How did the Boston Tea Party lead to the Revolutionary War?

Question

This a question for part of my project. I googled it, and I couldn't find anything resourceful. Please help me out.

Answer 1

txbeachgirl points you in the right direction. The key link between the Boston Tea Party and the Revolution is the British RESPONSE to the former, that is, the "Coercive Acts"a set of "Coercive Acts" (called the "Intolerable Acts" by the colonists). These began with closing Boston harbor until the tea was paid for, and taking much of the colonial government out of the hands of the colonists (including the local legislature's power of the purse over the royal governor, and their right to LOCAL trials).

For an overview of these acts (and links to each specific one), see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intolerable_Acts

Note that several of the British actions of response to the Tea Party are listed in the 'causes' section of the Declaration of Independence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence#Indictment

Some other aspects to consider

1) The Boston Tea Party was a strong objection to British policies (in this case, of essentially forcing the colonists to buy this specific product from the party specified by the British goverment). As such, it inspired SIMILAR responses elsewhere in the colonies (there was, in fact, not just one tea party!) and so, even before the British response, helped to galvanize the various colonies for action
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party#Event

2) The British army in BOSTON - after the Boston Tea Party --though it was actually quite peaceable (the participants went out of their way to avoid endangering PEOPLE or destroying any property other than the tea itself)-- the British were skittish about any actions by the colonists that seemed aggressive. So, the colonists stockpiling supplies (like gunpowder) to be READY for the possiblitiy of BRITISH attacks on THEM (their viewpoint), prompted the British to try to SEIZE these supplies, as well as the 'revolutionary' leaders among the colonists (like Sam Adams and John Hancock). That is what the troops were doing in their march to Lexington and Concord, an action the colonists (likewise understandably) met with force. . . hence began the Revolution.

Note too that the British troops were essentially occupying Boston at this point... so the whole place was a tinderbox.

Answer 2

The Boston Tea Party didn't actually lead to the revolutionary war. It was more of a cumulative affect of the British government doing things that aggravated the colonists and in affect causing the colonists to be more or less rebellious. In the end the British Empire used her colonies elsewhere just the same, it's just her american colony grew a backbone and wanted profit for themselves...so bingo....

Answer 3

The Sons of Liberty did this and the British were upset so they passed an act called the Intolerable acts, which required Boston to pay for the damaged tea and closed the harbor. It was another stepping stone to the final break with Britain - the Declaration of Independence

Answer 4

Andrew (above) got it correct...The revolution was probably already going to happen and the 'Indians' were protesting an already overbearing taxation. I know, that you know that the reason the tea was chosen as a protest was because the Royal Family owned tea farms and the colonist could only buy that 'brand' of tea. And that any other brand of tea was heavily taxed. It was already about the 'restraint of trade' thing.

Answer 5

The pilgrims were rebelling against Brittain. 'Cause like the Queen was totally jacking them around. Somethin' to do with how the pilgims needed to pay a big ol' tax on this Brittish tea. We settlers said 'F' that and begain tossin some tea off some vessle in the middle of the night.( No more taxes!! Arr, -jking)

Answer 6

haha....welll...it didnt necissarily LEAD to the revolution....

i basically made the british mad....and they set tighter restrictions especially against MA, which in turn made the colonists more mad and they rebelled....

Answer 7

um.... it was about taxation without representation. England felt that they still had a right to tax thier ex-countrymen even though they had started a new country.