Why didn't Sam Adams and the Sons of Liberty at first want the ships with their cargo of tea to land in Boston? Do you think this was a crucial issue or a matter of principle to those who opposed the landing? Why did they change their minds and want the

It is autumn 1773, and the colonies are in an uproar about England’s new tax on tea. Forbes explains England’s reasons for imposing the tax. The monarchy thinks that the tax—which is relatively small—will make the tea cheaper in the long run, and the colonists won’t notice the difference. The Whigs object to paying any taxes at all, because they are not represented in Parliament. So, when the ships arrive in the harbor with tea from India (which will be taxed), the Whigs want to prevent it from getting to American stores. If the tea doesn’t get to the stores, then no colonists will be able to pay taxes on it. I think the amount of money involved in the tax was small but the symbolism of it was large.