Road to Revolution: The Boston Tea Party

Destruction of the Tea

Dividing into three groups the men boarded the tea ships. While some townspeople looked on by torchlight, there was no commotion. Many participants had obvious experience in maritime trades. Some attached blocks and tackle to the tea chests. On deck, others hauled them up. Men with axes smashed the boxes as tea was shoveled overboard. Three hundred forty two chest were destroyed. At low tide it piled up around the ships.

This bottle holds tea leaves that washed up on the shore of Dorchester Neck the morning after the Tea Party.
- Massachusetts Historical Society — This bottle holds tea leaves that washed up on the shore of Dorchester Neck the morning after the Tea Party.
*- Massachusetts Historical Society*

A masonic Lodge met at the Green Dragon and members joined in the destruction of the tea.
- Massachusetts Historical Society — A masonic Lodge met at the Green Dragon and members joined in the destruction of the tea.
*- Massachusetts Historical Society*

Tea Party Facts

Thayendanegea by Gilbert Stuart.
- British Museum — Thayendanegea by Gilbert Stuart.
*- British Museum*

The term Boston Tea Party was not used at the time. It was introduced in the nineteenth century. The incident was referred to as the “destruction of the tea.”
Much of the planning took place privately in settings like the “Green Dragon Tavern,” the “Bunch of Grapes Tavern,” and Faneuil Hall. Detailed plans were not discussed openly before large crowds at the Old South Meeting House.
Dressing as “Mohawks” did not reflect the aspirations and rights of Native people. The obvious purpose was disguise although some colonists may have thought that dressing as Indians was a statement of a new American identity separate from Britain and Europe.
The Mohawk nation supported Britain in the American Revolution. Thayendanegea, also known as Joseph Brant, became an officer in the British army. Some European soldiers under his command dressed as Mohawks.
One man was knocked unconscious when struck with a tea crate and thought to be dead. His body was pulled to the side and covered with leaves. When participants came to retrieve the body the man revived, to the relief of his team.
One person tried to stuff tea into his clothing. He was stripped of his jacket and struck repeatedly as he fled the scene.
The only damage to any ship was the destruction of a padlock. It was replaced by the Patriots.
Paul Revere was involved in planning and destruction of the tea. He made what might have been the first of his famous rides to bring news of the destruction of the tea to New York.