HISET Social Studies Practice

What was a primary result of the Boston Tea Party?

1. Increased cooperation among the colonies.

2. Escalation of tension between Britain and the colonies.

3. A peaceful resolution with British authorities.

4. A reduction in taxes imposed by Britain.

The correct answer is: Escalation of tension between Britain and the colonies.

The Boston Tea Party, which occurred in December 1773, was a direct protest against the British Tea Act, which granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies and allowed it to sell tea at lower prices than colonial merchants. The act angered many colonists who viewed it as a violation of their rights and an example of Britain’s overreach in colonial affairs. The primary result of the Boston Tea Party was indeed an escalation of tension between Britain and the colonies. Following the event, the British government responded with a series of punitive measures known as the Coercive Acts (or Intolerable Acts), which further strained relations. These acts included closing Boston Harbor and revoking Massachusetts' charter, leading to greater resentment and unifying the colonies against perceived British oppression. The event significantly rallied the colonists, pushing them closer to a collective identity and shared cause against British rule and ultimately contributing to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.