Final answer:
The Boston Tea Party occurred on December 16, 1773, when colonists, protesting British taxes, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, contributing to the start of the American Revolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
On December 16, 1773, a pivotal event in American colonial history took place, known as the Boston Tea Party. In response to the Tea Act and the refusal to return ships carrying tea to England, a group of colonists, including members of the Sons of Liberty, disguised themselves and boarded British ships in Boston Harbor. They proceeded to dump 342 chests of tea into the water as a statement of rebellion against British taxation without representation and monopolistic practices. This protest escalated tensions which eventually led to the American Revolution.