What british economic policy caused the Boston Tea Party?
The great tea conflict began when the British East India Company hiked its prices to accomodate tax levied by the crown. The result was the evolution of a thriving black market in tea in the colonies. Enterprising Americans began importing contraband tea from the Netherlands and selling it well below the price of British tea. Supposedly, some of the most revered American patriots were involved in this illicit but profitable trade. As more and more Americans refused to drink British tea, the East India Company faced a financial crisis. It became so overstocked with unsold tea, there was a seven-year supply sitting in warehouses in England. To unload some of that stock and eliminate competition in the colonies, it was decided the company would slash its price below black market costs. But when shiploads of cheap British tea arrived in the colonies, Americans reacted in an unexpected way. Instead of being pleased, they were angry. Colonial tea-drinkers felt they were being manipulated by
