by Can Tran

Created on: August 07, 2008

Before one can know the international influence of the Boston Tea Party, one must know about the Boston Tea Party, the events that led to the Boston Tea Party, and the events that had taken place after the Boston Tea Party. For those familiar with early American History, the Boston Tea Party was one of the major events that led to the American Revolution in which the colonists have gained their independence from British rule.

It all started with the colonists being angered and outraged by the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts of 1767. These were decisions by the British government to place taxes on the colonists in the American colonies. This was the fourth stamp act to be placed by the British government. However, it was also the first time that the British government had ever imposed a direct tax on its American colonies. This was an attempt for Britain to get out of debt.

There were the Townshend Acts which placed taxes on common products that would be exported to the American colonies. Such common products included: lead, paper, paint, glass, and tea. This was another attempt for Britain to get out of debt that escalated from the French and Indian War. Around 1770, the Act was repealed. But, there was still the tax on tea.

There was the boycott of Chinese tea sold by the British East India Company. The boycott had hurt the finances of the company. John Hancock, a wealthy Bostonian and one of the people that signed the Declaration of Independence, smuggled tea from the Netherlands. It prompted Britain to pass the Tea Act, allowing the East India Company to sell tea at a very low price.

Then, the Boston Tea Party took place where the Sons of Liberty destroyed many crates ad tea bricks that belonged to the British East India Company.

The Boston Tea Party would have an international influence. But, many American political activists used the Boston Tea Party as a symbol of going up against the establishment. The Boston Tea Party was used by a symbol by Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi had used the reference to the Boston Tea Party after the Salt Satyagraha of 1930.

In early American History, the Boston Tea Party was a protest against the Tea Tax.

In India, which was still a British colony, would protest the tax on salt. The Salt March to Dandi on March 12, 1930, was influenced by the Boston Tea Party. However, this was a peaceful march and not an act of destruction. The Salt March to Dandi was the first event of the Salt Satyagraha.

Gandhi would begin his march from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi. They would be making their own salt. He was joined by the ever growing number of Indians. They were planning to raid the Dharasana Salt Works around early May. But the campaign was not just the protest on the tax on salt; it was the step towards India's independence.

When he met with the British Viceroy Lord Irwin, Gandhi took the duty-free salt and said that it was a reminder of the Boston Tea Party.

While John Hancock would smuggle tea from the Netherlands, Gandhi along with many other Indians would illegally create salt. Hancock illegally smuggled tea. Gandhi would illegally make salt. Gandhi and his followers would be making salt along the seashore by boiling salty mud in seawater.

One could say that the Salt Satyagraha of India was heavily influenced by the Boston Tea Party.

Also, the Salt Satyagraha would strongly influence America Civil Rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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