The American Tempest: How the Boston Tea Party Sparked a Revolution by Harlow Giles Unger gives the historical events that surrounded the elusive and infamous Boston Tea Party. The story chronicles a detailed account of the events that took place and those who were behind the incident and the results that can after its occurrence. According to the author, the Boston Tea Party ignited the Independence War by colonists who were extremely tired of over taxation. Unger’s premise is that the war prompted the independence journey and inspired “ the modern world’s first experiment in self-government ” through the establishment of the Constitution (Unger 2011).
Unger introduces his book to the readers by tracing and detailing events for over thirty years below the colonists rebelled against the Crown of England (Unger 2011). Unger highlights important activities like the Molasses Act, and the French-Indian War that took place in the course of the three decades prior to the Boston event. The author is categorical that these happenings prepared the stage for the eventual revolution as it placed most of the Bostonians on their defense. He notes that any perceived threat to political freedom and new trade restrictions could exacerbate the precarious situation pitting the colonists and the British (Unger 2011).
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The author highlights major tax laws like Stamp Acts and suggests that these events inspired the local Bostonians like John Hancock and Samuel Otis to mount resistance using both combative and non-combative means towards the perceived oppressive and illegal taxes imposed on the colonists. Unger points out that peaceful resistance occurred through the Stamp Act meeting in New York as requested by Massachusetts Assembly (Unger 2011). The Congress was held to respond to Patrick Henry’s fiery speech expressing his displeasure to the tax and was published in the Boston Gazette.
Another important point that the author makes regards to proceedings at the New York meeting. Many participants at the congress expressed radical views concerning the suggested course of action against Parliament. However, the moderate majority prevailed on the radical minority that had called for boycotts and public protests. While the moderates carried the day in New York, radicals back in Boston had started angry and violent resistance towards the Stamp Act. The protests culminated in public apology by Andrew Oliver, the stamp distributor, where he publicly declared his detest of the Stamp Act (Unger 2011). The author explores the subsequent events in depth and gives space to mention influential figures behind the Boston Tea Party and the resistance they offered.
My evaluation of the book is a bit critical. I may say that it is a good read and offers insightful account of the infamous Boston Tea Party, especially giving a detailed description of the main reasons for the events. I liked his description of the events, the arguments advanced by the colonists, and his account of the American Revolution. The post-revolutionary lives of the figures involved in the war offers good insights. For instance, the fiery speech by Patrick Henry inspired many colonists who believed in absolute freedom away from domination. The book uncovers wealthy merchants and their worries in the colonies if the radical forces were to stage a rebellion against the British. For instance, John Hancock gets concerned about the protection of his businesses as opposed to the notion of a democratic government.
I would say that the book gives one the fundamental reason that freedom cannot come easy and people must fight for it. Furthermore, the author is categorical that the Party was the start of the match to American Independence.
Source
Unger, H., 2011. American Tempest: How the Boston Tea Party Sparked a Revolution .
Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
