On this day in Outlander history: The Boston Tea Party

Today in Outlander history (and real history) the Boston Tea Party took place. It’s part of the trouble and danger Claire alluded to when discussing a place to live.

Outlander history is often a time to look back at previous episodes, but it can also be a time to look at the real events that were used throughout the series. On Dec. 16, 1773, the real event was the Boston Tea Party. One of the most troubling events in the north at the time, it helped kickstart the Revolutionary War just years later.

It’s also one of the events that Claire would have alluded to when discussing a place to live with Jamie. She made it clear that Boston wouldn’t be a safe place. There were other events, but the Boston Tea Party was a major one that would lead to the Revolutionary War.

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The act involved the Sons of Liberty disguised as Mohawk Indians. In a rebellious protest against the Tea Act, the Sons of Liberty dumped more than 300 crates of tea into the Boston Harbor. It shouldn’t be surprising (considering Murtagh and his Regulators’ views) that the act of defiance was due to the tax imposed on imports into the Colonies. People didn’t want to pay what they viewed as illegal taxes.

What makes this moment so spectacular is that nobody was ever charged for the criminal activities that took place during it. Between armed robbery and criminal damage, there were plenty of crimes people should have been tried and executed for, but nobody in charge was arrested. Despite the eyewitnesses, nobody would come forward.

It was clear in this moment that the rebels had support. There was a war brewing but the British refused to consider it. In fact, the British government retaliated and made things worse. To repay the East India Company that had supplied the tea, Boston Harbor was closed to transatlantic trade and the whole town was punished financially and through voting. Needless to say, this did nothing to help prevent war.

Did you know about the Boston Tea Party? Are you excited for it to come up in the Outlander series (it already has in the books)? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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