came to be known, were members of the 13 British colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution, supporting instead the U.S. Continental Congress.
What did the colonists do to rebel against Britain?
The colonists started to resist by boycotting, or not buying, British goods . In 1773 some colonists in Boston, Massachusetts demonstrated their frustration by dressing up like Indians, sneaking onto ships in the harbor, and dumping imported tea into the water. This was called the Boston Tea Party.
Who was against the Stamp Act?
In Virginia, Patrick Henry (1736-99), whose fiery orations against British tyranny would soon make him famous, submitted a series of resolutions to his colony's assembly, the House of Burgesses
Why did British soldiers fire their guns at the colonists?
The incident was the climax of growing unrest in Boston, fueled by colonists' opposition to a series of acts passed by the British Parliament . ... As the mob insulted and threatened them, the soldiers fired their muskets, killing five colonists.
Why the Stamp Act was unfair?
The Stamp Act was one of the most unpopular taxes ever passed by the British Government. ... It was known as that because it placed a new tax on molasses , which was something that the American colonists imported in great quantities. The colonists weren't too happy about this, but they decided to use less molasses.
How did the Sugar Act affect the colonists?
Strict enforcement of the Sugar Act successfully reduced smuggling , but it greatly disrupted the economy of the American colonies by increasing the cost of many imported items, and reducing exports to non-British markets.
Why was tea important to the colonists?
Tea drinking and tea parties held a significant role in the society of colonial America. Serving tea to one's guests showed both their politeness and hospitality . In the early 1700's, tea was more expensive due to its scarceness, and social tea drinking was a luxury of upper class colonists.
How did Britain respond to the Boston Tea Party?
The British response to the Boston Tea Party was to impose even more stringent policies on the Massachusetts colony . The Coercive Acts levied fines for the destroyed tea, sent British troops to Boston, and rewrote the colonial charter of Massachusetts, giving broadly expanded powers to the royally appointed governor.
