Final answer:
The Boston Tea Party was carried out by the Sons of Liberty on December 16, 1773, as a protest against the Tea Act, which granted the British East India Company a tea monopoly in the colonies. The event escalated tensions leading to the American Revolution and resulted in punitive measures known as the Intolerable Acts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party was committed by a group of Patriots known as the Sons of Liberty. On the night of December 16, 1773, these rebels, some of whom were disguised as Native Americans, boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 containers of tea into the water. Their actions were a direct protest against the Tea Act, which had granted the British East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies, effectively undercutting local merchants. This act of defiance played a significant role in escalating tensions that led to the American Revolution.
Consequences of the Boston Tea Party
In response to the Tea Party, King George III and the British Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts as punishment. These acts included closing Boston Harbor, requiring citizens to house British soldiers, and limiting the power of local assemblies. The Boston Tea Party was a critical moment in American history, illustrating colonists' growing resistance to British rule and their willingness to take bold actions.