The Hidden History of the Boston Tea Party

By: Adam Jortner, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Adam Jortner

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.

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!

Fun and informative

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

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.

good series of lectures

interesting. learned a few things I didn't know. definitly worth listening too.

gives the history leading up to the party and the results of it