The Tea Act and Its Role in the American Revolution

The American Revolution was a gradual build-up of colonial frustration, with the Tea Act of 1773 playing a pivotal role. The Act allowed the British East India Company to sell tea directly to the colonies, bypassing American merchants and leading to economic discontent. This sparked the Boston Tea Party, a significant act of defiance. In retaliation, Britain imposed the Intolerable Acts, further escalating tensions and setting the stage for revolution.

What was one of the key events that marked the build-up to the American Revolution?

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

• The drafting of the Constitution

• The Boston Tea Party

• The Battle of Bunker Hill

Why did the British East India Company face a crisis in 1773?

• They lost a major battle

• They faced a labor strike

• They were unable to pay taxes

• They had a surplus of tea

What was the main purpose of the Tea Act of 1773?

• To increase tea prices in the colonies

• To allow direct tea sales to the colonies

• To tax tea more heavily

• To ban tea imports from other countries

How did the British government view the American colonies in terms of finances?

• As a source of military recruits

• As a financial resource to exploit

• As a place for new settlements

• As a partner in trade

What was the colonial reaction to the Tea Act?

• They accepted the new prices

• They started producing their own tea

• They petitioned the British government

• They boycotted British tea

What significant event occurred on December 16, 1773?

• The Boston Tea Party

• The start of the American Revolution

• The first Continental Congress

• The signing of the Treaty of Paris

What was the British response to the Boston Tea Party?

• They reduced taxes on tea

• They sent more tea to the colonies

• They passed the Intolerable Acts

• They granted independence to the colonies

What did the Intolerable Acts allow British troops to do?

• Stay in colonists' homes

• Seize colonial ships

• Take over colonial businesses

• Recruit colonists into the army

What was the colonial slogan that emerged from years of British taxation?

• Liberty or Death

• No Taxation Without Representation

• Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

• United We Stand

What was the ultimate impact of the Tea Act and subsequent events?

• It resulted in a trade agreement

• It strengthened British control

• It led to a peaceful resolution

• It sparked the American Revolution