What to keep and what to toss in how we view the Boston Tea Party – The Boston Globe
How I wish history could be taught like this in schools, where it is desperately needed. Many immigrants know more about our governmental processes than those born here. American education must include civics classes emphasizing that we are a nation of laws and explaining how that works. This event awakened my sense of responsibility at holding government accountable as it becomes more ideologically tone-deaf.
Get The Primary Source
Globe Opinion's weekly take on politics, delivered every Wednesday.
The crowd at Atlantic Wharf cried, Huzzah! as costumed reenactors decried injustices. I can almost hear this cry becoming the new Bostonian shout at sporting events.
Marilee Meyer
Cambridge
As a former college professor who had a yearly lecture called, Was the American Revolution inevitable? Could we have been Canada? I give two thumbs up to Jeff Jacobys take on the Boston Tea Party (The Boston Tea Party was a crime, Opinion, Dec. 14). As Jacoby rightly pointed out, many people of the time were doubtful of the whole endeavor. He also mentions the way he was taught about the event as a heroic blow for freedom, inspired by a righteous opposition.
What happened in between the events of Dec. 16, 1773, and Jacobys time in the classroom was the 19th century. Only decades after what participants called the Destruction of the Tea, or the Destruction of the Accursed Tea, did the nighttime raid become known as the Boston Tea Party. By the 1830s, events and people around the patriot cause and the subsequent Revolution were regarded with reverence and even as guided by divine providence. That included reducing an act of extralegal violence to something as domestic, as unthreatening, as a tea party.
In our current exhibit, The Dye is cast: Interests and Ideals that Motivated the Boston Tea Party, we aim to restore the complexity that Jacoby points out by focusing on six individuals with various loyalties and perspectives. This event meant something different for everyone. Other historical institutions around town, notably Revolutionary Spaces, are taking on these very questions with programs, exhibits, and interactive events.
As the Commonwealth gets ready to commemorate the 250th anniversary of events leading up to the Revolution, continuing through 2026, we need to remember that we 21st-century Americans are inheritors of those 19th-century traditions. Lets embrace complexity and deepen our understanding of the past and the many lessons of history.
Catherine Allgor
President
Massachusetts Historical Society
Boston
In a recent column, Jeff Jacoby condemns the massive and costly act of vandalism that was carried out in the Boston Tea Party, and he extends that concern over destruction of property to modern protest movements.
What was terrible about the Boston Tea Party, Jacoby says, was its financial impact. The dumped tea cost nearly $2 million in todays money. Poor East India Company. Later he writes that destroying other peoples property to advance a political cause is wrong whether the cause is racial equity, climate change, opposing a war, overturning an election, or denouncing Wall Street. It is wrong in 2023 and it was wrong in 1773.
Is it, though?
The Boston Tea Party wasnt so much about tea as it was about the fact that those affected by British laws had no say. Hence the slogan no taxation without representation. Similarly, many citizens today dont feel they have a say in government. Our laws are written by lobbyists; presidents, members of Congress, and justices are bought by billionaires. Our collective voice is subverted. When traditional routes for change are useless and the government is deaf to peoples demands, why not go after the coffers? Even if that means dumping some tea.
Ian Evans
Boston
We can all be thankful that the patriots who dumped er, damaged tea in Boston Harbor on Dec. 16, 1773, were not named the Sons of Asking Permission.
John Bluthardt
Boston
If Jeff Jacoby thinks the Boston Tea Party was a crime, wait until he finds out about Lexington and Concord.
Ken Johnson
Easton
Continue reading here:
What to keep and what to toss in how we view the Boston Tea Party - The Boston Globe
- Clock Work Tea Party is releasing a new flower-scented thermal paste - The Verge - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Santa Monica Breakfast Club Hosts 8th Annual Mad Hatter Tea Party - SM Mirror - Santa Monica Mirror - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Payson Tea Party hosts five of the 10 council candidates - Payson Roundup - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Office Property: No Tea Party in Boston - National Review - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Rent A Tea Party Among 12 New Businesses Opening In Monroe - Patch - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- 'Tea For Tea:' UConn's first-ever gathering of queer and transgender people of color - UConn Daily Campus - April 13th, 2024 [April 13th, 2024]
- Guests attend 7th annual Easter Bunny Tea Party in Columbiana - Shelby County Reporter - Shelby County Reporter - March 24th, 2024 [March 24th, 2024]
- Valentines Day theme tea party planned Saturday in Wausau - WSAW - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- United by Defiance | Introducing the "Boston Tea Party" kit - New England Revolution - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Party Pictures: The Third Annual Newbury Cup Tea Party and More - Boston magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- First look: Revolution debut new 'Boston Tea Party' kits - The Boston Globe - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Chicopee Colleen hopefuls gather for Irish Tea party - WWLP.com - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- 'Impassioned Destruction': Exploring vandalism and property destruction as means of protest - The Huntington News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- New England Revolution unveils new Boston Tea Party jersey - Yahoo News - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- From Glensfork at the TRH Tea Party on ColumbiaMagazine.com - Columbia Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Making the Tea Party work on ColumbiaMagazine.com - Columbia Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Tea Party at the Trabue Russell House on ColumbiaMagazine.com - Columbia Magazine - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Queen Elizabeth Insisted on Serving Joe Biden During Their Last Tea Party - Vanity Fair - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Participants announced, raffle & tea party added to Community Health Fair - The Manchester Mirror - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Governor candidates address local Tea Party | Elections | heraldbulletin.com - The Herald Bulletin - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Jill Biden Recalls Private Tea Party with Queen Elizabeth What Was Asked, What Was Shared - PEOPLE - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Targets $5 Tea Party Teapots Are Perfect for Galentines Day - Apartment Therapy - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- 'Functioning Like Mouthpiece Of BJP, RSS': TN Congress To Boycott High-Tea Party Of Guv Ravi On Republic Day - ABP Live - January 24th, 2024 [January 24th, 2024]
- Breaking Baz: Mark Ruffalo Relishes Playing The Bad Guy In Poor Things And Says He Fantasizes About Meeting Up With Kate Winslet In The Brad Ingelsby... - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Emily Blunt, Carey Mulligan and Tom Hiddleston bring the best of British to Hollywood for the BAFTA Tea Party - HELLO! - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Stars Who Arrived at the 2024 BAFTA Tea Party: Photos - SheKnows - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Emmy Parties: Quinta Brunson, Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White and His Mom (PHOTOS) - Variety - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Winter Reindeer Tea Party the Good Witch of Salem - Destination Salem - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- PHOTOS: Inside the star-studded 2024 BAFTA Tea Party - New York Daily News - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- The Boston Tea Party Revenue and Beyond Boston University News Service - BU News Service - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- How to Host a Proper Tea Party It's Easier Than You Think! - Lancaster Farming - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DAR Celebrates 96th Anniversary with Tea Party - The Wilkes Record - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Brookman: Excessive taxes give rise to second coming of the Boston Tea Party - Calgary Herald - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- BAFTA Tea Party 2024: See Photos of More Than 100 Celebrities in Attendance! - Just Jared - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- After Donald Trump's Iowa Win, Former VA Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) Plaintively Asks, whatever happened to the GOP I ... - Blue Virginia - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- All the Stars at the 2024 BAFTA Tea Party: Photos - Yahoo Singapore News - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Watch 13 exclusive BAFTA Tea Party 2024 red carpet interviews: Rosamund Pike, Rhea Seehorn, Cara Jade Myers and more - Gold Derby - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Dublin to Host Valentine's Tea Party | Community News | independentnews.com - Livermore Independent - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Inside Hollywood's BAFTA Tea Party: Rosamund Pike, Emily Blunt, Greta Gerwig and More (Exclusive) - The Messenger - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- On The Scene At The 2024 BAFTA Tea Party - Haute Living - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- All the Stars at the 2024 BAFTA Tea Party: Photos - Yahoo News Australia - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Kate Middleton's festive surprise! Moment the Princess of Wales surprises footballer, 13, at festive tea party - Daily Mail - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Kate meets teenager and his football coach at surprise Christmas tea party - Yahoo News UK - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Kate Middleton surprises adults working in childcare - and the kids they inspired - with a festive tea party i - Daily Mail - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Make-A-Wish recipient takes part in Boston Tea Party reenactment - Boston.com - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Princess Kate Looks So Festive in Her Favorite Holiday Cardigan At Surprise Christmas Party - Harper's BAZAAR - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- A look back at the Boston Tea Party - The Daily Iberian - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party - Rochelle News Leader - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Robert Rupp: A tea party 250 years ago (Opinion) - Charleston Gazette-Mail - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- 250 years later, Boston Tea Party offers business lessons - Providence Business News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Photos: Charleston celebrates 250th anniversary of 1776 Tea Party - The Post and Courier - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- America Museum sponsors reenactment of the Boston Tea Party - Hartford Courant - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Pride and Prejudice: Tea Party With Otsuka - The M-A Chronicle - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Hundreds celebrate 250th anniversary of Boston Tea Party with reenactments of revolutionary protest - Fox News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The Yorktown Tea Party at 250 - WYDaily - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- DAR hosts event to commemorate 250th anniversary of Boston Tea Party - Madison County Journal - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Susanna Dickinson Chapter celebrates the Boston Tea Party - La Vernia News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Opinion British moves that spurred Tea Party left interesting 'what-ifs' for historians | Dorchester Reporter - Dorchester Reporter - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- America 250 Celebrates the 250th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party - MDJOnline.com - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Moment Princess of Wales surprises teenager at festive tea party - MSN - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Let Them Drink Tea! | Clubs & Organizations | coastalbreezenews.com - coastalbreezenews.com - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The Boston Tea Party turns 250 - The Boston Globe - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- What happened to the Tea Party? | Letters To Editor ... - Payson Roundup - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Christmas Tea Party at The Ranch at Lake Sonoma! - Community Voice - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Edenton kicks off Tea Party anniversary at St. Paul's - The Daily Advance - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Adaland Mansion sponsors Holiday Tea Party | Grafton News ... - WV News - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Ex-Leader of La Crosse Tea Party Faces Trial for Hit and Run | Crime - News8000.com - WKBT - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Littwin: Ken Buck had his pick of good reasons to give up his House ... - The Colorado Sun - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Recusals lead to New Ipswich ZBA postponing Silver Scone appeal - Monadnock Ledger Transcript - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Community calendar - Nov. 4 - The Republic - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Hereward Community Rail Partnership 10th anniversary party - Cambs Times - November 5th, 2023 [November 5th, 2023]
- Silverthorn's High Tea Society: A Celebration of Community and ... - Hernando Sun - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- Why it's boom time for bubble tea - World Coffee Portal - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- Rise of the rank-and-file: How Johnson's speakership empowers non-leadership, conservative wing of GOP - Yahoo News - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- Angel helps those in addiction recovery | Life | hpenews.com - High Point Enterprise - October 30th, 2023 [October 30th, 2023]
- No re-creation without representation: Boston Tea Party gets Brazos ... - The Baylor Lariat - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Tea Party to meet Oct. 26 - Fountain Hills Times - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Welcome to Clinical Congress 2023 | ACS - American College of Surgeons - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Did Mitt Romney Save His Soul? - The New Yorker - October 23rd, 2023 [October 23rd, 2023]
- Kevin McCarthy's Downfall Is the Culmination of the Tea Party - POLITICO - October 11th, 2023 [October 11th, 2023]
Tags: