The Hidden History of the Boston Tea Party

By: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Adam Jortner

Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

The history of the Boston Tea Party is a hidden one. Why? Since it was a clandestine operation, all sorts of rumors and legends grew up around the event—many collected decades after the American Revolution had ended.

At its core, however, the night of December 16, 1773, when colonials dumped tea from British ships into Boston Harbor, was more than a fight over tea and taxes. It was a struggle over the very nature of democracy and self-governance. Where does legal authority actually come from? Who gets to decide which laws are valid? What role does nonviolent (or violent) protest play in bringing about change?

For that matter, how does one even throw a 400-pound chest of tea overboard?

These and other questions are answered in The Hidden History of the Boston Tea Party, an Audible Original by noted author and historian Adam Jortner. In six engaging lectures, he unravels the secrets of that fateful night and reveals surprising truths about everything from the role tea played in colonial America to the everyday lives of American colonists in Boston to the challenges the Boston Tea Party presents for Americans in the 21st century. This nuanced historical analysis takes you beyond broad strokes and caricatures to offer a complex perspective on a decisive moment when the American colonists stood firm on the principle that there cannot be liberty without self-government.

©2023 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2023 Audible Originals, LLC.

Fun and informative

Loves the historian narrator. Great short background on the event. A great listen for those who like history.

Great analysis

Really enjoyed the overview of the origins and significance of the Boston Tea Party as the event celebrates its 250th anniversary. A great resource for students of the period.

Luis of interesting details

The background, the build up, the stories behind the story, the details on the actual event, and the impact it had on the rest of history made this a great listen!

Excellent presentation of how democracy was formed in our nation through the colonies.

Read with clarity and animation. Was not anti British but stated facts without an agenda. Historically correct and enlightening.

Proud of the Boston Tea Party

I love that the author is sharing important information about this event in our nation’s founding. We all need to know these stories. It does get a little preachy about things we don’t agree with now, but were the accepted norm back then. The author’s voice is extremely pleasant to listen to. Give it a listen! It’s free! Your brain will grow!

Great context setting around the Boston Tea Party

The author is well+spoken and does a great job of explaining the events leading up to the Boston Tea Party and the events that it triggered. While the Tea Party itself is familiar, the background the author explores is quite revealing.

Fascinating and well told!

This was an incredible listen. I know for sure that had my K-12 history and social studies classes provided this kind of global view of events (both literally and figuratively), I would have found them to be my favorite classes.

Story has a tremendous influence! The watered down and, this, disjointed presentations we received were dull beyond articulation.

Note: there was one brilliant exception—an AP Modern European History course taught by a man who loved history and loved teaching it. Academically, it was more rigorous and exacting than any courses I encountered in either undergraduate or graduate school, but it was so compelling that the work was a joy.

Anyway, I plan to look for published papers and other works by Professor Jartner. And, here is a nugget: there were things mentioned in his lecture that made me better understand parts of the Lin Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton.” (And yes, I know that it was not a work of strict scholarship and total biographical accuracy. It’s just that listening to this lecture series made me under stand some of the contextual and subplot components of the musical.)

Look at history and our forefathers

An accurate comprehension of history presented from a patriotic perspective. I have engaged with individuals in contemporary times, and inquired about their thoughts on our current taxation system and government. It is thought-provoking to consider whether our forefathers would be greatly dismayed by these developments, and if so, one can only imagine the intense reaction they would have. This realization provides valuable insight into the origins of our nation and the journey towards liberty and autonomy.

Awesome!

I would absolutely listen to more lectures like this. Well researched, well balanced and well presented .

My only regret is that it stopped at the Tea Party. I would have lived for it to continue to Lexington and Comcord.

Excellent storytelling

Any good historian tells the story of the times and the people. This was excellent research told in an engaging manner. It inspires me to find out what later happened to some of the people involved, like Ebenezer McIntire and Mr. Roach. The author stepped through the complex series of “big events” (like the Seven Years war and the Eastern Indian Company’s malfeasance) leading up to that fateful night without getting bogged down in detail that would interrupt the flow. All in all, a great listen that I expect to return to many times. I wish there were a pdf of at least the dates and people involved.