-
Tea Act
Parliament passes the Tea Act, retaining a three pence per pound tax on tea sold in the American colonies -
Period: to
Boston Tea Party
-
East India Company Announcement
The East India Company announces the selection of tea consignees, those merchants who will be allowed to sell tea. Seven are chosen from Boston, all are Loyalists. -
North End Caucus
Boston’s North End Caucus demands, unsuccessfully, that the tea consignees resign at noon under the Liberty Tree. -
Faneuil Hall town meeting
Over 1,000 gather in a town meeting at Faneuil Hall. Committees are formed to call on tea consignees and demand their resignation. -
Dartmouth arrives in Boston
The Dartmouth, the first of the tea ships, arrives in Boston Harbor. Twenty days from this date the cargo must be unloaded and the tax paid or the ship and cargo can be seized by customs officials. -
Body of the People
The “Body of the People” meet at the Old South Meeting House. This meeting is not an official town meeting, but instead includes participants from outlying towns as well. The large meeting moves from Faneuil Hall to the Old South Meeting House. The meeting resolves the tea must not be unloaded, but instead sent back to England. -
John Singleton Copley
Artist John Singleton Copley tries to arrange a compromise between the “Body of the People” and the consignees. The consignees offer to store the tea, but the meeting at Old South finds that offer unacceptable. -
Consignees from Philadelphia and New York resign
Boston learns that tea consignees in Philadelphia and New York have resigned. -
Second Body of the People meeting
Second meeting of the Body of the People is held at the Old South Meeting House. The meeting demands Francis Rotch, owner of the tea ship Dartmouth, to request clearance to leave from custom officials. Clearance is denied. -
Third Body of the People meeting
Deadline for resolving the issue is midnight this night. A third meeting of the Body of the People gathers at the Old South Meeting House. The crowd is estimated at 5,000 – 7,000 people. Meeting at Old South hears of Rotch’s failed mission, orders him to request pass to remove ship from harbor from Governor Hutchinson. -
Tea is thrown from the ships into the harbor
Between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. 340 chests of tea are destroyed and thrown from the tea ships into the harbor. -
Samuel Adams
Rotch goes to Governor Hutchinson’s in Milton, MA, and is denied his request for a pass. Upon reporting this at Old South, Samuel Adams declares, “This meeting can do nothing more to save the country.” War whoops are heard at the Old South doors, and the meeting adjourns. -
King George III
King George III receives first news of the Boston Tea Party. Parliament decides to punish Boston. -
Boston Port Bill
The Boston Port Bill, closing Boston to ocean traffic until the destroyed tea is paid for, is passed by Parliament -
Boston town meeting
Town meeting held in Boston. Those attending vote to refuse to pay for destroyed tea. -
Boston Port Bill goes into effect
Boston Port Bill goes into effect. o September 5 – First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia.
