Boston Tea Party: A Sleeping Dog was Awoken

Nothing was so important for Britain as a profit the mother land had from its small, yet, rebellious child. A demeanor might be tamed, so it is said. Provided that the child is awoken from its dream, a dream to pursuit an independence. The feeling so strong and powerful couldn't be stopped; the rebel heart burst up!

The roots of an upheaval started long time ago. It was uneasy time between Britain and France. Both countries led wars, longer, shorter – it didn't matter; it was expensive. It took place in Europe, Asia and North America. Wars were time taking and distracted a little bit Britain's attention from the colonies. The king heard some rumors that it might happen, the idea of independence is present, yet no one really believed it springs all around.

France wanted to own Canada and Louisiana, it was wide spread piece of land by the Mississippi river and its tributaries. The area was still intact, wild and unexplored by new-comers. The wild forest, the wild life appeared as a great opportunity to start a new life in; the French government made all it could to make it happen. In 1603 Samuel de Champlain explored the land that stretch all along the St. Lawrence River. He set two important trading posts: Montreal and Quebec. Another French adventurer – Rene La Salle in 1670 explored the valley of the Mississippi River. He reached the Gulf of Mexico. This ares is known as New Orleans. The french government wanted to win a complete and unconditional power over the area of East Appalachian Mountain and stop the settlers to go toward the west part of this hostile place. In 1756 England and France started the Seven Years War. The pro-war leading Prime Minister – William Pitt sent money and soldiers to America to prevent unnecessary uprisings. The war was ended by signing the Peace of Paris in 1763; France gave up its claims to Canada and the rest of the territory of the Mississippi River. It was short-time victory, the empire prevailed, however, another conflicts with American colonies were about to start. King George III forbade anyone to settle in the westward part of the Appalachian Mountain until further decision and treaties were proclaimed and signed. It made the Native Americans and the Colonist very, very angry. Both nations wanted to go westwards, it meant a lot for them; it meant life, place to live, it meant being. To make things worse, the King made taxes higher and higher; the most important and the most expensive were sugar and coffee. Not only they must pay through the nose for goods they desperately needed, they also had to feed the British soldiers and give them so shelter if necessary. The colonies said „NO!” against unfair treatment. High taxes and British soldiers were unwelcome, especially the second problem – the colonist feared they would have to obey the British government and their „independence” will not be guaranteed. The government was good provided that it was not too powerful.

In 1760s no one would imagined there would be a wide-range problem, that the 'local' wars Britain had with France bring so tremendous consequences. The presence of French troops in Canada and Louisiana made the colonists uneasy and worried, for that reason they agreed the British soldiers protected them. The government they had was not modified and interrupted by the British authorities, British scarcely interfered in colonial business and state affair. Law was a bit modified so called 'enumerated commodities' emerged within a set of documents called Navigation Acts. It included goods that had to be shipped only to England and were forbidden to sell to other destinations. The breaking law began – smuggling was thriving. The colonists did not pay much attention on duties. British Prime Minister – Robert Walpole was asked why he did nothing further to make the colonists more obedient and dutiful; his answer was plain: „Let the sleeping dogs lie”. He realized once the American Colonies rebel against British authority the disaster will be unavoidable.

In 1765 a new law was implemented – the Stamp Act. It was a special tax stamp the colonists had to attach to newspapers, licenses, wills and mortgages. It rose an outrage throughout the colonies, people who desperately fought to keep their colonies alive and chose their own representative government had the right to decide how high and what kind of taxes they are going to pay. Because they had no representatives in the British parliament who could impose it for them they demanded: 'No taxation without representation”. In 1765 the representative of nine colonies met in New York they formed the 'Stamp Act Congress' – an opposition to the Stamp Act. The British goods were banished; the merchants refused to sell them. The colonists refused to use the stamps. The British wanted to justify its decision and the rightness for taxation by implementing the Declaratory Act. It stated the „full power and authority over the colonists and people of America”. In 1767 new taxes were imposed on tea, paper, paint and other various goods. The Boston was the place where the most of the riots took place, people rebelled and said no more taxes. It was so intense that the British authorities decided to remove all of the taxes except for the tea. Boston eased. Unlike Massachusetts, in 1773 a group of colonists disguised as Mohawk Native Americans thew 342 cases of tea into the sea. This event known as 'Boston Tea Party'. The British replied, the trade was closed and it reminded that way until the tea was paid for. The colonists called the British punishment as 'Intolerable Acts'. The person who organised the opposition against British taxation was Samuel Adams – a politician and a writer. He truly believed in the idea of „no taxation without representation”. The riots begun on the 5^th of March 1770 when stones and other object were flown through the air at the British soldiers; one of the rebels tries to take a solder's gun, was shot dead; more shots were fires and more people died. This event known as 'Boston Massacre' was a tool used by politician such as Samuel Adams to make an opposition and prepare a background for the revolution. He sent thousands of letters to the colonies and its representatives. They altogether made a foundation for a very strong opposition against British soldiers and British rule.

Bibliography:

1. The Norton Anthology of American Literature.
2. A History of American Literature, A. Grey
3. An Outline of American History.
4. An Illustrated History of the USA.