Our original design, available exclusively at The History List store, commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773 with the three ships and text from what John Adams wrote in his diary the following day:
"Last Night 3 Cargoes of Bohea Tea were emptied into the Sea. This Morning a Man of War sails.
"This is the most magnificent Movement of all. There is a Dignity, a Majesty, a Sublimity, in this last Effort of the Patriots, that I greatly admire. The People should never rise, without doing something to be remembered—something notable And striking. This Destruction of the Tea is so bold, so daring, so firm, intrepid and inflexible, and it must have so important Consequences, and so lasting, that I cant but consider it as an Epocha in History."
The shirt:
- Ocean — Made from 100% Organic cotton Made in America shirt. Grown, knitted, dyed, and sewn in the USA. 4.4 oz Size: XS- 3X. See size chart.
You can also find this design in a made in America long-sleeved shirt, women's v-neck shirt, and crewneck sweatshirt.
Also available, our Boston Tea Party 250th annivesary gift set which includes a tea towel, 10 pcs. gift tags, magnet, and a postcard.
View our entire Boston Tea Party collection, including shirts, prints, stickers, magnets and more.
Historic event behind the design
The Tea Act of 1773 gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in America.
On the evening of December 16th, 1773, Bostonians, following the lead of the Sons of Liberty and disguised as Narragansett or Mohawk Indians (sources disagree), boarded three ships and destroyed 342 chests of East India Company tea, which they dumped in the harbor.
The destruction of the tea was the final straw for Parliament and led to the Intolerable Acts of 1774. These closed the port of Boston, instituted a military government, quartered troops among the population, and allowed all British officials charged with a crime to stand trial in Great Britain instead of the Colonies.
Many years later George Hewes, a 31–year–old shoemaker and participant, recalled "We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard. And we immediately proceeded to execute his orders, first cutting and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so as thoroughly to expose them to the effects of the water."
Sources: National Archives, University of Houston
An excellent write up on the event from the National History Education Clearinghouse answers the question, "Why Was the Boston Tea Party Not Stopped by British Troops?" and provides a detailed description of exactly what happened.
Christopher Sherwood Davis gave a talk captured on video at History Camp Boston 2023 on, "The Boston Tea Party: Separating Myth from Reality after 250 Years."
Design © 2023 Larry Stuart Studio.