Talk:Boston Tea Party

Mohawk costumes
''While John Adams tried to reassert control of the meeting, people poured out of the Old West Meeting House to prepare to take action. In some cases, this involved donning what may have been elaborately prepared Mohawk costumes. While disguising their individual faces was imperative, because of the illegality of their protest, dressing as Mohawk warriors was a specific and symbolic choice. It showed that the Sons of Liberty identified with America, over their official status as subjects of Great Britain.''

A more cynical, but arguably more realistic interpretation is that the purpose of the disguise was to redirect the wrath of the British towards the Mohawks, and that the interpretation given by Wikipedia above (sourced to some biased website) is a self-serving excuse – it certainly shouldn't be stated as a proven fact in Wikipedia's voice. --Florian Blaschke (talk) 23:40, 6 November 2018 (UTC)
 * The British army was in charge of dealing with the Mohawk warriors, and it knew that none lived anywhere near in Boston. Rjensen (talk) 00:35, 7 November 2018 (UTC)
 * Why did any Mohawk have to live close nearby? People are mobile. --Florian Blaschke (talk) 20:14, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

I second Florian’s point. The interpretation provided takes a lot of liberties with the motives of people long dead and the references provided to justify the position are weak. Based on historical US treatment of indigenous peoples I’m inclined to believe they weren’t disguising themselves for the sake of goodwill and solidarity. They were doing so to save themselves from retaliation. Foutsinator*89 (talk) 19:15, 4 December 2020 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 1 February 2021
Please change "reported by the British East India Company worth £9,659 worth, or $1,700,000 dollars in today's money. [69] The owner of the two of the three ships was William Rotch" to "reported by the British East India Company worth £9,659, or $1,700,000 dollars in today's money. [69] The owner of two of the three ships was William Rotch" (remove redundant "worth" and extra "the") HeyChad (talk) 16:30, 1 February 2021 (UTC)
 * Yes check.svg Done, thanks! &#8209;&#8209; El Hef  ( Meep? ) 16:37, 1 February 2021 (UTC)

Neutrality of this page
The opening description describes this event as a protest. I believe it should be clarified in light of the fact that vandalism and destruction of property took place. I believe a better description would be 'organized riot' — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jimminy ted (talk • contribs) 00:55, April 6, 2021 (UTC)


 * I agree, it should at the very least say "Aggressive Protest" or something similar. Unbeatable101 (talk) 16:18, 3 May 2021 (UTC)


 * Oppose: Sources appear to indicate the dumping of the tea itself (though an act of destruction of property) was premeditated by the Sons Of Liberty group. The dumping was planned as a statement, and though it may have been a crime, that does not invalidate it as an act of protest. If there had been no prior plans to do so, I would be inclined to agree.
 * 192.77.12.11 (talk) 06:00, 10 August 2022 (UTC)


 * The editor complaining posted over a year ago and hasn't returned. we can't make such decisions on our own, we go by what sources meeting WP:RS say.  Doug Weller  talk 06:34, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Loose Leaf or Compressed Brick Tea?
Throughout the page, the tea itself is only referred to as being stored in Tea Chests, but would it not have made more sense for tea to have been shipped in Tea Brick form for the transatlantic voyage? I cannot currently look for sources that indicate one method or the other was used. 192.77.12.11 (talk) 06:14, 10 August 2022 (UTC)

Boston Massacure
When did it happen 98.24.125.213 (talk) 18:58, 28 October 2022 (UTC)
 * The Boston Massacre took place in 1770. Why do you ask?Dimadick (talk) 18:51, 29 October 2022 (UTC)

John Adams quote
The exact same quote from John Adams is used, three paragraphs apart. I can only think it was added a second time by someone who didn't really read the article. I have no opinion which one should be kept, but one of them should be eliminated.  &middot; rodii &middot;  13:07, 23 August 2023 (UTC)