Final answer:
The Tea Act preceded the Boston Tea Party. It was passed in 1773 and aimed at aiding the financially troubled British East India Company, but led to protest. The Boston Tea Party occurred subsequently on December 16, 1773, as a direct action against the Tea Act.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which Event Occurred First: The Boston Tea Party or the Tea Act?
The Tea Act was passed by Parliament in 1773, which was designed to save the nearly bankrupt British East India Company by allowing it to sell tea to the colonies without paying taxes, making their tea cheaper than that sold by local merchants. This Act actually made tea less expensive for the colonists compared to tea prices in Britain, but was met with resistance as it was seen as an affront to colonial sovereignty and a move to solidify the principle of 'taxation without representation.' In response, the infamous Boston Tea Party took place on December 16, 1773, where protesters, led by Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty, disguised themselves as Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor as an act of rebellion.