No Crumpets with this Tea!

Throughout American history is story after story, event after event, that helped shape our nation. Many defining moments are embedded, so ingrained, that they make us who we are in a land of innumerable freedoms. It must always be remembered that the freedoms we often take for granted in the 21st century did not come free but were earned In the Name of Sacrifice! 

So, for today's history lesson, we are going to step back in time 242 years to a famous tea party. Not your ordinary tea party, definitely not the afternoon tea enjoyed with English crumpets! 

This Day in History: December 16, 1773

Boston Tea Party

The Year - 1773

The Place - Boston, Massachusetts

The Event - Boston Tea Party

America's FIGHT for FREEDOM!

Amid freezing December temperatures, attentions were elsewhere rather than on Christmas gatherings around the fireplace and times of good cheer. With act after act plaguing the American colonists, it is no wonder The Tea Act became the catalyst of the Boston Tea Party. Disguising themselves as Mohawk Indians, a group of Sons of Liberty boarded three ships moored in Boston Harbor. The result: 92,000 pounds of British East India Company tea was dumped into the water. 

Understand again this was not your ordinary tea party. . .

Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party

An iconic event recorded in American history
reflects Boston's refusal to return shiploads
of taxed tea to Britain. Colonists boarded the ships
destroying the tea by throwing it into the Boston Harbor.

“A crumpet with your tea?”
Not the question, nor a social party
When three shiploads of tea

Were dumped freely into Boston harbor

So unbearable
Were the acts of that day!
Parliament’s Tea Act
Left people in dismay 
 
“Good,” the British said

“Colonists would rather pay a fee
Than deny themselves
 The pleasure of a cup of tea”

More and more irritated
The Sons of Liberty became
Something had to be done
Things could not remain the same

Repeatedly, constantly voices yelled

Much like a bell as it chimes

“No taxation without representation”

Became catchphrase of the times

Crown’s attempt to tax tea

Impelled the colonists to take action

Laying the groundwork

For the American Revolution

Thinly disguised as Indians, hatchets in hand

Following the orders of Leonard Pitt

“The fuse that led directly to the explosion

Of American independence was lit!”

 ©2012 Awakenings
Sharla Lee Shults