That's One Big Cup of Tea

Taylor Aboud

What is a symbol? A sign that represents the very essence of a movement or a people, or more than that, a beacon of hope for a cause, whatever it is, symbols have been used throughout history and continued to be used today, they communicate a purpose. Among these symbols we find tea, a symbol that has been used in revolution of the hearts and minds for centuries, with beginnings in a war that would change the world. 

On December 16th, 1773, the Sons of Liberty struck. At 6pm, while the ships were unguarded at Griffin’s Wharf, they boarded three merchant vessels employed by the East India Company, the Dartmouth, the Beaver and the Eleanor. A spectacle ensued as the 150 men participating threw boxes of tea they had broken open with axes into the harbor, although many believed this was a sneaky act, the crews of the vessels were aboard as this event occurred, but the aim of the Sons was not one of violence, but one of protest, the crews were assured no harm would come to them or their vessels, as the Sons only goal was to rid Boston of the tea. In fact, in the entire 3 hour event, only one lock was broken, and this lock was promptly replaced by the Sons of Liberty in the coming days. 

Thousands had gathered to watch, moreover, in the 19 day period leading to this event, thousands had met to decide how they would handle the unfair institution of monopoly the British Parliament had implemented over the tea trade, an act that was solely imposed to force the paying of taxes on the tea. For many years now the Colonies had been restless, growing tired of a continued and escalated British presence in a land that they had virtually self-governed for so long. Only three days beforehand, the people of Lexington had burned their entire supply of tea. On December 3rd, in Charleston, South Carolina, members of the Sons of Liberty had seized and boycotted tea. Wilmington, York, Annapolis, Chestertown, Sandy Hook, New York, Princeton(occurred at the College of New Jersey), Philadelphia, Provincetown, Edenton, Yorktown and Greenwich. All across the colonies, resistance to tea by means of protest was found, from signing petitions(Edenton, North Carolina), to burning the tea along with the ship it came on(Annapolis, Maryland). 

From the most extreme measures, to the least, a revolution was occurring not only around them but in their hearts, this opposition to the importation of tea represented the colonies rejection of the British status quo, a land enveloped in its aristocracy and its love for the afternoon tea. The colonies were dismissing the very foundation of British society. This resistance to tea was a unifying factor and represented a cause that would bring the colonies to the Revolutionary War. They would fight for a cause that they believed in and one that they were not afraid to partake in defending. These events represent a people coming together to fight oppression, regardless of heritage, social status or gender, they all found purpose in joining this revolution and support was always welcome.