The Boston Tea Party

It was in the month of December,

Seventeen hundred and seventy-three,

That a most interesting incident

Took place in Boston’s history:

The British Parliament had passed a law,

Compelling every colony

To buy all required tea leaves from

The British East India Company.

To protect the interests of this company

By the British government this law was made,

And they granted the ambitious establishment

A monopoly of the tea trade.

The representatives of Massachusetts

Were the first of those in earnest,

Under the leadership of Samuel Adams

Against this law to protest.

The plan of struggle was circulated

In every freedom-loving organization:

This was a step in the direction of

Forging the unity of the Nation.

Now ships from Britain with her royal flags

And a great many tons of cargo,

Consisting but of English tea

Were anchored at Boston’s harbor:

A group of colonists disguised

As Indians bound to shatter,

Made a daring raid on all the ships

And threw their cargo into the water.

Assembled on the harbor were

Men, women, children; young and old:

All with enthusiasm great,

This amusing scene to behold.

This great event was at the dawn

Of the war of independence;

And it was planned and carried out

By freedom’s loyal defendants.

A deed so unique, its only right

That recorded it ought to be;

And so from thence it is referred to as

The Boston Tea Party.

Eric Anthony Trott

28^th June, 1981