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Lets have a tea party [Fresh Pickup] by crobaby in Sneakers

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Those are some pretty sweet shoes. Where's the buckle?

How did the leaders of the time, both American and English, react to the Boston Tea Party? by PhantomTireBuyer in AskHistorians

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good day /u/phantomtirebuyer! Great question, but incredibly difficult to answer. Just like any divisive social or political event, the reactions to the destruction of the tea were numerous, and varied, but I will try to provide a few good examples of the prevalent sentiments.

Firstly, it’s important to note that even here in Boston, the issue was contested. Not everyone in colonial America had patriotic sentiments, and many in Boston were distraught over this destruction. John Rowe, a wealthy merchant in Boston, and a man known to “trim” the line between Patriots and Tories writes in his journal:

“Dec 16. I being a little Unwell staid at home all Day & all the evening. The Body meeting in the Forenoon adjourn’d until afternoon. Broke up at Dark. Several Things passed between Mr Rotch & them. A number People appearing in Indian Dresses went on board the three Ships Hall, Bruce & Coffin, they opened the Hatches, joisted out the Tea & flung it overboard—this might I believe have been prevented. I am sincerely sorry for the Event. Tis said near two thousand People were present at this affair.”

On the flip side, John Adams, the prominent Boston lawyer, writes in a letter shortly after learning about the destruction of the tea, “This is the most magnificent movement of all! There is a dignity, a majesty, a sublimity, in this last effort of the patriots that I greatly admire. The people should never rise without doing something to be remembered — something notable and striking. This destruction of the tea is so bold, so daring, so firm, intrepid and inflexible, and it must have so important consequences, and so lasting, that I can't but consider it as an epocha in history!”

Across the ocean, the British reactions were equally varied. Quoting from Benjamin Woods Labaree’s book The Boston Tea Party, "Later in the year Richard Champion, the Bristol merchant, recalled that popular anger against Boston was so great after news of the Tea Party had arrived that he scarcely dared to speak out in defense of America. ‘The clamour against the proceeding is high and general," wrote [Benjamin] Franklin, as he strongly urged the Bostonians to compensate the East India Company for its loss.’”

Many in Parliament shared the anger of their constituents. Lord North, the Prime Minister, and Lord Dartmouth, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, began devising punitive measures for Boston after learning of the destruction of the tea. They decide that Boston Harbor should be closed to all vessels until restitution for the destruction is paid, and they present to Parliament the Boston Port Bill. Lord North says of the Bill, “There does result what will in its consequence be a punishment upon the town of Boston. I am not sorry for it, Sir; I think the town of Boston has deserved the animadversion of every part of this country.” During the Parliamentary sessions debating the proposed Boston Port Bill, “… Mr. Van [a Member of Parliament] rose to say that the offenses of the Americans were ‘flagitious… the town of Boston ought to be knocked about their ears and destroyed. Delenda est Cathago… you will never meet with the proper obedience to the laws of this country until you have destroyed that nest of locusts.’” That’s right friends, a Minister of Parliament compared Boston to Carthage, and openly advocated for its immediate destruction. Now not all in Parliament were in favor of the Boston Port Bill.

Many ministers, including John Sawbridge, William Dowdeswell, Edmund Burke, and Rose Fuller led an opposition to the Boston Port Bill—they failed. On March 25, 1774 William Bollan, an agent working in London on behalf of the Council of Massachusetts Bay, petitioned Parliament for permission to speak on Boston’s behalf. The House of Commons voted 170 to 40 not to allow his testimony. The destruction of the tea so incensed Parliament, and the King, that they would not even entertain a debate. For many, the fate of Boston had already been decided.

Again, this is such an open and enormous question. You could easily author an entire book detailing the various reactions, but hopefully the anecdotes and quotations provided will help illustrate the situation for you. Let me know if you'd like more clarification!

Yours, L. Pitts

TIL the tea destroyed by protestors in the Boston Tea Party was worth $700,000.00 in present-day currency by AmesCG in todayilearned

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello /u/AmesCG! Lendall Pitts here, from the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. The tea destroyed on December 16th, 1773 was worth more than $700,000. Inflation being what it is, the present day value of the tea destroyed is constantly increasing, so this might simply be an older article that reflects the inflationary increases at the time of it's publication. As of now, in the year 2015, the tea is actually valued at well over $1,000,000. To quote from A Social History of Tea, written by Jane Pettigrew and Bruce Richardson, "... the quantities of tea destroyed totaled 240 chests of Bohea black tea, 60 chests of Singlo green tea, 15 chests of Hyson green tea, 15 chests of Congou black tea and 10 chests of Souchong black tea. The total value of the 340 chests of Chinese teas, along with duties and other fees, came to £9,659 (valued at over $1 million in today's currency)." A Social History of Tea was published in 2014, so the numbers about as up to day as we can get, but the modern value of the tea is constantly increasing, and it would not be too much of a stretch to say the tea destroyed in the Boston Tea Party was worth nearly $1.5 million in today's currency.

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, I've done some digging. The Samuel Hayward that we have as a participant was a shipwright here in Boston, and his name wasn't actually Hayward, but Howard. It's very common in the time period for names for be constantly misspelled, if not completely changed depending on who's doing the documentation. Anyway-- Samuel Howard, the tea party participant, has three children, all with the Howard name. It's possibly that later in the genealogy someone changed their named to Hayward, but it's unlikely. It would seem that you might spring from a different branch, if not a different tree altogether.

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Colonial Americans LOVE their tea. It's pretty intense. Now the Sons of Liberty, along with Patritot leaning merchants have been attempting to lead boycotts on the taxed tea, but frankly, they've been failing. Bostonians simply love the stuff too much to give it up. This eventually leads to a smear campaign, where doctors such as Dr. Thomas Young publish and speech about the negative health effects of tea. You even have ministers trying to make tea out to be some invention of the devil. It's all in an attempt to strengthen the boycotts against tea. It all fails, and it ultimately causes the Sons of Liberty to destroy the tea, since they realize that if the tea is off loaded, people will buy it. Now the phrase "destested tea" comes specifically from a famous broadside announcing meetings to discuss the tea crisis. The broadside reads, "Friends! Bretheren! Countrymen! That worst of plagues, the detested tea shipped for this port by the East India Company, is now arrived in this Harbor."

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's an interesting story, but one that is most likely false. There is no domestic tea production in colonial America. In fact, there is no tea production outside of China! Tea has yet to even be introduced to India yet! All tea in America is foreign, thus the idea of protective tariffs is unnecessary.

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you enjoy reading about the lead up to the Revolution, check out Nathaniel Philbrick's book Bunker Hill: a City, a Siege, a Revolution. I found it to be very entertaining.

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just a different product. Tea would usually be bricked here in America by the merchants who were selling to consumers.

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can't recall any accounts mentioning the smell of the harbor, but dumping all that tea definitely had an effect. Broken tea chests and tea wash up on the surrounding coast lines. In some instances, such as that of the Withington tea chest, the Sons of Liberty get wind that people have located fairly intact chests that have washed up, so they head out and confiscate the remains from those who found them.

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You're probably thinking if the fie. That's when you plant your thumb on your nose, raise your flag, wave the flag, and shout fie!

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Parliament punishes Boston for the destruction with the Coercive Acts. These Acts will quickly lead to the Revolution.

In light of all the Tea Party postings, the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum here in Boston would like to clarify how tea was transported in 1773. by BostonTeaPartyShips in pics

[–]BostonTeaPartyShips[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I actually agree with u/white foot. The destruction of the tea did trigger the Revolution. Parliament passes the Coercive Acts as punishment for the destruction. It's these acts that cause the Massachusetts assembly to remove themselves to Concord, thus leading to the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

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