S.A.R. Essay Competition 2016-2017
“There’s a Party Brewing in Boston!”
Written by Annabelle Lam
10770 Coloma Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354
(909) 456-0202
[email protected]
Redlands Senior High School
840 E. Citrus Ave, Redlands, CA 92374
Telephone: (909) 307-5500
Class of 2018; Junior
There’s a Party Brewing in Boston!
On the quest for new opportunities, explorers traveled to what was known as the New
World as a chance to expand their horizons. An abundance of colonists entered in hope of
escaping religious persecution, seeking new economic restoration, or simply just for the thrill of
an enticing adventure. It was a time period of hope, ambition, and opportunity. Little did they
acknowledge, America would soon have both internal and external conflict. Tensions began to
arise between the New World colonies and Great Britain itself, eventually erupting into a
massive war, and settling into the division of a nation.
Ending with an outstanding victory for the British, the French and Indian War, also
known as the 7 Years War, came with a financial cost. The British Crown eventually had to
compensate for the amount of debt they were left with after the war had ended. In 1771, it was
evident that with such a burden, Great Britain had to regulate their economy by omitting taxes to
the colonies. The necessary tariff on imported and exported goods such as the Sugar Act, the
Molasses Act and the Navigation Acts were essential in regulating commerce of the nation but it
was still not enough to eliminate the debt. As stated in The American Pageant, written by David
M. Kennedy and Lizabeth Cohen, “To justify and service that debt, British officials now moved
to redefine their relationship with their North American colonies” (Kennedy 115). It was crucial
for the debt to be removed thus leading the crown to increase the use of internal taxes. The key
internal tax with the most importance, in addition to the tax that was most angered the colonists
was known as the Stamp Act; it was the tax on all printed material. Additionally, the Townshend
Act raised revenue and imposed even more taxes on goods such as glass, paper, and tea.
Evidently, “An urgent demand for repeal was included that did not fail to mention the damaging
effect of these acts on American commerce,” (Fryatt 10). Stated in print of the Declaration of
Rights, “Lastly, That is the indispensible duty of these colonies, to the best of sovereigns, to the
mother country, and to themselves, to endeavour by a loyal and dutiful address to his majesty…”
(Eliot 148). This idea will surely be contradicted in future events of betrayal by colonial
America. .
In spite of all these taxes, it was not until the establishment of the Tea Act of 1773 that
finally triggered the eruption of the colonists. It is believed that the Tea Act of 1773 was one of
several measures that imposed on the American colonists that lead up to the American
Revolutionary War (“Tea Act”). Most colonists were reluctant to pay the tax on tea so they
referred to smuggling in illegal tea even though the legal tea was cheaper. There was reported
many boycotts on the imported supplies and as a result the British East India Company was
inevitable to face bankruptcy. It is said “The boycott of British goods, particularly tea, threatened
the livelihood of many English merchants,” (Plumb 24). On the night of December 16, 1773,
Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty trespassed onto three loaded ships docked in the Boston
Harbor, under the ruse of Native Americans in attempts to avoid detection (Kennedy 121).
Objectively, they ruthlessly destroyed and smasehed open 342 chests of tea and dumped the
remaining contents overboard into the Atlantic. This merciless act became known as the Boston
Tea Party and before a short notice, the Boston Harbor acted as a teapot, considering that the tea
bags has been soaking into the sea. Many viewed this as a way of a rebellious act and a protest
against their own government.
As soon as the word of this rebellion was received in New England, the crown was
furious. The crown interpreted the actions as the spark of a revolution and had the mindset that,
“It seemed easy enough to teach Americans a final lesson and reduce them to obedience” (Plumb
24). New laws were established as a punishment for their actions such as the Intolerable Acts.
The five-part law consisted of: the Quartering Act, the Boston Port Bill, the Massachusetts
Government Act, the Quebec Act, and the Administration of Justice Act (“British Acts on
Colonial America”). As for the Quartering Act, colonial Americans were to house any British
soldiers. The Boston Port Bill declared that all of Boston’s ports were to be completely closed
until the cost for the damaged tea was paid for (Fryatt 95). The Massachusetts Government Act
revoked the charter of a colony and the assembly would be appointed by the king. The
Administration of Justice Act “permitted the governor to remove trials to another colony or even
to England if he felt that was necessary to insure a fair trial for anyone indicted for a crime
“committed while engaged in suppressing riots or enforcing the revenue laws’” (Fryatt 95). The
consequences present were the result of the Boston Tea Party, in which is the start of the
Revolutionary War between the Great Britain and colonial America.
Increased tensions rose immediately following the French and Indian War, for Britain
attempted to relieve the immense amount money that was obliterated. Being exhausted by the
restricting duties being placed on them, the American colonists had finally made the choice of
retaliating. With their rebellious act of damaging the opponent's property, they had sparked the
beginning of what was known as the American Revolution. Alike most nations, they faced
consequences in result for their defying performance and engagement. However, these
consequences also resulted in their freedom, in the form of a new nation.
Bibliography
"British Acts on Colonial America." British Acts on Colonial America. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov.
2016.
Eliot, Charles W., LL.D., ed. American Historical Documents: 1000-1904. New York: P.F.
Collier &
Son, 1938. Print.
Fryatt, Norma R. Boston and the Tea Riots. Princeton: Auerbach, 1972. Print.
George, Tim. "The 4 Acts That Lead To The American Revolution." Off The Grid News. N.p.,
n.d.
Web. 30 Nov. 2016.
History.com Staff. "Tea Act." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 30 Nov.
2016.
Kennedy, David M., and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant, AP Edition. 15th ed.
Stamford:
Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.
Lanchester, Bruce, J. H. Plumb, and Bruce Catton. Book of the Revolution. Ed. Richard M.
Ketchum.
New York: American Heritage Pub., 1958. Print.
Biography
Growing up, I had the dream of many typical kids which was becoming a doctor. I was
told by my father that if I wanted to be a doctor, I had to fight for it and study hard. In school, it
was not much of a struggle, for I was known as an intelligent kid. Although, the older I became,
the more I began to struggle. More responsibilities were deposited on my shoulders and it was
harder to manage my time. I always had the pressure of achieving high academics along with
attempting to get accepted into a university. In order to get into a university, it was critical that I
participated in groups, clubs, sports, etc. Determinedly, that is what I did. I ran and jumped in
track and field, joined a club known as Key Club to give back to my community through
community service, enrolled a religious youth group, and did a year or two of mixed martial arts.
As I enjoyed these involvements, I believed was still not enough. In my freshman year of
highschool, I was introduced to an ROP program known as Heart Academy. I was entranced by
the idea of a class that educated about medical terminology. This was my chance to get involved
with something I’ve been dreaming of for a lifetime, so I jumped for them. As a current junior
attempting to juggle AP/honor classes and extracurricular activities, I could not have gone far
without the loving support of my friends and family. The ones who has encouraged me to do best
and to never stop chasing my dreams. I can never thank them enough; for my appreciation for
them is indescribable. My life is a never ending surprise gift that I am always prepared to open.