How We Remember the Event

  The Boston Tea Party is an extremely important part of American History because it was the spark that drew the colonies together and gave them the motivation to work together collectively. I don't mean to ever doubt its importance in the history of America, but I do want to look at the event through a different lens. As Americans, we view the Boston Tea Party in a positive light because the outcome of the American Revolution was favorable for us. However, imagine something like this happened today.

  Imagine if a group of people upset with the government boarded ships owned by an Amercian (the ships that the colonists boarded were owned by a man from Nantucket) and threw its cargo into the ocean as a protest of the government. Some people may few this as a minor disturbance that disrupts their day while others could view it as domestic terrorism. Even back in the 1770s, there were people who were loyal to the British government just as there would be people loyal to our government today. These particular individuals and the government itself would see these actions as acts of violence against the government.

  While the Sons of Liberty and their supporters were not violent against any people the night of the Boston Tea Party, the act itself was a violent one. They gathered a mob, forcibly boarded ships, and destroyed private property. Some of them even disguised themselves because they were well aware that what they were doing was illegal.

  Personally I think the colonists had a right to act in the way they did even though it was illegal. But again, I am saying that as an American in the 21st Century who was taught the American version of history growing up. However no matter my personal opinion, it is still important to me as a student of History to look at different angles and perspectives when studying any historical event.