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

by Benjamin L. Carp

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.

Genres: History, American History, American Revolution, Nonfiction, American, American Revolutionary War

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2010

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 4 out of 5]

With his previous work examining the political activity of five major cities during the American Revolution, historian Benjamin L. Carp magnifies his focus on the city of Boston during the tumultuous years of Parliament’s reckless pursuit of taxation following the French and Indian War. In a stirring introduction that touches on America’s long-held tradition of abhorrence to tyranny and animosity to a far away governing body, Carp addresses the reasoning and idealistic notions of the British Empire’s actions. From there, it becomes all too clear that the ramifications of the Boston Tea Party not only spawned the patriotic feelings that would come to fruition in the Revolutionary War, but also several massive geopolitical implications.

As the opening chapters unfold, Carp touches on the British East India Company’s exploitation of Asia—specifically Robert Clive and other members (aptly called nabobs) excessive earnings in Bengal—which would eventually drive the company deep into debt. Parliament extends its reach in a controversial move to grant relief to the failing company, implementing the Tea Act which Carp explains gave them not only necessary funds, but monopolistic powers. The ire of the colonists was hence justified, as they yet again saw overseas machinations taking place that perhaps could lead them down the same dreary rabbit hole of that of Bengal—becoming a mere pawn of Great Britain.

Carp relates a highly informative social history of Revolutionary Boston, depicting the city’s shipyards, Masonic lodges, prominent townspeople of the age (such as Joseph Warren and Thomas Hutchinson) and the typical employment opportunities favoring both oystermen and prostitutes alike. Researched to the fullest, Carp delves into a concise history of tea from its early rise in China, the faux pas associated with colonial women’s appreciation of the beverage, and on down to the exact type of leaf that the Boston dissenters dumped into the harbor. As he discusses the leadership and overall organization that preceded the Boston Tea Party, Carp’s accessible and captivating writing style allows for a sly hint of pop culture (Casablanca fans will rejoice) which is subtle and adds a bit of humor to the experience:

Just before adjourning, John Hancock told those present that Governor Hutchinson had ordered the town’s magistrates “to suppress any Riot that might ensue on Account of the Tea.”According to Hancock, Hutchinson was expecting that the magistrates would do nothing, which would give him a “Reason for again introducing Troops and thereby Bloodshed in the Town.”The meeting cried out against this as an insult to Boston, and approved Hancock’s statement that those gathered “were perfectly peaceable and quiet.”They had no desire to feed the bad impression of Boston that Hutchinson had already given the king, and they were shocked (shocked!) that Hutchinson would whisper such aspersions.

Describing the Boston Tea Party, Carp relates that men from all walks of life and ages took part in the destruction, and goes further to discuss their various careers and affiliations, the arms and tools used, as well as the general approval and engagement of the audience watching from beyond the docks. Indeed, Carp estimates a staggering 92,600 pounds of tea being thrown overboard that fateful evening, to which he gives the credit to at least 99 known participants. In their donning of Native American attire, Carp brings to light the geopolitical history behind this disguise—discussing European notions of various Mohawk legends and altercations, as well as the indigenous people’s acceptance and adjustment to their neighboring colonists’ culture and ideology.

Other tea protests across the colonies are appropriately mentioned rather than heavily scrutinized—many of which were in direct opposition to the Coercive Acts being enforced by Parliament. Along with a concise follow-up into the futures of each of the leading figureheads of his book, Carp also provides a profound history between sugar and slavery’s connection to the importation of tea. Unfortunately, this is the one instance in which Carp’s research seems uncharacteristically out of place, where he puts too much focus on Boston’s role in African American emancipation efforts—a topic more suitable for a separate study. Concluding with the lore of the Tea Party in the following two centuries, Defiance of the Patriots is unquestionably the definitive analysis of this memorable and world-renowned event.

[David Eppenstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I would suggest that this book is probably not for readers that do not have a serious interest in our early Revolutionary history as I believe casual readers will find this book rather dull. It is a relatively short book, only 233 pages of text, but it could have been significantly shorter. It is written well and is very informative and really does a good job of explaining how the English Tea Act which actually lowered the price of tea for colonials was viewed so negatively by those same colonials. To learn why I suggest you read this book or find another on the same subject.

What bothered me about the book was the author's inclusion of material that I came to regard as filler to justify this material being published in book form. When the author deals with the Tea Party and its various aspects he does great but then he strays into irrelevant subjects that really have no place in this book. I can accept a treatment of the English and American tea culture to explain the importance of tea to the 18th century American. However, was it necessary to explain the cultivation, packaging, and transportation of the tea? Was it necessary to include detailed descriptions of the kinds of tea services being manufactured and purchased by ladies in England and the colonies? This material might be interesting to some people but if I buy a book about the Boston Tea Party then that's what I want to learn about. I was further annoyed with the last two chapters where the author seems to chide the Bostonians and 18th century Americans in general for treating liberty as a purely political and economic concept and failing to see it as a moral concept as well. He correctly links sugar with the consumption of tea and then connects that sugar to its slavery dominated production. This is an interesting linkage and deserving of significant treatment but only gets cursory treatment in a concluding chapter. Was this an idea the author has for another book that he decided to toss in as a tease? I don't know but it seemed to be an awkward fit in this book. The concluding chapter is not inappropriate but not exactly commendable either. The author ends this books by summarizing how the Tea Party has been used throughout history to justify all sorts of civil disturbances and actions and how it is used and misused without the slightest understanding of the significance of the event. Again, this is not a bad book; it has its faults but it is also informative and would probably have made and excellent article in an academic journal but as a book its defects hurt.

[hélène]

No more tea.

[Thomas Kidd · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://www.booksandculture.com/articl...

The Tea Party movement has been much in the news in the past year, as has the appropriation of America's Founding by Sarah Palin and other politicians. In light of the government's expansion under Barack Obama, Palin says we should "party like it's 1773." Tufts University historian Benjamin Carp is no Tea Party sympathizer, but his timely Defiance of the Patriots is the place to start for understanding the actual Boston Tea Party, one of the chief catalysts of the American Revolution.

Carp shows that the Tea Party was one spectacular event in a longer story of British imperial growth and colonial resistance. The Tea Act of 1773, which gave the British East India Company a monopoly on the American tea trade, exacerbated colonists' resentment against British policies, but it also reflected Americans' relatively new entanglement in a global network that stretched from China, which grew the tea, to the Caribbean slave colonies, which produced the sugar stirred into it. Although the Tea Act would have reduced the cost of tea, Massachusetts Patriots saw the monopoly as a "master-piece of policy for accomplishing the purpose of enslaving us."

The Party itself destroyed 46 tons of the "accursed leaf." Americans look back on that night as a "gauzy, harmless tale of American origins," Carp writes, but as with so many aspects of the Revolution, it is not clear that modern Americans—especially Christians—would approve of similar actions today. Restrained though they were, committing little violence against people, the Tea Partiers still brazenly ruined private property. "The Devil is in this people," a disgusted British admiral subsequently concluded.

The Tea Party, to Carp, "exemplifies an ongoing struggle in America between law and order and democratic protest." The Bostonians' radical act elicited a harsh response from the British government, leading to the clash at Lexington and Concord—and, ultimately, American independence.

Thomas S. Kidd is Senior Fellow at the Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, and the author of God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution and the forthcoming Patrick Henry: First Among Patriots.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book following T. H. Breen's The Marketplace of Revolution: How Consumer Politics Shaped American Independence - these two books were great compliments to each other to help further one's understanding of consumerism and the market's influence (especially tea) in the decades prior to the Revolution.

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

During a visit to the Boston Party Tea Museum I was really moved by the patriotic spirit that had captured Boston so long ago. I bought this book as a souvenir of our day and to read more of these courageous and interesting sons of liberty. I enjoyed the tale of the events leading up to the Boston Tea party and of the after effect. I especially loved the tale of the Tea Party and I was happy to know that although no women participated on the ships, they did help the men by blackening faces and providing costumes.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carp does an incredibly difficult thing in making a group of individuals out of the mob that participated in the Boston Tea Party. It is a history that encompasses race, gender, and class, yet still manages to tell a large story on a small scale. Well done.

[Bobby Desmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide ranging look into the people and events that inspired and participated in the Boston Tea Party, with meaningful backstory revealing the importance of tea to society at that time, and the rapidly diverging opinions about tea across different pockets of society. The last two chapters also provide valuable insight into the ties between tea, the Boston Tea Party, slavery, and abolition, as well as the way Americans and foreigners have reframed the Boston Tea Party in the centuries since. My only problem with this book is that it discusses so many people that it can be hard to keep track, and yet we never get a real good look at a single participant’s life and motivations. Of course, that’s not exactly the author’s fault, as it’s hard to historically identify even a single person as surely being a participant.

[Kim Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of this book was really good. I learned quite a bit about the Boston Tea Party. I found the second to last chapter on slavery a bit incongruous. I felt as though that chapter was included largely because of current political trends. There were also pieces of the conclusion that were a little long. He made his point about secrecy and then kept right on at it. I did find the legacy part of that chapter really interesting, though. I had no idea that people from other nations used the Tea Party as justification for their actions.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a history buff, I love reading about the American Revolution and independence. The Boston Tea Party is a pivotal event that really spark the flames and changed the country forever. This book goes into detail about the history of tea within America and what led up to the tea being thrown into the Boston harbor. It is incredible how something as simple as tea has the lasting impact as it did.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Such a dry read! The Sons of Liberty are interesting & the Boston Tea Party is too. But this book is sleep inducing. If you are someone one wants to know every single detail of the Boston Tea Party, this is the book for you.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read that really helped provide an overview of the Boston Tea Party. I’ll most likely get a hold of my own copy for research purposes.

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nuanced view of the Boston Tea Party put in context. Still an inspiring story, maybe even more so when you know how many different kinds of people were involved.

[Selina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"thrilling" is definitely a stretch

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written book as the title states a troublesome time. Great resource for research and / or term paper. Enjoy!

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting but very repetitive.

[Drew Fortune · Rating 5 out of 5]

The level of detail is what I came for, but the great writing and analysis is why I stayed. The conclusion is top notch. This book does as good of a job as I could find digging into the moments of the Boston Tea Party and the context leading up.

Particularly interesting is the tracing of a leaf of tea from the hills of china to a box on the Dartmouth.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the writing unclear except in a couple of chapters. I’m not American and it’s possible that the book assumed knowledge an American would have.

[Alec Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Boston Tea Party remains one of the iconic events of American history 250 years later. It is one of the few events that nearly every American recognizes and for which she can provide at least a summary description. Benjamin Carp’s Defiance of the Patriots provides a detailed rendering of not only the events of the “tea party” itself, but a comprehensive look at the state of the British Empire, the city of Boston, and the American colonies in general to give us a better understanding of why the Tea Party came about when and where it did and what it meant in the grand scheme of events leading to the American Revolution and what it still means today.

Carp devotes an intriguing chapter on the history of the British East India Company (EIC) and the important role it played in helping a not quite mature system of government maintain its empire for many years prior to the Revolution. EIC’s antics will remind American readers of companies such as Halliburton, Enron, and others whose escapades have made headlines and been the subject of intense political controversy. The economic power the EIC enjoyed as a chartered company with certain monopoly rights intensified the attention paid to it by the American colonists and in Parliament.

Defiance of the Patriots also does a good job explaining why Bostonians felt so strongly opposed to legislation that gave the EIC a monopoly on the American tea trade, the Tea Act, which actually LOWERED the price of tea even with the attachment of taxes dedicated towards general revenue (distinguished in colonists’ minds from those used for purposes of regulating trade). The reduction in price came with strings that could, in a less benign setting, lead to London’s dominance over the colonial legislatures and the loss of liberties enjoyed by the colonists. Carp details England’s reprisals and the events that followed the Tea Party, demonstrating how it set off events that led directly to Lexington and Concord less than two years later.

While detailing the events before and after the Tea Party, Carp also explains the tea trade itself and tea’s important role in colonial society. Put simply, Americans were tea crazy, and the ritual of tea service and drinking permeated colonial life from top to bottom. It was not a coincidence that tea was at the center of the controversy. Americans relationship with tea and their determination to wean themselves from it as a matter of principle is another major theme as tea became synonymous with British tyranny and abstention with determined resistance. Other topics Carp explores are less fruitful, such as the symbolic importance of the choice of Indian disguises and the gender issues that arose resulting from the determination made by men to boycott something central to the lives of women, who had little say in the matter. In fact, the entire final chapter detailing the limits of the Revolution and the Founders’ conceptions of freedom has the feeling of being tacked on solely for the purposes of allowing Carp to avoid charges that he’s just interested in “dead white men” because he wrote a book about events concerning, well, mostly dead white men.

In a few places the writing can be dry and academic (mostly those pertaining to issues of race and gender). Happily, though, these parts are short and the reader’s attention never flags even if it might falter from time to time. If you’re looking for a more narrative driven “story” focused on famous individuals, you might be a little disappointed in Defiance of the Patriots. Readers seeking a better understanding of the Tea Party’s causes and importance and a robust discussion of the many related issues involved will enjoy Defiance of the Patriots.

[Bryn D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiance of the Patriots is an authoritative and well researched account of the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. To keep this review pithy I enjoyed the majority of this book despite some content of the final half of the book.

The first half is a very interesting account of the events and economy of colonial New England, the role of tea in society, and the nature of the East India Company and their relationship with importers and exporters of Boston. In addition we get an appraisal of the political environment of that era and the composition of local groups, factions that collectively became known as the Sons of Liberty and their influence on society,the merchants who conducted business with England, and the key events that caused the (im)famous tea party.

It is obvious that the author conducted thorough research and his descriptions of the night of December 16, 1773 and the aftermath is excellent, but after that the author seems to let his objectivity slip when discussing the legacy of the tea party.

For some reason the author dedicates a chapter and more to the issue of slavary in the colonies and the founding fathers which oddly seemed out of place in this book. It is an interesting subject, no doubt, but its relevence didn't seem to work in this book. Rather than writing a separate book about the role of slaves, women, and indian minorities, a good portion of this book goes into examining these issues and it was ackward at best. Likewise, his analysis of how people and groups invoked the Boston Tea Party in later ages was pretty biased. The author, I felt, wanted readers to think that the Sons of Liberty were anarchist bullies or even domestic terrorists who used violence, force, and other forms of coercian to achieve their political ends. Though they have used heavy handed tactics at times, I felt the author wanted to paint a disfavorable picture of the Sons of Liberty and their cause.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and the historical narrative of the events but was a little put off buy his analysis of its legacy. Still a very good read, though slow at times, for anybody wanting to learn about the famous Boston Tea Party and details rarely covered in modern text books.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shorter read than the 328 pages suggests. Only a little over 200 pages, rests are notes and work cited material. Also, contains a chapter completely off topic and unnecessary to the story. All and all, a great detailed account of the Boston Tea Party. Provides context of the political and economic climate of the British Empire leading up to the event in Boston as well as the atmosphere in the colonies at the time. Details on the planning, execution, and post-Tea Party sentiments. It wasn't nearly as celebrated of an act as it is today, back then the perpetrators lived in secret as it wasn't a popular act and took 50 years for more details to emerge. Overall, a good read about one of the footnotes of our history.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very insightful and truly puts the significance of the Boston Tea Party into its proper context. Although the author is a bit meticulous when it comes to describing the importance of the tea trade in the 18th century, I learned a great deal from this book. The final two chapters are a little awkwardly written and seem to not quite fit with the rest of the text; but again, the information and insight provided in these chapters provide important, historically relevant ideas that I found very interesting.

[Dennis Gillingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reads like a history book which is what it is. Glad I read it, but it was a slow go.

[Buddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a tremendous amount in this book, but it was a bit hard to get though.

[Mills College Library]

973.3115 C294 2011

[Katy M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of boring. The last chapter before the conclusion is the only really interesting one.