After growing increasingly dissatisfied with what was By Matthew Rosario
[email protected]
perceived to be unjust British governance of the North
American colonies, colonists began to become more open in their hostility. This
is the sad tale of the loss of 342 chests of tea.
Salutary neglect
During the early 18th century, the British government operated under the policy of
salutary neglect with the North American colonies. This was a 'hands off' approach
which meant that rules and regulations were somewhat lenient and not strictly
enforced. Meaning that, broadly speaking, the colonies largely govern themselves as
long as they remained loyal to the Crown and Britain. In the beginning, colonial exports
could only travel on English ships, and exports such as cotton, tobacco, and sugar could
only be traded with England. However, government policy changed under the
stewardship of Robert Walpole and later Thomas Pelham Holles where an unwritten
policy of paying a 'blind eye' to the aforementioned trade rules and allowed 'illegal'
trade with, for example, the French or the Dutch. The reasoning being that sales of
colonial exports would result in prosperity for the empire.
The Seven Year's War (1756 to 1763), which saw Great Britain (along with Prussian and
Hanover) in conflict against France, Austria, Saxony, Sweden and Russia, had left Great
Britain with severe debts. In order to raise funds a series of taxes and regulations were
imposed on the colonies. The results of these new stricter policies meant an end to the
previous freedom (i.e. salutary neglect) that the colonies had enjoyed, and the start of
increased tension, which ultimately lead the independence of Northern America.
Taxation without representation
Two of the most important acts that accelerated the tension were the Stamp Act
(1765) and the Townshend Acts (1767). These acts did not sit well with the colonists.
The Stamp Act placed a direct tax on colonists for all official papers and documents as
Popular King George III
well as other paper based media in the American colonies. Crucially, this tax to be paid
in British currency and not colonial paper money. The Townshend Acts, named after
Charles Townshend, were a series of Acts designed to fund the administration of British
colonies in America. Among other things, these acts enabled the pay of governors and
judges. This helped ensure their loyalty the British Government.
The slogan 'taxation without representation' was most likely coined by Reverend
Jonathan Mayhew during a sermon he delivered in 1750. During this sermon he
criticised the lack of rights for American colonists and how unjust it was that the
colonists did not have a voice in British parliament to represent their voice. The Boston
Politician James Otis, who was a critic of the British government, popularised this
slogan to rally support and criticise the British policy of not allowing a colonist voice to
votes on the various issues that affected the colonists .
1
The Tea Act
The Tea Act of 1773 was designed to help aid the British East India
Company (EIC) by permitting the selling of surplus tea directly to
American colonists. The selling of tea by the EIC led to the reduction in
the price of tea, which consequently had an effect on the profit margins
made by the colonial merchants. This act was yet another example to
colonists of 'taxation without representation'. This act may be
considered 'the straw that broke the camel's back'. Ultimately, the
various acts, taxes and regulations imposed on the American colonists
led to strong opposition which mobilised to combat British rule.
Coat of arms of the East India Company
The Boston Tea Party
In the evening on the 16th of December, 1773, a group of colonists disguised as Native Americans,
boarded three ships moored in Boston Harbor (spelled incorrectly, i.e. American spelling). The
Dartmouth, the Eleanor, and the Beaver belonged to private merchants but they were carrying tea owned
by the EIC. They proceeded to dump 342 chests of British tea in the water. The value of which were
estimated to be around £10,000 (an enormous sum at this time).
The British government did not look fondly on this expensive act of destruction and responded with
strong punitive measures known at the Coercive Acts of 1774. These acts consisted of four laws aimed to
punish the colonies, and in particular Massachusetts (where Boston is located). The Boston Port Act closed
the harbour (note the correct spelling) until the spilt tea been paid for.
The Massachusetts Government Act changed the Massachusetts Charter (a
document which established the governance and privileges of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony) so that town meetings were restricted (i.e.
an effort to stop opposition from further mobilising) and gave further
powers the royal governor. The Quartering Act led to colonists being
forced to house and supply British troops. The Administration of Justice
Act gave the royal governor the possibility to move trial to other
colonies or even Great Britain (meaning the trials of British officials
could be relocated to an impartial location). The Declaration of Independence (1776)
The punitive measures carried by the British government further
inflamed tension and led to 12 (of the 13) colonies to organise the First
Continental Congress on the 5th of September 1774, where it was
discussed how to respond and coordinate a response to British
The Declaration of Independence (1776)
aggression. The only colony which did attend the congress was Georgia,
which needed the assistance of the British Military in dealing with Native American tribes. In attendance
were the 'American' leaders of the colonies such as George Washington and Patrick Henry from Virginia
and John Adams and Samuel Adams for Massachusetts. This congress marked the first major attempt to
coordinate the colonies to resist British rule. Efforts included a boycott of Bibliography
British goods. The non-importation agreement aimed to exert an economic Gritzner, C.F. (2008). The United States of
pressure the Britain to listen to colonial grievances. King George III was America. Chelsea House Publishers.
petitioned to cease retribution. But these efforts had no meaningful effect. Photo credits
The Free Born Briton (1790)
During the first congress, a Second Continental Congress was agreed to be held Credit: William Dent
the following May. This second congress (May 10, 1775) was attended by Tea sabotage in Boston Port (1846)
delegates from all 13 colonies and can be viewed as the establishment of a Credit: Nathayel Corrier
federation government. It was here that the Lee Resolution was agreed and Portrait of King George III (1794)
Credit: George Engleheart
enacted on the 2nd of July,1776. This resolution, named after Richard Henry
Declaration of Independence (1776)
Lee of Virginia, called for the colonies to declare independence from Britian. On Credit: Public domain
the 4th of July, 1776, the agreed and signed the Declaration of Independence. East India Coat of Arms
Credit: Creative Commons (3.0)
