Defiance of the Patriots : The Boston Tea Party and the Making of America

This thrilling book tells the full story of the an iconic episode in American history, the Boston Tea Party—exploding myths, exploring the unique city life of eighteenth-century Boston, and setting this audacious prelude to the American Revolution in a global context for the first time. Bringing vividly to life the diverse array of people and places that the Tea Party brought together—from Chinese tea-pickers to English businessmen, Native American tribes, sugar plantation slaves, and Boston’s ladies of leisure—Benjamin L. Carp illuminates how a determined group of New Englanders shook the foundations of the British Empire, and what this has meant for Americans since. As he reveals many little-known historical facts and considers the Tea Party’s uncertain legacy, he presents a compelling and expansive history of an iconic event in America’s tempestuous past. From the Publisher: On the evening of December 16, 1773, a group of disguised Bostonians boarded three merchant ships and dumped more than forty-six tons of tea into Boston Harbor. The Boston Tea Party, as it later came to be known, was an audacious and revolutionary act. It set the stage for war and cemented certain values in the American psyche that many still cherish today. But why did the Tea Party happen? Whom did it involve? What did it mean? The answers to these questions are far from straightforward. In this thrilling new book, Benjamin L. Carp tells the full story of the Tea Party-exploding myths, exploring the unique city life of Boston, and setting this extraordinary event in a global context for the first time. Bringing vividly to life the diverse array of people and places that the Tea Party brought together-from Chinese tea-pickers to English businessmen, Native American tribes, sugar plantation slaves, and Boston's ladies of leisure-Carp illuminates how a determined group shook the foundations of a mighty empire, and what this has meant for Americans since. As he reveals many little-known historical facts and considers the Tea Party's uncertain legacy, he presents a compelling and expansive history of an iconic event in America's tempestuous past The Boston Tea Party of 1773 was an audacious and revolutionary act. It set the stage for war and cemented certain values in the American psyche. But why did the Tea Party happen? Whom did it involve? What did it mean? Benjamin L. Carp tells the story of the Tea Party--exploding myths, exploring the unique city life of Boston, and setting this extraordinary event in a global context. Bringing to life the diverse array of people and places that the Tea Party brought together--from Chinese tea-pickers to English businessmen, Native American tribes, sugar plantation slaves, and Boston's ladies of leisure--Carp illuminates how a determined group shook the foundations of a mighty empire, and what this has meant for Americans since. Contents 7 List Of Illustrations And Maps 9 Acknowledgments 13 Introduction: Teapot In A Tempest 17 Chapter 1. The Empire’s Corporation 23 Chapter 2. “The Ringleader Of All Violence” 41 Chapter 3. Tea And Scandal 65 Chapter 4. “Enemies To Their Country” 86 Chapter 5. The Detestable Tea Arrives 111 Chapter 6. The Destroyers At Griffin’S Wharf 133 Chapter 7. “Resolute Men (Dressed As Mohawks)” 157 Chapter 8. Boycotting The Accursed Leaf 177 Chapter 9. Boston Bears The Blame 198 Chapter 10. Sugar, Slaves, And The Shadow Of The Tea Party 220 Conclusion: Secrecy And Legacy 234 Appendix: Boston Tea Party Participants 250 Abbreviations 256 Notes 259 Manuscript Sources Cited 302 Further Reading 305 Index 313