The Boston Tea Party, 1773

Part 9: of an 18-part series

Lord North . . .moved two resolutions, one of which provided that:

•          on all teas imported to any British Plantations in America after the 10th of May, 1773, ‘a drawback be allowed of all the duties of customs paid upon the importation of such teas, ‘ which left the company to pay the threepence tax on the teas imported into America.’

•    The directors, however, in August obtained licenses from the Lords of the Treasury, and soon dispatched ships loaded with teas to the four ports of Boston, Charleston, New York, and Philadelphia….

•    “‘They,’ Franklin wrote, ‘have no idea that any people can act from any other principle but that of interest; and they believe that three pence on a pound of tea, of which one does not perhaps drink ten pounds in a year, is sufficient to overcome all the patriotism of an American.’”

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