Boston Tea Party
It is the
starting point of the American War of Independence. On December 16th,
1773, citizens of the North American city of Boston, disguised as
Indians, entered three English merchant ships, which lay in the harbor,
in a surprise strike. They threw the entire cargo, comprised of 342
boxes of tea, overboard.
With this so-called Boston Tea Party they protested against the tea tax
which was passed by the British parliament without the consent of the
North American colonies. London reacted very harsh to this protest. The
government sent war ships and enacted the closure of the harbour of
Boston until compensation was paid.
This demonstration of power caused the final rebellion of the American
colonies against Great Britain. Three years later, in 1776, the
colonies officially declared their independence from the British Crown.