Background InformationFollowing the colonization of America by the colonists, the British overseas frequently passed acts and taxation. Before the tea act was in place, Townsend Acts put taxes on all American imports except Teas. The British recognized that because tea was such a popular drink in the colonies they could make mass amounts of money through what was considered by colonists as taxation without representation. The Tea Act of 1773 undercut the colonial economy and increased import taxes on tea outraging many Americans. The act expressed that Britain had the right to tax Americans without their consent and stated that anyone who attempted to interfere with the act was an enemy to America.
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Build upThe Americans did not believe this was just because American colonies were not recognized as parliament. Prior to the Boston tea party of 1773 colonists, such as Samuel Adams, believed the British were treating them unfairly and began to idealize their own independent nation. This idealism lead to the formation of the sons of liberty in 1765 the group that would later carry out the Boston tea party in opposition to the taxation. To maintain economic stability and business colonists would have to smuggle tea. These factors set by the British would cause an uproar of American Patriotism and bring the two sides closer to war.
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