The Tea Act of 1773

The Tea Act of 1773 was a law passed by the British government allowing the British East India Company to sell tea directly to American colonists, bypassing colonial merchants. It lowered the cost of tea but kept the existing tax, which the colonists saw as a way to reinforce British control and revenue. Many colonists viewed it as an attempt to impose taxes without their consent, fueling protests like the Boston Tea Party. The act heightened tensions between Britain and the colonies, contributing to the revolutionary movement that led to American independence.