Was the Boston Tea Party an Act of Terrorism?
Boston Tea Party (Library of Congress)
The Boston Tea Party is one of the most celebrated moments of American history. One December night in 1773, a hundred and fifty American colonists marched down to the Boston Harbor and, rather than pay taxes on tea shipments to a country that would not permit them representation in Parliament, dumped the entire cargo overboard. The Tea Party also could be considered an act of terrorism: an act of sabotage by a non-state actor (a group called the Sons of Liberty) designed, by its symbolism, to draw attention to a political cause.
Today, there is probably not much practical use arguing whether the Tea Party is terrorism or not. But the thought exercise, in a week when many Americans will be thinking back to the founding moments of our own democracy, is a great reminder of the malleability of the definition of "terrorism." Frequently, historically, charges of terrorism define points of conflict over who has the legitimate use of force. Two hundred and so many years ago, one version of this conflict was between the British crown and American Patriots.
Comments
That’s an interesting perspective. In a way it’s right. In another though, it was an overpopulation surge that forced most for newer hope of the Americas to evade British Imperialism. We see now through history we are now allies with the British against muslim extremism and other raddical groups. It all boils down to maintaing order over the masses. Most of the patriots were trying to evade British tarrifs and taxes , but yet today or tax inflation rate is way over the means of the minimum wage for the poor. We have exceeded to the level of the British back then. Next stop, space… The one place where taxes are not. For now anyway, untill there is a newer law laid down once the eco structuring of money sets into play for power and control of the masses throughout the solar system… M
Indudablemente la propuesta nos hace repensar la historia. El cambiarnos de perspectiva nos permite entender mejor el mundo actual, pues desde el punto de vista británico, la fiesta del té habrá sido definitivamente un acto terrorista cometido por una banda de delincuentes en contra del stablishment, mientras que para los que lo realizaron fue un pronunciamiento político y una fijación de postura en cuanto a no pagar impuestos sin lograr representación. Interesante sin duda alguna.