Fancy some tea? well the folks of Boston didn’t in 1773 and it was the start of the end of the British era of Colonizing the USA.
The Patriots disguised with soot on their faces (some said like Apache Indians but this was later debunked as legend they did however use Tomahawk style axes to open the Tea chests) decided to dump the tea from 342 Tea chests from the Dartmouth, the Eleanor and the Beaver into the harbour turning the bay water brown. It was at a great cost to the East India company who held sway over the import of tea to the colony. A lot of tea was drunk in the colonies each month leading to this event, and of course after the event many newer indiginous teas were devised.
Boston Tea party
It was a significant point in history where the Patriots rebelling against British taxation and unfair (it has to be said even the the editor is a true Brit) levies on all the colonies, so bad the taxes would mean many loosing their homes, and a dire monopoly over tea supply, and a pivotal point in where the US wanted to became more of a entreprenuerial country with lesser taxes and the autonomous man. Britain to this day remains a high tax welfare state (which I feel cannot continue as nearly 20% of all UK’s GDP goes to welfare) whereas regardless of the ups and downs of the capitalist model, the USA wanted then and is still today a land of opportunity and the American way.
Not much of a Harbour (ok Harbor) left at Boston now, just this plaque in memory to some very brave and resolute people who saw the future long before many could.
plaque at Griffins wharf
Just a quick look back to see why this country’s relative short history makes it a great place to learn and work.
