On December 16, 1773, Bostonians marched out of Old South Meeting House and destroyed three cargoes of East India Tea. This was one of the greatest acts of civil disobedience of all time, and the event that precipitated the Revolution. Why did this happen? What was the political background to the Destruction of the Tea (it would not be called the Tea Party for another half-century)? And why was Massachusetts already on the road to rebellion when the Tea Party took place?
In this virtual discussion with Dr. Robert Allison and New England’s Hidden Histories Project Director Dr. Tricia Peone, they explore special documents in the CLA collections related to the Boston Tea Party and discuss Congregationalism’s connections to this momentous event.
Learn more about commemorations marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution at www.revolution250.org/
You can find the New England's Hidden Histories project online at www.congregationallibrary.org...
You can explore NEHH's collection of Old South Church records here: congregationallibrary.quartex...
You can find the specific page in the admissions records for Old South mentioning Phillis Wheatley Peters here: congregationallibrary.quartex...
You can explore the record book of the Massachusetts Convention of Congregational Ministers, 1749-1789, which feature Rev. Jonathan Mayhew, here: congregationallibrary.quartex...
-------------------
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Welcome and Introductions
2:36 Congregationalists on politics and the abuse of power in the mid-18th century
8:40 A survey of Boston churches in the 18th century
16:19 The role of Congregational ministers in conflicts leading to the Revolution
20:15 The influence of individuals congregations in the years before the Revolution
24:50 Conflicts between Gov. Hutchinson and Congregational clergy
27:09 The influence of Congregationlist composers in the years before the Revolution
28:48 Conflict over Gov. Hutchinson's 1771 Thanksgiving Proclamation
31:49 Debates over the new Brattle Street meetinghouse in 1773
34:39 Congregationalism as integral to the story of the Revolution
36:50 Items in the CLA's collection related to the Boston Tea Party
39:19 Q: What congregations did Samuel Adams attend during the years of the Revolution?
41:38 Q: How important was Congregationalism in the Revolution?
44:27 Q: Did any Boston clergy take up arms as Patriots?
45:46 Q: Was the Tea Party framed as civil disobedience or violent destruction of property?
49:10 Q: How important were the events of 1689 to the beginning of the Revolution?
51:39 Q: What is the story of Phillis Wheatley's books arriving on a Tea Party ship?
53:30 Q: What happens to Boston's Congregational churches during the British occupation?
55:03 Final Thoughts and Thanks
-------------------
Connect with the Congregational Library & Archives Online:
• Website: www.congregationallibrary.org
• Facebook: / congregation. .
• Instagram: / congregatio. .
• X (formerly Twitter): / congrelib
• Linktree: linktr.ee/CongregationalLibrary
----------------
Special thanks to the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).
The New England's Hidden Histories project has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.