How Did the Colonists Respond to the Tea Act?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 26, 2020

After the Tea Act, the American colonists became more active in their anti-British protests and continued to boycott any tea that arrived from the British. They resolved to prevent any tea from entering their harbors or being sold, and sent the shipments back to England.

The continued boycotts and protests culminated in the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. Colonists known as the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Native Americans and raided three British ships in Griffin’s Wharf, Boston Harbor. The Sons of Liberty destroyed 342 chests of tea that were aboard the ships. Francis Akeley was the only person caught and arrested for his participation in the Boston Tea Party, but he was released for lack of evidence.