On this day 250 years ago, the New York Journal published “A Constitutional Catechism” by an anonymous writer. The article explained that the tax on tea “imposed without our own consent . . . is . . . unconstitutional, cruel, and unjust.” It further argued that to block the tea, the people can invoke “the perpetual and universal binding law of self-defense . . . when their rights and privileges cannot be secured by the laws of their country.” The “Constitutional Catechism” provided the legal arguments for Patriots to take violent actions to defend their rights.

Source: Norton, Mary Beth, 1774: The Long Year of Revolution at pp. 20-21.

On this day 250 years ago, Royal Governor Hutchinson of Massachusetts is determined to force rebellious Bostonians to accept the East India Company tea shipped from England. He orders vessels posted at the entrance to Boston harbor to prevent the tea ships from leaving without permission.

Source: https://www.revolution250.org/250th-commemorations/250th-anniversary-of-the-boston-tea-party/

On this day 250 years ago, the ship Beaver, arrives in Boston harbor with more chests of East India Company tea, plus a case of smallpox, onboard.  The ship is quarantined at Rainsford Island.

Source: https://www.revolution250.org/250th-commemorations/250th-anniversary-of-the-boston-tea-party/

On this day 250 years ago, an anonymous article from a Patriot in New York was sent to Boston for publication in the Massachusetts Gazette. The article published a broadside written by “The Mohawks” in New York threatening anyone assisting in the import of East India Company tea with “an unwelcome visit, in which they shall be treated as they deserve.”

Source: https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?item_id=423&mode=large&img_step=1&&pid=2&br=1

On this day 250 years ago,  Abigail Adams wrote to her friend and fellow Patriot Mercy Otis Warren: “The Tea that bainfull weed is arrived. Great and effectual opposition has been made to the landing of it. . . . our citizens have been united, spirited and firm. The flame is kindled and like lightening it catches from soul to soul.”

Source: https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/boston-tea-party/

On this day 250 years ago the Sons of Liberty of New York published a broadside declaring “It is essential to the freedom and security of a free people, that no taxes be imposed upon them but by their own consent, or their representatives.”

Source: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL14601740M/The_association_of_the_Sons_of_Liberty_of_New-York.

On this day 250 years ago, the Exchange building in Charleston was filled to capacity with angry Patriots upset with the arrival of the ship London carrying East India Company tea the day before. The crowd formed a Committee composed of Christopher Gadsden, Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Thomas Ferguson and Daniel Cannon and many signed a non-importation agreement pledging not to import any tea. The Committee would evolve into South Carolina’s independent government in a little less than two years.

Source: https://www.powdermagazinemuseum.org/history250

On this day 250 years ago, a Resolution was issued by “The People” that declared that those “aiding and assisting in” the landing of East India Company tea from the ships in Boston Harbor will “in a great Measure accelerate Confusion and a Civil War: This is to assure such public enemies of this Country, that they will be considered and treated as Wretches unworthy to live, and will be made the first Victims of our just Resentment.”

Source: https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.03702400/

On this day 250 years ago, young college graduate James Madison wrote to his classmate William Bradford and asked Bradford about “the extent of your religious Toleration. Here allow me to propose the following Queries. Is an Ecclesiastical Establishment absolutely necessary to support civil society in a supream Government? & how far it is hurtful to a dependant State?”

For the rest of his life Madison would answer these questions by making Separation of Church and State a bedrock principle in his contributions to the Founding of our Republic.

Source: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Madison/01-01-02-0027