Events That Shaped the Boston Tea Party

Townsend Revenue Act

Jun 29, 1767

Parlaiment passes a new tax bill. The bill inclided trade duties and taxes.

Tension

Mar 5, 1770

Tension between Boston citizens and British soldiers comes to a head. The incident may have begun with a group of children throwing rocks at a British Sentury stationed outside the courthouse.

Tea Act

May 1, 1773

British parlaiment passes a law known as the Tea Act. The purpose of the tea act was to raise money to pay troops stationed in India and to simultaniously rescue the East India Tea Company from bankruptcy.

John Singleton

Nov 1, 1773

John Singleton attempts to effect a compromise between merchants and the Patriots . His attempts were in vain and the trouble beggins.

Old South Meeting House

Dec 16, 1773

Thousands gather at the Old South Meeting House . Samuel Adams announces " Gentlemen, this meeting can do nothing more to save the country," a signal for the start of the Boston Tea Party.

Dumping

Dec 16, 1773

342 chests of tea, worth 10,000 pounds were broken and their contents dumped into the Boston Harbor.

Paul Revere

Dec 17, 1773

Paul Revere reaches Philidelphia with a hastily scribbled note. It details the incidents of the Boston Tea Party.

Lord North

Jan 5, 1774

News of the Boston Tea Party reaches Lord North in London. North claims the dispute is no longer over taxation.

Confrontations

Feb 1, 1774

British troops head into the countryside to seize weapons being stockpiled by patriot militias. This lead to confrontations.

Boston Port Act

Mar 25, 1774

Lord North submitts the Boston Port Act to Parlaiment. He intends to close the port of Boston.

Port Act passes

Mar 31, 1774

The Port Act is passes unanimously and becomes law. It was to remain in effect until Boston repaid the East India Company for the tea.

The Coercive Acts

Mar 31, 1774

Three additional acts know collectively as the Coercive Acts are passed. The first act was the Massachusetts Governmaent Act, Then The INtollerable Act was passed.

General Thomas Gage

Apr 1, 1775

British General Thomas Gage exhibits caution aagainst attacking the militias. Even though they were unorganized and under supplied, he waits for reinforcements to arrive from England.

Retreat

Apr 27, 1775

General Gage abandons Boston. His attempts to seize military stores of Patriot militias in April 1775 sparked the Battles of Lexington and Concord,

Washington Prevails

Mar 1, 1776

General Gage decides to abandon Boston after Washington's army laid seige.on the city. This time they had heavy artilery and were well organized with more supplies.