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Defiance Of The Patriots: The Boston Tea Party

Decent Essays

The Boston Tea Party is as symbolic to the USA today as it was when it happened 250 years ago. Many literatures have been written about the Boston Tea Party, albeit with different intentions and academic or political inclinations and perceptions. In addition to the events that took place during the party, there are myriad events that led to or surrounded the events of the Boston Tea Party. In his book Defiance of the Patriots, Benjamin Carp covers the internal or domestic sides and external parties and events that caused and/or influenced the Boston Tea Party.

The British government reacted with force to the Bostonians' drastic protests against the Tea Act, resulting in the Lexington and Concord clashes. The outcome of the clashes was the …show more content…

For instance, Boston and Bostonians were distrusted by other radicals in neighboring cities because the Bostonians opposed and revolted against non-importation treaties and legislations. According to Carp, Bostonians did not simply lead the violence against non-importation agreements; they also wanted to boast to other cities such as Philadelphia and New York that they (Bostonians) were of a tougher spirits and more courageous than the other cities. Boston was thus the ringleader of the many cities that constantly violated British trade agreements (Carp, 25, 191). Carp argues that the Boston Tea Party exemplifies the ordinary citizens’ capacity to mobilize one another, become rebellious, and fight for their independence and civil rights (Carp, 223).

The main lesson learnt in Defiance of the Patriots is that, though often portrayed as purely an American event, the Boston Tea Party was greatly influenced by non-American factors as well as non-conventional American stakeholders. In other words, the Boston Tea Party was a globally instigated and propelled event, especially with reference to the role and influence of the British Empire, the East India Company, the tea from China, and the involvement of natives and

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