GWA-3: Analysis of a Historic Decision
The Boston Tea Party: Tossing the Tea Overboard
Scott A. Henderschedt
Pennsylvania State University
SRA 231
Decision Theory and Analysis
Analytic Decision Paper
November 16, 2014
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Table of Contents
Purpose Statement……………………………………………………………………………………………………………....3
BLUF……………………………………………………………………………………………..........................................3
Analysis…………………………………………………………………………………………........................................3
Analysis of Events and Key Decisions……………………………………………………………………………………..4
Analysis of Effects………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....6
Analysis of the Significance of the Boston Tea Party……………………………………………………………...7
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7
Works Cited……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..9
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Purpose Statement
This paper is used to provide a detailed analysis about the Boston Tea Party’s decision to dump
Britain’s tea in the ocean in rebellion to Britain’s new policies imposed on the US, specifically
the Tea Act.
BLUF:
The decision to throw the tea over the ships followed that of a maximax strategy. The Sons of
Liberty were going for broke to detest against the Tea Act imposed on America and the taxation
on tea and other items in hopes of reversal of the acts. Their strategy however backfired when the
British found out about this event.
Their decision to do so costed the colonists to suffer even further with harsher policies enforced
by the Parliamentary Government of Britain. Such things like the closing of the Boston Port was
a negative outcome. Their maximax strategy attempt may have had altercations, but the positive
outcomes were greater. The idea of no taxation without representation had occurred within all
the colonists.
Years later, the implications of detesting Britain had gave the American colonists a final
normative decision to split away from Britain’s rule. Not only did more rebellious acts ensue, but
a war had resulted. The aftermath resulted in freedom for America.
Analysis
Background Information. The main reason for the Boston Tea Party was a political protest
against Britain and their Tea Act imposed on America (“Boston Tea Party”). The act was an
effort to imply colonists’ must pay tax to the British Parliament and enforce their power of
taxation (“Tea Act”). When Britain implemented this act, the Sons of Liberty (the one’s
responsible for the decision to dump the tea) went through a decision-making process on how to
rebel the act. Their final hypothesis was to act and throw the tea overboard the ship to establish
opposition, which occurred in Boston.
On December 17, 1773, the rebellious act occurred. Not only was this to repent the Tea Act, but
also any acts imposed in the past in regards to taxation, also known as the Coercive Acts
(“Boston Tea Party”). The Sons of Liberty members, disguised in Indian costumes, boarded
multiple target vessels and took action. A couple of hours later, over 300 chests of tea were
dumped into the water (“Boston Tea Party”). This however had serious repercussions from
Britain.
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Analysis of Events and Key Decisions
Decision #1: Decision for Britain to Tax the Colonies for Revenue
Discussion: Animosity began between Britain and the colonies when Britain sought to raise
more revenue by taxing the colonies (“Boston Tea Party”). This new taxation program, known as
the Townshend Acts, established a systematical taxation program that was imposed on the
colonies (“Townshend Acts”). This program dealt with taxes on imports, such as tea, lead, paint,
paper, and glass (“Townshend Acts”). These items specifically weren’t produced in the colonies
and the colonists had to buy from Britain (“Townshend Acts”).
Enforcement of the taxation program began with the Commissioners of Customs Act of 1767
which established the American Board of Customers Commissioners (“Townshend Acts”).
Britain had difficulties taxing distant colonies, and thus had the Board headquartered in Boston
(“Townshend Acts”). With the Board residing in America, hostility was formed in the colonies
against Britain (“Townshend Acts”). Along with this act, the Tea Act was later imposed on
America, which became a critical breaking point for the American colonial rebels.
Analysis: Britain found it easiest to tax the colonies because they were another property Britain
had owned in their large empire. It hadn’t occurred to them that the colonists would create a
strong, negative relationship with Britain, which later erupted as a revolution. The Townshend
Acts taxed everyday items the colonists regularly bought from Britain, thus bringing in
substantial revenue for Britain.
The establishment of the American Board of Customs Commissioners inside the colonies had
also set forth rebellious attitudes inside the minds of the colonists. Having the Board set up in
Boston was critical as it was an important economic structure of the colonies. This meant the
full-force on the Townshend Acts could be implemented in the heart of the colonies. This gave
way to the colonists forming a resistance against other tax-oriented acts, such as the Tea Act.
Decision #2: Decision for the Colonies to Resist the Tea Act
Discussion: In the months of September and October of 1773, multiple ships that were carrying
tea were sent to the colonies; four of those ships were headed to Boston, Massachusetts (“Boston
Tea Party”). Combined, almost 600,000 pounds of tea existed on the ships, and the colonists
were just discovering the Tea Act whilst the ships were en route to the colonies (“Boston Tea
Party”). Opposition began to mount, and the Sons of Liberty began a campaign to raise
awareness (“Boston Tea Party”).
The protest wasn’t about high taxes, but the general idea of taxation on America (“Boston Tea
Party”). No representation in Parliament came with taxing the colonists, which angered the
people. The people saw this as an infringement on their colonial rights, especially the
townspeople of Boston (“Boston Tea Party”).
Analysis: As a result of Britain introducing the Tea Act while sending multiple ships to the
colonies, this further enhanced oppositional attitudes of the colonists. A sort of “magic trick” was
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played by the hands of Britain: shipping tea cargo while colonists were learning of the Tea Act.
However, this decision backfired and caused a movement to oppose the act in America.
Having no representation in Britain’s government stirred animosity in the colonists. This event
led the colonists into a decision-making process on how to resist/rebel the Tea Act. The first
decision made was to raise awareness among townspeople and get together rebels. Their first
priority was protecting their rights and fighting off British control.
Decision #3: Decision to Standoff in Boston against Britain
Discussion: In all the colonies, the protesters were able to force the return of the tea back to
England. However, Boston wasn’t so lucky in the process (“Boston Tea Party”). The governor of
Boston, Hutchinson, convinced the tea consignees (whom two were his sons) to not send the tea
back (“Boston Tea Party”).
When the ship had arrived in Boston in late November, Samuel Adams called a meeting on
November 29, 1773 (“Boston Tea Party”). The meeting had a turnout of over thousands of
people, and from the meeting a resolution was passed. What Adams and the people wanted to do
was send the tea back to Britain without paying import duties (“Boston Tea Party”). Thereafter
this meeting, Adams ordered over 20 men to watch the ship to make sure it didn’t unload any
cargo (“Boston Tea Party”).
Two more ships had arrived at Boston around and around December, thousands of people got
together outside the Old South Meeting House (“Boston Tea Party”). Once Adams had
discovered Hutchinson wouldn’t allow the ships to leave, he stated that “The meeting can do
nothing further to save the country” (“Boston Tea Party”). It is known, however, this was a
prearranged signal for the “tea party” to begin (“Boston Tea Party”).
Analysis: In their decision to protest the tea, they were unsuccessful in the city of Boston. The
townspeople were unable to circumvent the governor and change his mind about shipping the tea
back, which caused a flaw in their efforts. The ship thus remained in the Boston port waiting for
the tea to be unloaded.
Adams and the townspeople were waiting on their next move which hinged off of their current
contingent decision. They were waiting on the ships to be sent away, and if that didn’t happen,
go under another decision-making process to come up with an alternative decision. From there,
the rebels would have to undergo decision which and choose their choice from other available
options.
With the arrival of two more ships, citizens of Boston were hindered by personal biases and
judgments against Britain while making their planning their next action(s). After their
unsuccessful meets and rallies, they were unable to come up with a proper decision to sway the
mind of the tea consignees. However, their maximax strategy soon came into play when Adams
announced his signal for the “tea party” to ensue.
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Key (Major) Decision: Tossing the Tea
Discussion: Soon after the Sons of Liberty got the go ahead from Adams, they began to board
the 3 ships that were in the Boston port. Soon after they boarded, the destruction began. The 340
chests of tea that were owned by the British East India Company were smashed open by the Sons
of Liberty (“Destruction of British East India Company Tea”). Armed with axes, over 92,000
pounds of tea was dumped into the Boston Harbor on December 16, 1773 (“Destruction of
British East India Company Tea”). It was estimated that the Sons caused almost ₤10,000 worth
of damage to all 3 ships in regards to destroying the tea (“Destruction of British East India
Company Tea”). It was later discovered that no damage or theft befell the ships (“Destruction of
British East India Company Tea”).
Analysis: The Sons of Liberty’s maximax decision fell into place when they had embarked on
the ships. There was no turning back now and they were indeed going for broke when they
smashed open the tea crates and emptied them into the Boston Harbor. Their mission was to just
destroy the tea in detest and nothing more; thus why they didn’t thieve or deface the 3 ships.
After going through meetings, where the decision-making was confined, the Sons had finally
went with a last resort decision. They believed this was the only way to get their point across –
by that of destruction. The Sons did not analyze what would happen in the aftermath, just their
current state of minds.
Analysis of Effects
The Aftermath
Discussion: Soon after the tea was thrown overboard the ships, participants on the Boston Tea
Party had fled Boston to avoid arrest; only one was captured and imprisoned (“Boston Tea Party
Aftermath”). It was a non-violent revolution of sorts: no one had died or been hurt, no damage
was done to the ships, and no confrontation came between the Patriots and British soldiers
(“Boston Tea Party Aftermath”).
However, the news had reached London, England on January 20, 1774 (“Boston Tea Party
Aftermath”). As a result, England had shut down the Boston Harbor, which was a critical
infrastructure for the colonists, until all 340 crates of tea were paid for (“Boston Tea Party
Aftermath”). This was implemented in the Intolerable Acts, and soon after, the colonists
“responded with protests and coordinated resistance by convening the First Continental
Congress” (“Boston Tea Party Aftermath”). During the Congress, colonists had tried to appeal
the Intolerable Acts in order for Britain to do away with their new laws (“Boston Tea Party
Aftermath”).
Analysis: The Sons of Liberty had one mission, to get on the boats and destroy the tea. Their
final decision did not involve any violence. However, they did not think ahead what might
happen to them after the fact, which was a downfall to their protest. The Sons were hindered
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under the fact of perception limitations as they didn’t contain the knowledge of what the British
would do to the colonists.
The Sons of Liberty soon found out the repercussions of their actions just about a month after the
incident. What they did not foresee was what Britain was going to impose on the city of Boston.
Having a critical infrastructure shut down was a major drawback of their revolution, and was
demonstrated that harsh consequences befall those who go against the mother country. This one
event did spark thoughts in the hearts of the American colonists, and started a domino effect in
the thought of breaking away from Britain.
Analysis of the Significance of the Boston Tea Party
Thoughts of Revolution
The Boston Tea Party had played a significant role in deciding future decisions made by the
colonists. As mentioned earlier, the decision to undergo the First Continental Congress was the
first step of an even larger decision-making process. This was to petition the Intolerable Acts
Britain had imposed on Boston and remove them.
Not only did the colonists’ first decision to hold a Congress follow the Tea Party, but later on
came the Second Continental Congress and eventually a revolutionary war between America and
Britain. The decision of war was hastily made and the Founding Fathers did not foresee the
amount of money that would be needed to run such a war.
Eventually, their earlier maximax decision had paid off in the long run and resulted in freedom
from Great Britain. The American country had successfully succeeded from Britain’s empire and
were free of taxation from Britain. This all resulted from just one decision of the Sons of Liberty
to overthrow tea into the Boston Harbor waters.
Conclusion
The sons of liberty had successfully executed a maximax decision whereof they went all in to
destroy the tea on the ships that arrived at the Boston Harbor. This event started with Britain
imposing the Tea Act upon the American colonists while the ships were on the way to Boston
and other major cities.
Afterwards, the colonists suffered from even harsher policies, such as the Intolerable Acts, as a
result of their actions amongst the ships. They were forced to pay off the cost of the tea they had
destroyed, otherwise their Harbor in Boston would remain closed under British supervision. At
first, their maximax decision did not appear to be worth going for broke as at the time the
consequence was greater than the cause.
In the years to follow this decision made by Samuel Adams and his followers, it had positive
influence among the colonists. Not only in Boston, but the whole 13 colonies underwent a
collective decision-theory process in which to evaluate the circumstances of becoming
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independent of British rule. When the normative decision was made to revolt against Britain, the
maximax decision had a huge payoff for the colonists.
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Works Cited
"Boston Tea Party Aftermath." Boston Tea Party - A Revolutionary Experience. N.p., n.d. Web.
15 Nov. 2014.
"Boston Tea Party." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
"Destruction of British East India Company Tea." Boston Tea Party - A Revolutionary
Experience. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
"Tea Act." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
"Townshend Acts." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
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