Final answer:
The Boston Tea Party was a protest on December 16, 1773, in which the Sons of Liberty dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor as defiance against British taxes and monopolies, leading to heightened tensions and the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Boston Tea Party occurred on December 16, 1773, as a protest against British policies. A group identified as the Sons of Liberty, some disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships and threw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. This rebellious act followed frustrations over the Tea Act, which, despite lowering tea prices, imposed perceived unfair taxes and granted a monopoly to the British East India Company. The immediate aftermath included attempts by some colonists to steal tea and consequent harsh punishment from the Sons of Liberty. The event concluded with participants carefully removing any potential evidence and leaving the scene quietly, setting the stage for subsequent punitive British responses, including the Intolerable Acts.
These political actions inevitably led to escalated tensions and paved the way for the American Revolution. The Boston Tea Party echoed through history as a symbolic act of defiance against oppressive governance and remains a pivotal moment in the American fight for independence.