In the 1700s things were heating up between the British and Americans as the Brits continually overstepped in the eyes of America.
And things became even tenser when the Brits imposed a tax on the importation of tea.
Previously, in 1764, the Sugar Act made it more difficult for Americans everywhere to afford a common household staple.
And the very next year, the Stamp Act was enacted, again adding to the working man’s burden.
A year later, the Declaratory Act passed, granting England absolute power over Americans.
Seeing that the language was almost verbatim of the Irish Declaratory Act – and well-versed in how the English treated the Irish – Americans were rightfully concerned about the future.
Then in 1767, the Townshend Acts came, creating a Customs Commission and punishing New York for refusing to lodge and pay for British soldiers stationed there.
October 1 of that very same year, English soldiers began to arrive in Boston.
Things were heating up.
And then the Brits wanted to impose a tea tax.
The act of drinking tea was thoroughly ingrained within English culture to the point that rejecting tea was to reject British culture itself.
So, to make a point, Americans began exchanging their regular cup of tea for a cup of coffee.
This boycott so harmed the East India Trading Company that it wasn’t long until 17 million pounds of surplus tea sat in storage within warehouses internationally.
In dire financial straits, the East India Trading Company ran to the king to ask for “help.”
The company drastically helped expand England’s power throughout the world. Not to mention, it served as a major source of income for the king.
So, the crown rendered assistance.
The Tea Act of 1773 passed shortly afterward, giving the company a virtual monopoly on the American market.
Up until this point, some Americans had still been drinking Dutch tea. But, this act made the switch to coffee permanent for thousands.
John Adams even wrote a letter in 1774 to his wife stating, “Tea must be universally renounced, and I must be weaned, and the sooner, the better.”
The habit of daily coffee drinking didn’t end after the War for Independence.
To this day, a majority of Americans drink coffee rather than hot tea.
This is a new style of article for Pew Pew Tactical; if you liked it — let us know in the comments! If you didn’t enjoy it…well phooey. To catch up on previous Pictures from History, click on over to our History Category.
20 Leave a Reply
Keep them coming Aden. Great work again
I prefer my coffee black and my tea in the bay...
I really love history, and it’s great to learn a bit more than the cursory bit taught in school. Keep more articles like this coming!
I really love history, and it’s great to learn a bit more than the cursory bit taught in school. Keep more articles like this coming!
Editor Jacki must love Froot Loops!
I don't, but my kiddos do!
Thanks, Davey-o. Yeah, I'm not a fan of the East India Trading Company either.
I love history. It's neat to learn something you didn't know
Absolutely love the historical articles. We can learn a lot from history if we open our minds and I found the subjects reported on so far to be fascinating and enjoyable.
Thanks, Nigel! Glad you like them!
Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it. Keep the history coming.
LOVE the new story type! Please continue.
Thanks, Brian! A complement from a fellow Southerner! All right!
Great historical article. How many people would know about this?
This is the same company that traded opium to the Chinese. When
a quarter of the country became addicted, the Emperor through
them out. The East India Trading Company lobbied/bribed the Crown
to help them get back into China, which they did , backed by British
troops ergo, the 1st and 2nd Opium Wars. Where have I heard this story
before? Oh yeah, the Military Industrial Complex.
Woah, deja vu.
Great background info on the events that led up to Boston’s “Tea Party.” Well written. Additional info on the aftermath of the Tea Party would be of interest - as I sip my coffee….
Coffee's where it's at. Get it while you can too. Prices on it are only going up.
Love the article.
Thanks, Martin. Your family makes awesome potato chips, by the way.
Great succinct history lesson. What is today’s “tea?” Amazon? Oil? Major Silicon Valley tech platforms?