American Tempest, Harlow Giles Unger
American Tempest, Harlow Giles Unger
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American Tempest
How the Boston Tea Party Sparked a Revolution

Author: Harlow Giles Unger

Narrator: William Hughes

Unabridged: 8 hr 12 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/08/2011

Categories: Nonfiction, History


Synopsis

On Thursday, December 16, 1773, an estimated seven dozen men, many amateurishly disguised as Indiansthen a symbol of freedomdumped about 10,000 worth of tea in the harbor. Whatever their motives at the time, they unleashed a social, political, and economic firestorm that would culminate in the Declaration of Independence two and a half years later. The Boston Tea Party provoked a reign of terror in Boston and other American cities, with Americans inflicting unimaginable barbarities on each other. Tea parties erupted in American cities up and down the colonies. The turmoil stripped tens of thousands of Americans of their dignity, their homes, their properties, and their birthrightsin the name of liberty and independence. Nearly 100,000 Americans left the land of their forefathers forever in what was historys largest exodus of Americans from America. Nonetheless, John Adams called the Boston Tea Party nothing short of magnificent. And he went on to say that the destruction of tea is so bold, so daring, so firmit must have important consequences. Ironically, few if any Americans todayeven those who call themselves Tea Party Patriotswould be able to name even one of the estimated eighty participants in the original Boston Tea Party. Nor are many Americans aware of the important consequences of the Tea Party. The acute shortage of tea that followed the Tea Party, of course, helped transform Americans into coffee drinkers, but its effects went far beyond culinary tastes.The Tea Party would affect so many American minds, hearts, and souls that it helped spawn a new, independent nation whose citizens would govern themselves.

About Harlow Giles Unger

Harlow Giles Unger was the 2008 Distinguished Visiting Fellow in American History at George Washington's Mount Vernon. A veteran journalist, broadcaster, educator, and historian, he is author of sixteen books, including five biographies of America's Founders.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Lis on September 27, 2012

This is a clear, highly readable, and fascinating account of the Boston Tea Party, what led up to it, what followed, and how this became the spark that created the American Revolution. Many things have been said and repeated about the Tea Party that simply aren't true. It wasn't about the tax on tea......more

Goodreads review by Judie on January 22, 2013

When I studied American History in school, I remember learning how the Americans were so upset with the British Government trying to make them pay a tax on the tea purchased from England that in December 1773 a group of them dressed like Indians boarded the ships and tossed the tea into the ocean.......more

Goodreads review by Lauren Csaki on January 11, 2015

What a really interesting book. I picked it up because I enjoyed Unger's biography of John Quincy Adams. The title here isn't necessarily misleading or inaccurate, but I must say it did not prepare me for the author's message. In a nutshell, Unger tells the story of the brewing tensions in Boston le......more

Goodreads review by Brian on November 01, 2011

saw the disconcerting ant-authority bent of the early Revolution as well as British authorities who regarded themselves as Americans and traced roots as far back as anyone on the Patriot side. Still, author is honest about the Crown's myopia and mistakes at certain points. The interrelation of the B......more

Goodreads review by Jim on May 06, 2015

Another worthwhile read by H. G. Unger The level of violence, guillibility, lack of foresight, and self-centeredness in individuals was surprising. Some of the "patriot" thugs of Boston seemed to enjoy beating up people, burning houses and businesses, and violence in general. And some of the leaders p......more