How Tea Helped America Be Free

The strange but true story of how American Colonists used nonviolence to win their

independence!

In the 1700’s, America was a colony of England.

England was small but powerful.

America was large but had few people and few soldiers.

America had great natural resources.

But we had to buy many things from England because we didn’t have many factories.

England made a profit on these products

AND

(OUCH!)

Also made the colonists pay high taxes!

The colonists did not get to vote on these taxes.

Should we be taxed?

How much should we be taxed?

How and where should my taxes be used?

This is called“TAXATION WITHOUT

REPRESENTATION.”

The colonists drank a lot of tea.

England bought the tea from China and India.

England sold the tea to the colonists.

England had a monopoly on tea and made the colonists pay a high tax.

In a small town called Boston, the colonists wanted to protest against England… a powerful country with a

strong king.

“Should we try to fight England?”

“Should we try nonviolence?”

The colonists decided to use nonviolence.

They disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians.

They rowed out to the English ship in the harbor.

They threw the cargo of tea into the harbor.

No one was hurt or killed , butTHE BRITISH GOT THE MESSAGE!

“We really hate that tea tax!”

“Wow, I think they are serious.”

The colonists continued to use The colonists continued to use nonviolence.nonviolence.

They decided to boycott all tea They decided to boycott all tea from England.from England.

They made tea from native plants They made tea from native plants and trees.and trees.

The boycott cost England a lot of money in revenue and taxes.

Soon England did not have enough money to pay soldiers and weapons

used to fight the colonists.

England gave America her independence!

Today America is a free country.

We do not pay taxes to England.

We have the right to vote.

AND

We drink more coffee than tea!!!

The colonists used nonviolenceand that’s how tea helped make America free!

How Tea Helped Make Us FreeWe were a colony.England sold us tea.We paid a heavy fee.We were not happy!

“No violence for meBut I want a free country”.

We had a tea party;Threw tea in the sea.Now we’re a people freeBut we drink coffee!