Final answer:
The Tea Act of 1773 was harmful to the colonists as it allowed Parliament to impose taxes without representation and undermined the profits of colonial merchants. The colonists refused to purchase English tea as a symbol of their fight against oppression and to protect their liberties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Tea Act of 1773 was harmful to the colonists. Even though it lowered the price of tea in the colonies, the act was seen as a way for Parliament to assert its authority and impose taxes without representation. The act also gave a monopoly to the British East India Company, undermining the profits of colonial merchants. The colonists refused to purchase English tea because they saw it as a symbol of oppression and a violation of their liberties.