The Tea Party Begins
Once they boarded all three ships, the activists began working right away. They ultimately dumped a total of 342 chests of tea into the Boston Harbor once they finished. Not only did they have to dump the tea, but they had to destroy the tea so that there was absolutely no chance of salvaging it. The entire process took about four hours to complete, as the colonists worked efficiently. During the incident no damage was done to any of the ships. The colonists were considerate of the shipowners, and were only trying to send a message to Parliament specifically about the tea. Given the outcomes, the colonists did a great job of getting the attention of Parliament.
While the colonists carried out the Tea Party, something peculiar was happening. Rather, it was more what didn't happen that was peculiar. There were other ships in the Wharf during the Boston Tea Party, one of which contained British Regulars. The Tea Party was obviously incredibly illegal, yet the armed troops did nothing to stop the colonists. Why wouldn't they attack or arrest the participants when they saw it happening? My only guess is that the troops were remembering the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre was an event in which a few rowdy colonists got in the faces of some British troops in Boston, and the soldiers fired on them, killing several colonists. Many colonists were appalled at the actions of the regulars and they were tried in court. The soldiers witnessing the Boston Tea Party most likely simply looked on passively to avoid getting the same reaction as was given to the Boston Massacre.
While the colonists carried out the Tea Party, something peculiar was happening. Rather, it was more what didn't happen that was peculiar. There were other ships in the Wharf during the Boston Tea Party, one of which contained British Regulars. The Tea Party was obviously incredibly illegal, yet the armed troops did nothing to stop the colonists. Why wouldn't they attack or arrest the participants when they saw it happening? My only guess is that the troops were remembering the Boston Massacre. The Boston Massacre was an event in which a few rowdy colonists got in the faces of some British troops in Boston, and the soldiers fired on them, killing several colonists. Many colonists were appalled at the actions of the regulars and they were tried in court. The soldiers witnessing the Boston Tea Party most likely simply looked on passively to avoid getting the same reaction as was given to the Boston Massacre.