The Hidden History of the Boston Tea Party

by Adam Jortner

The history of the Boston Tea Party is a hidden one. Why? Since it was a clandestine operation, all sorts of rumors and legends grew up around the event—many collected decades after the American Revolution had ended.

At its core, however, the night of December 16, 1773, when colonials dumped tea from British ships into Boston Harbor, was more than a fight over tea and taxes. It was a struggle over the very nature of democracy and self-governance. Where does legal authority actually come from? Who gets to decide which laws are valid? What role does nonviolent (or violent) protest play in bringing about change?

For that matter, how does one even throw a 400-pound chest of tea overboard?

These and other questions are answered in The Hidden History of the Boston Tea Party, an Audible Original by noted author and historian Adam Jortner. In six engaging lectures, he unravels the secrets of that fateful night and reveals surprising truths about everything from the role tea played in colonial America to the everyday lives of American colonists in Boston to the challenges the Boston Tea Party presents for Americans in the 21st century. This nuanced historical analysis takes you beyond broad strokes and caricatures to offer a complex perspective on a decisive moment when the American colonists stood firm on the principle that there cannot be liberty without self-government.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Audiobook, American History, Historical, Politics, American Revolution

Audible Audio

Published December 14, 2023

About the author

Adam Jortner studies the transformation of religious and political life in the early United States. His book, The Gods of Prophetstown: The Battle of Tippecanoe and the Holy War for the American Frontier, examines the rise of the Shawnee Prophet Tenskwatawa and his new religion on the Indiana frontier in the 1800s. Jortner argues that Tenskwatawa’s religious vision created a new definition of community and power that ultimately coalesced into a viable political alternative for Native Americans in the Old Northwest. The book follows the creation of this movement and its fraught relationship with the new United States and Indiana’s ambitious territorial governor, William Henry Harrison. The relationship between the two men ultimately shaped the War of 1812 and the fate of the American frontier. Gods won the 2013 James Broussard Best First Book Prize from the Society of Historians of the Early American Republic (SHEAR).

His current research interests include new religions in the early republic, deism, witchcraft, the decline of magic, and Native American prophets; he currently teaches classes on American religion, politics, and the Age of Jefferson. He is working on a manuscript on the politics of miracles in the early republic.

Dr. Jortner has received fellowships from the Charlotte W. Newcombe Foundation, the McNeil Center for Early American Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Kentucky Historical Society, and the Redd Center for Western Studies.

Reviews

[Pooja Peravali · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick series of lectures discussing the story of the Boston Tea Party, bringing in perspectives from all the players involved, be it the American colonists, the British, or those who originally produced the tea.

This was an entertaining and informative listen. I am a native Bostonian and have visited the Boston Tea Party museum before, but I can always stand to have my memory refreshed. I appreciated learning about the long lead up to the event, which made it easy to see how and why the colonists reached a boiling point.

However, I did feel that the coverage of the event itself - the on-the-ship perspective, as it were - was glossed over a little. Having learned a bit about the men who threw the tea into Boston Harbor at the museum, I was sorry to not learn more here.

[Ginger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a number of new things from this lecture series. I wish this was how US History was taught in High School!

[Bessie Childs · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s more of a history recap than a book. It’s 6 lectures that talk about the different components of the Boston Tea Party and what happened before, during and after. Informative but not exactly what I was hoping it would be. It’s a quick listen.

[Nicole (bookwyrm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short-and-sweet audiobook did what I wanted it to: it gave me more background on the Boston Tea Party that I wasn't taught in school. (Since I wasn't a history major, I got the basic overview of the situation in high school, but we focused more on the revolutionary war and less on the details about what led to it.) Of course, I'm sure there's a lot more nuance that could be learned in a longer volume, but this is a good start (and easy to digest) for sure.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting short lecture series on the run-up to and the repercussions of the Boston Tea Party. Six half-hour lectures with a great narrator. Really interesting and fun to listen to.

[Asderathos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many fascinating facts are in this book. HOWEVER!

The word "Democracy" is bandied about without the clear distinctions necessary to a full understanding that America was founded as not just a republic, but a Constitutional Dual Federalist Democratic Republic. And in the time of the Founders the weight of the word "Democracy" lay heavily in the presumption of direct votes, without even representatives, the presence of whom would've made a system more republican. The author alludes to the republican nature of his own so-called 'democracy', but then conflates Jefferson's reference to 'democracy' [vs Monarchy], with that republicanism, which while not absurd is quite opaque in meaning.
There so-to is, towards the end, another grave transgression in mentioning the modern criticism of the founders, Washington & Jefferson for holding slaves, without direct addressment, but rather mere implied addressment. They're both having inherited them, and Washington freeing his upon his wife's death and Jefferson being unable to free his due to State law being different, worse for freeing slaves, because he lived longer. (For starter)
Further present-ism is issued soon after which as I say denounces or at least disparages wrongfully the Pilgrim for coming only thousands of miles but not reaching his destination due solely to insurmountable circumstances.
A mighty striving thwarted should not be treated as capitulation without effort.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has a LOT of detail and context as to why the Boston Tea Party happened and the character of it... a planned civil disobedience.... no theft. Anyone caught stuffing tea into their pockets was stripped and paraded in front of everybody. This was not a drunken party. Nor was it a simple matter to just grab a few boxes of tea and dump them. These crates were huge and entirely too heavy for any individual... even two people... to carry, much less heave it over the gunwale. It took people with knowledge on how to use the equipment on ship to move heavy cargo.

Also, the ships were carrying cargo other than tea. That cargo had to be kept safe from damage or theft and it was. There is a story, probably apocryphal, that a lock on the cargo hold had to be broken to get to the tea so the next day a man spent his own money to replace the lock... presumably the one he had broken.

Also there was a British war ship off shore. The captain was considering firing its guns on the raiders, but he was afraid that the many innocent spectators on the shore and docks would be killed if he ordered that. The Boston Tea Party members were risking their lives. The captain might have decided otherwise.

Yeah. Lots of detail and the economic and political context. There are a lot of unknowns, but some things can be deduced.

This was good information. I'd like to listen to it again to see if I could absorb more of it.

[Steve Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A VERY short history of the Boston Tea Party and its antecedents that discusses much of what one simply didn't get from their 7th grade history class on the topic. Jortner discusses the socio-political frictions that led to the Tea Party. He stops short of the Revolution.

One thing I found interesting were his digressions into the religion of the time (which he tied in neatly with the overall theme of the book). I wasn't aware of the religious bigotry displayed towards Catholics in the mid to late 18th century.

It's well done, but not the best of his works with "The Great Courses". That said, it's well worth listening to. As I've said in my other reviews of his works here on Audible, I'm going to definitely check out his written books...which sadly haven't been done in Audiobook form.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I teach the Boston Tea Party as part of my American history courses and enjoy making the points Jortner did in this audio book. But what I have to do in ten minutes he takes a couple of hours to cover and a subject like this really benefits from the extra time. He takes us into the roots of the substantive debates of the time over the importance of representative government and human rights to the colonies. He shows how tea became a symbol of that struggle for colonists to have some say in how they were governed. And perhaps most interestingly, he shows how Massachusetts, in its efforts to politically bring the British to their perspective created the most democratic institutions (admittedly informal ones) of all the colonies and even Britain itself. This book is a delight to read.

[AttackGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The inside scoop, I like it! I come from a family of morning tea drinkers and if you can set yourself back a few years you will know sometimes that was all people had was a small cup of tea to survive on and then imagine selling, hoarding or taxing that tea. Kinda like everything we have and do now even this iPhone I’m paying tax, on as I stand in the store waiting for food I will be taxed on while my dogs wait in the car I’m taxed on every year the gas the license the insurance the road yes everything.

If you know Victor and his story you also know the federal government controls and taxes absolutely everything and where is that money now?

So, why exact did our forefathers fight and die?

[John Geddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short one that I listened too (free to members on Audible), but I ended up really liking it. It turns out I didn't really have a clear understanding of the Boston Tea Party and it was 100 times more interesting than I'd imagined.

The author frames things in a really interesting way. Democracy wasn't really a fully formed idea and the book really does take you through the evolution of the resistance to Britain (and more to the British Parliament rather than the king). Definitely a good listen if you have a couple hours.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this deep dive into the Tea Party. I loved the broad view the author gave of not just what was happening in Boston but events around the globe. I also really enjoyed the conversation about rights of individuals vs rights of the populace and how Colonial Americans were engaging in that conversation. Research aside, the lectures were entertaining, logically structured, and well delivered. This was not a dry monotone narrator lecturing you about history and I appreciated the delivery.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit short to really be considered a 'book' but a nice series of half a dozen lectures that go quite in depth about the events leading up to this famous event, who was involved and what the event meant to the people of the late 1700s. There is also a fascinating parallel to India standing up for its rights against the East India Tea Company.

Well researched, well told and information worth knowing. If you are a history buff you should enjoy this course.

[Heath Kirkwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of lectures is very informative, and paints the big picture of pursuing democracy. While these lectures center around the protest of the Boston Tea Party, it is clear that much more happened around, before, and after. As the author makes the point at the end, the event is the pursuit of democracy, and at the same time protest is as important as lawmaking. The event of the Boston Tea Party does not stand on its own feet. It is part of a much bigger process.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of the lectures and enjoyed the history that is known. Imagine if they had recorded properly and to know what REALLY happened? And who was involved?

This was taught in school but as happened, many inaccuracies were taught. This easily sets information correctly and a good bit about tea knowledge I didn’t know. An easy good read to brush up on history

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting listen on Audible. It peaked my interest and came to found that I have a direct ancestor who was there. Sounds like he was 22 and guarded the perimeter. “Ebenezer Stevens was a participant in the Boston Tea Party who distinguished himself by rising to the ranks for Major General in the United States Army.”

[Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

To short history lesson tells the exciting story of what happened at the the Boston tea party and reminds us how important it is for Americans to continue to work together support and protect our fragile democracy.

[Mihaela C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool story! The Boston Tea Party, in 1773, was a protest against British taxation without representation. Colonists, disguised as Mohawk Indians, dumped tea into Boston Harbor to resist the Tea Act, asserting their opposition to unfair policies imposed by the British government.

[Shannon Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic look at the Boston Tea Party. It was far less sensational than depicted in many history books, but it had far-reaching political consequences. Loved learning about the impact of the East India Company in the Americas!

[katie T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really love a entertaining history lesson if only all history was taught with such enthusiasm!
I learned quite a bit in a broad stroke and refreshed so many long ago stored memories.

Makes me grateful for the brave people who pushed forward to our own nation.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty accessible even for folks not well versed in colonial history. American history in high school was pretty lacking in nuance, and probably made you think this was actually about the tea.

[Hunter Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this professor a lot. Nice way to learn about the Boston Tea Party. I wish it were longer!

[Pascal Mensah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's the link between Hyder Ali's (Sultan of Mysore, southern India) defeat of the East India Company in 1766, China, and the rise of the American Revolution? Tea!

[LeAnn L Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting info.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy book to listen to. The author makes the history come alive.

[Joseph Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure if it’s considered a book but there was some more depth to the Boston tea party than what’s told.

[Joanna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic history of the reasons for the American revolution, how the colonies thought as community and how organizers created a government

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating look at how the Boston tea party was a significant influence on our country and how it was misinterpreted by many historians.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting presentation -- sort of like lectures -- on a particular point in the American revolution.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting thoughts about the tea party and how it affected the battle for independence.